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Serzh Sargsyan Says We Have No Right To Forget Our Past

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  • Serzh Sargsyan Says We Have No Right To Forget Our Past

    SERZH SARGSYAN SAYS WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO FORGET OUR PAST

    Panorama.am
    14:46 31/08/2009

    President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan gave interview to "BBC" covering,
    so called, "football diplomacy" issue. Find the President's interview
    to world media giant below.

    The term "football diplomacy" was put into circulation a year
    ago, when Turkish President Abdullah Gul arrived in Yerevan at the
    invitation of the President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, to watch the
    match between the national football teams of the two countries. It
    raised hopes that the Armenian-Turkish border could be opened and
    the two countries would start the process of reconciliation. However,
    official Yerevan accuses Turkey of freezing the process.

    BBC correspondent Gabriel Gatehouse visited Yerevan one of these days
    to figure out whether President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia was going
    to 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. 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 will leave for Turkey only in case of opening of
    the border or at the threshold of the event. We have an agreement. I
    think that it's normal and correct for the parties to implement the
    agreement reached earlier. 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 to restore historical
    justice. 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 - Hence, is there 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 - But 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 you 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 follow our future, but we do not
    have the right to forget the past.

    Panorama.am. It's worth reminding that Abdullah Gul traveled to Armenia
    at the invitation of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, after which
    the two countries took initiatives to start intensive negotiations
    to regulate bilateral ties. In the aftermath of those negotiations
    "road map" has been signed and published in April of 2009, which
    covers definite steps to regulate ties. But Turkey adopted another
    policy of breaking the agreements, which the international experts
    and high ranking foreign officials have noted and made statements.

    They say that Ankara's activities have been conditioned by the
    blackmail from Azerbaijan. But still, the international society is
    optimistic with the fact that Armenian-Turkish "football diplomacy"
    will be continued. In fact, today, Turkey is the only responsible
    figure, as official Yerevan has been announcing many times that they
    are ready to continue negotiations based on the previous agreements.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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