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Serzh Sargsyan's Interview To BBC Russian Department

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  • Serzh Sargsyan's Interview To BBC Russian Department

    SERZH SARGSYAN'S INTERVIEW TO BBC RUSSIAN DEPARTMENT

    Aysor
    Aug 31 2009
    Armenia

    Recently the journalist of Russian BBC service Gebriel Geythouse was
    in Yerevan and in the interview with the President of Armenia Serzh
    Sargsyan asked whether the RA President will attend the return match
    in Turkey.

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

    Serzh Sargsyan: You know this 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 Turkey 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 can't be called a 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 it disturbs your relations with Turkey. One of my
    interlocutors made the following comparison; when you drive a car
    you should control what's going on the way behind you, that's why you
    time by time look back through the mirror. But what is important is
    the way in front of you. Is this the situation reflected?

    Serzh Sargsyan: That's right. I understand what that person meant:
    he wanted to say that we should look into future, but we do not have
    the right to forget the past.
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