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  • Serzh Sargsyan's Interview With BBC

    SERZH SARGSYAN'S INTERVIEW WITH BBC

    http://a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/08/31/serzh -sargsyan
    03:01 pm | August 31, 2009

    Politics

    BBC: Mr. Serzh Sargsyan will you attend the return match in Turkey?

    Serzh Sargsyan: The question has two answers. The fist answer is as
    follows. It's not important whether I'll visit Turkey or not. I'd like
    to say that my visit to Turley should not be linked to the relations
    between the two countries. Do you understand me? Imagine at least two
    options. Let's assume that Armenia freezes the negotiation process with
    Turkey and I leave for that country to watch the football match. The
    second option is as follows: the two countries continue negotiating,
    but I don't attend the match. Which is more important? This is my
    answer if you ask the question in the context of our talks with Turkey.

    BBC: What signals is Armenia expecting from Turkey in order to defreeze
    the talks?

    Serzh Sargsyan: I have already announced and say once again that I
    shall leave for Turkey only in case of opening of the border or at
    the threshold of the event. We have an agreement with Turkey. I think
    it's normal and correct for the parties to commit to the agreement
    reached earlier. Unfortunately, so far I have not seen a great desire
    and aspiration to implement those agreements. Our wish remains the
    same - to establish relations without preconditions

    BBC: Is Armenia ready to make concessions as regards the events of
    1915 and do you believe Turkey will call them genocide?

    Serzh Sargsyan: "Of course, it's very important for our people, for
    Turkey and the whole world. It's important that historical justice
    be restored. It's important for our nations to be able to establish
    normal relations. At last, it's important that it never reoccurs
    in the future. But we do not see the recognition of genocide as a
    precondition for the establishment of relations.

    BBC: Do you mean to say that there is an opportunity of compromise?

    Serzh Sargsyan: "It cannot be called compromise. This is not the
    case to speak about compromises. We say, yes, there was genocide,
    and irrespective of the fact whether Turkey recognizes it or not,
    there is a fact established by all genocide scholars in the world
    and recognized by many countries of the world. However, today we do
    not view it as a precondition for normalization of relations.

    BBC: Anyway, that problem is an obstacle to regulate ties with
    Turkey. A man, with whom I have had a talk earlier in Yerevan,
    recommended another solution: when you drive you should follow your
    back side and look at the mirror showing the back of you but the
    important thing is the way in front you. How well does this example
    describe the current situation?

    Serzh Sargsyan - Right, I can see quite well what the man wanted to
    say. He wants to say that we should look into future, but we do not
    have the right to forget the past.
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