ACKNOWLEDGE ‘HISTORICAL RESPONSIBILITY,’ GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER ADVISES TURKEY, ARMENIA
Thursday, October 23rd, 2014
Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier offers a moment of
silence after laying a wreath at the Dzidzernagapert Armenian Genocide
Memorial in Yerevan
YEREVAN (Middle East Online)–Germany’s foreign minister on Thursday
offered Berlin’s experience in post-war reconciliation to Armenia and
Turkey to help them forge peace a century after the Armenian Genocide.
On a visit to Yerevan, Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Germany’s long
road to partnership with France after two world wars could serve as
an example following the 1915 slaughter and exile of Armenians during
World War I.
“When it comes to the bloody history of the 20th century, in which
Germany started two world wars, we should not present ourselves as
the schoolmasters,” he told reporters after talks with his Armenian
counterpart Edward Nalbandian in Yerevan.
“But we can offer our experience.”
He noted that he had also told Turkish leaders earlier this year
that Germany and France had worked hard to overcome the hatred of
previous generations.
“After a difficult century, we have reconciled by not keeping silent
about our historical responsibility” but by “working through the
horrific things that happened,” he said.
“If our experience can be helpful, we are ready to offer it,” he said,
citing youth exchange programs as one initiative that had helped to
build bridges.
“But that must be decided here.”
Nalbandian said Armenia was ready to reduce tensions with Turkey but
insisted the ball was in Ankara’s court.
“Five years ago, on Armenia’s initiative, we started a process that led
to the signature of the Zurich protocols — to make the normalization
of our relations possible,” he said.
“But Turkey is not respecting these agreements.”
Steinmeier also visited the Dzidzernagapert Armenian Genocide Memorial
in Yerevan on Thursday to pay tribute to the memory of the victims
of the Armenian Genocide.
Steinmeier was accompanied by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian and Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute
Hayk Demoyan.
The German Foreign Minister laid a wreath at the memorial to the
Armenian Genocide victims and paid tribute to their memory with a
minute of silence.
Hayk Demoyan presented a copy of his most recent book titled “Armenian
Genocide: Front Page Coverage in the World Press” and a stamp dedicated
to Johannes Lepsius, a German missionary, orientalist, and humanist
with a special interest in trying to prevent the Armenian Genocide
in the Ottoman Empire.
Nalbandian on Thursday met with Steinmeier. Welcoming the guest,
Nalbandian said with gratification that Armenian-German relations
have been continuously developing in the last two decades, the press
service of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Armenia told Armenpress.
Expressing gratitude for the warm reception, Steinmeier noted that his
country attaches importance to expansion of comprehensive cooperation
with Armenia and he has arrived in Yerevan for that very purpose.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
