PRESIDENT SARGSIAN CRITICIZES TURKEY FOR CLOSING BORDER WITH ARMENIA

Interfax, Russia
April 25 2014

YEREVAN. April 25

Turkey continues denying Armenian genocide and impedes contacts
with Armenia, Armenian President Serzh Sargsian said at a high-level
meeting in Prague on Thursday dedicated to the fifth anniversary of
the Eastern Partnership.

“Turkey continues avoiding facing its past, avoiding responsibility
and distorts history with its policy for decades. Moreover, Turkey
spares no effort to impose genocide denial on other countries with
different means,” the Armenian president’s press office quoted Sargsian
as saying to Interfax.

Facing own history and realizing consequences is an important guarantee
of reconciliation, Sargsian said.

“We believe that stimulating human contacts is also an important
guarantee. Unfortunately, this is almost impossible when artificial
obstacles exist and when the border is closed. The non-settlement
of the Armenian-Turkish relations and last closed border of Europe
continue to remain among vulnerable aspects of the all-European
security. It is paradoxical but Turkey seeking EU membership has
closed completely the border with the neighboring country, while in
the European Union borders became history long ago and free movement
is a fundamental principle,” Sargsian said.

Sargsian said he flew to Prague from Yerevan from the memorial complex
commemorating memory of Armenian genocide victims.

“Today I want to thank those countries, organizations and individuals,
who lend a helping hand during our nation-wide tragedy, recognized
and condemned genocide of Armenians. The crime of genocide does not
have statute of limitations and ahead of the 100th anniversary of
Armenian genocide I emphasize again the importance of global community
recognizing and condemning this unprecedented crime,” the Armenian
president said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress