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Panorama, Armenia
Sept 17 2010
Serzh Sargsyan: I considered it wrong to stay in position of offended
and to wait until Turkey recognized Genocide
Indeed, it was one of the most difficult steps in my life, but I took
it consciously, President Serzh Sargsyan said in his interview to the
Ukrainian Profile Magazine commenting on Armenian-Turkish
normalization and his initiative of signing the Armenian-Turkish
protocols.
`Yes, Turks committed the Genocide. Yes, they seized our territories
of vital importance. Yes, they denied that crime for a hundred years.
And denying crime is maybe even graver than committing it. On the
other hand, in the modern world, almost all states have unsolved
issues, historical problems in their interrelations. A civilized
response to similar challenges is comprehensive cooperation without
preconditions,' President said.
According to Sargsyan, establishment of diplomatic relations, opening
of borders is beneficial not only for Armenia and Turkey but also for
Georgia, Azerbaijan and our whole region.
`That is why I considered it wrong to stay in the position of offended
and wait until Turkey recognized the Genocide. Armenian society and
especially Diaspora Armenians did not accept my approach
unequivocally. And I understand them; our people is emotional, almost
every family is affected by the Genocide. However, I am glad that
after all our people realized it. Now, I suppose very few think I was
wrong,' Serzh Sargsyan said.
According to the President, Armenian party's initiative does not
contradict to our national interests, it does not mean we are
abandoning the process of international recognition of the Genocide or
we are making concessions. All ways, except confrontation, have been
tested to make Turkey recognize the Genocide. We have explained the
tragedy of our past to Turkish society.
`After this process was launched, unexpected developments took place
in Turkey: in big cities of Turkey young people started to speak about
the Genocide.
We did not manage to normalize our relations this time. Turkey refused
to ratify the bilateral protocols in parliament. Now we expect
political forces or leaders to appear in Turkey who will be ready to
show political will,' Serzh Sargsyan said.
From: A. Papazian
Sept 17 2010
Serzh Sargsyan: I considered it wrong to stay in position of offended
and to wait until Turkey recognized Genocide
Indeed, it was one of the most difficult steps in my life, but I took
it consciously, President Serzh Sargsyan said in his interview to the
Ukrainian Profile Magazine commenting on Armenian-Turkish
normalization and his initiative of signing the Armenian-Turkish
protocols.
`Yes, Turks committed the Genocide. Yes, they seized our territories
of vital importance. Yes, they denied that crime for a hundred years.
And denying crime is maybe even graver than committing it. On the
other hand, in the modern world, almost all states have unsolved
issues, historical problems in their interrelations. A civilized
response to similar challenges is comprehensive cooperation without
preconditions,' President said.
According to Sargsyan, establishment of diplomatic relations, opening
of borders is beneficial not only for Armenia and Turkey but also for
Georgia, Azerbaijan and our whole region.
`That is why I considered it wrong to stay in the position of offended
and wait until Turkey recognized the Genocide. Armenian society and
especially Diaspora Armenians did not accept my approach
unequivocally. And I understand them; our people is emotional, almost
every family is affected by the Genocide. However, I am glad that
after all our people realized it. Now, I suppose very few think I was
wrong,' Serzh Sargsyan said.
According to the President, Armenian party's initiative does not
contradict to our national interests, it does not mean we are
abandoning the process of international recognition of the Genocide or
we are making concessions. All ways, except confrontation, have been
tested to make Turkey recognize the Genocide. We have explained the
tragedy of our past to Turkish society.
`After this process was launched, unexpected developments took place
in Turkey: in big cities of Turkey young people started to speak about
the Genocide.
We did not manage to normalize our relations this time. Turkey refused
to ratify the bilateral protocols in parliament. Now we expect
political forces or leaders to appear in Turkey who will be ready to
show political will,' Serzh Sargsyan said.
From: A. Papazian