TURKEY CLOSES BORDER WITH NEIGHBOR, BUT STILL CLAIMS MEMBERSHIP IN OPEN-BORDER EU – ARMENIAN PRESIDENT

YEREVAN, April 25. /ARKA/. Armenia’s president who was in Czech
Republic with an official visit Thursday voiced his position on the
1915 genocide against Armenians at a high-level meeting on Eastern
Partnership in Prague, the presidential press office reported.

Sargsyan expressed his gratitude to countries that offered a helping
hand to Armenians suffering the tragedy, recognized and condemned
the genocide against Armenians.

There is no period of limitation for genocide, the president said
stressing the importance of acknowledgment and condemnation ahead of
the centennial of the first genocide of XX century.

Sargsyan also said Armenia initiated and authored a number of
resolutions to strengthen the legal framework for prevention of
genocides within the UNO.

Turkey that is seeking EU membership not only continues its efforts
to avoid its past and the responsibility, but imposes denial through
various methods to other countries as well, Armenian president said.

The head of Armenia noted that the number of Turks who refuse denial
policy of official Ankara and stand next to the truth is growing
every year, despite persecution.

“Admitting its history and realizing the consequences is an essential
condition for conciliation. We believe another important condition is
promotion of human contacts, which is unfortunately, almost impossible
when the border is closed”, the president said.

According to Sargsyan, unsettled Armenia-Turkey relations and the
last closed border in Europe still are vulnerability factors for
all-European security.

“Ironically, Turkey that claims EU membership has closed the border
with the neighboring country, despite the fact that borders in
the European Union became history long ago and free movement is a
fundamental principle”, Armenian president said. -0–

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