Author: Nahapetian Samvel

SERGE SARKISIAN ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

Der Spiegel
April 6 2010
Germany

‘We Wanted to Break Through Centuries of Hostility’

Rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia is still far from sight. In
an interview with SPIEGEL, Armenian President Serge Sarkisian explains
why the recognition of genocide against his people is so important —
and why he is little surprised by hostilities from Turkish politicians.

SPIEGEL: Mr. President, in 2008, you attended a football match between
your two countries together with your Turkish counterpart. It was a
sensation at the time. Do you regret having invited the president of
Turkey to your capital?

Sarkisian: No. I am convinced there is no other alternative but for
Turks and Armenians to cooperate. We wanted to break through centuries
of hostility. It was clear to me from the beginning that it wouldn’t
be an easy process.

SPIEGEL: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told SPIEGEL that
on the topic of Armenians killed by Ottoman troops during World War I,
"There can be no talk of genocide against the Armenians." Why does
your neighbor have such difficulty with its own history?

Sarkisian: Mr. Erdogan has also said that Turks are not capable of
committing genocide, and that Turkish history is "as clean and clear
as the sun." Turkey resists classifying the massacre as genocide. But
no matter how great Turkish resistance may be, this is not a question
that is up to Ankara to decide.

SPIEGEL: Now Erdogan is even threatening to expel thousands of
Armenians living illegally in Turkey.

Sarkisian: For my people, such unacceptable comments evoke memories of
the genocide. Unfortunately, these comments don’t surprise me, coming
from the mouth of a Turkish politician. We don’t need to look very
far back in history to find comparable declarations. Similar voices
got loud in 1988 in what is today Azerbaijan. Dozens of Armenians died
in the resulting pogroms in Azerbaijani cities like Sumgait and Baku.

SPIEGEL: How should the international community act on this question?

Sarkisian: The world must react decisively. America, Europe —
Germany, too — all the countries that were involved in the process
of Turkish-Armenian rapprochement should take an official stance. If
every country had already recognized the genocide, Turkey wouldn’t
make these kinds of statements. What gives reason for hope is that
many young people in Turkey as well are protesting against these
tirades. There’s a new generation growing up there, and the political
leadership has to take their opinions into account.

SPIEGEL: Turkey also accuses you of blocking progress — Ankara says
you prevented the formation of a joint historical commission. Why
are you against this idea?

Sarkisian: How could such a commission work objectively, when at the
same time in Turkey, anyone who uses the term "genocide" is persecuted
and punished? Ankara is only trying to delay decisions. Whenever a
foreign parliament or government approached Turkey with a request
to recognize the genocide, the response would be, "Wait for the
results from the commission." Creating such a commission would mean
questioning the fact of genocide against our people. We’re not prepared
to do that. A commission would make sense if Turkey would admit its
guilt. Then historians could work together to uncover the causes that
led to this tragedy.

SPIEGEL: The genocide took place 95 years ago. Why is its recognition
so important for Armenia today?

Sarkisian: It’s a question of historical justice and our national
security. The best way to prevent the repetition of such an atrocity
is to condemn it clearly.

Part 2: ‘We Don’t Tie the Opening of the Border to Recognition of
the Genocide’

SPIEGEL: You can see Mount Ararat, Armenia’s national symbol, from
the windows of your residence. Today, the mountain is inaccessible,
on the other side of the Turkish border. Turkey fears demands for
land and compensation. Do you want Mount Ararat back?

Sarkisian: No one can take Mount Ararat from us; we keep it in our
hearts. Wherever Armenians live in the world today, you will find a
picture of Mount Ararat in their homes. And I feel certain that a time
will come when Mount Ararat is no longer a symbol of the separation
between our peoples, but an emblem of understanding. But let me make
this clear: Never has a representative of Armenia made territorial
demands. Turkey alleges this — perhaps out of its own bad conscience?

SPIEGEL: Your borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan are closed, while
Iran and Georgia make difficult neighbors. Isn’t it more important
to break out of this isolation than to fight endlessly with Turkey
over the genocide?

Sarkisian: We don’t tie the opening of the border to recognition of
the genocide. It isn’t our fault if the rapprochement fails.

SPIEGEL: Turkey wants to make the opening of the border dependent on
progress on the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia fought a war over
this region, which was claimed by Azerbaijan after the collapse of
the Soviet Union, but where the majority of inhabitants are Christian
Armenians.

Sarkisian: Turkey wants continuous concessions from our side. But
that is not possible. The most important matter is implementing the
right of Nagorno-Karabakh’s population to self-determination. In my
opinion, if Azerbaijan would recognize Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence,
the question could be resolved in a matter of hours. Unfortunately,
Azerbaijan appears to want to solve the problem through force. The
Azerbaijanis still believe they can annex Nagorno-Karabakh as part
of Azerbaijan. That would mean, though, that within a very short
period of time it would become impossible for Armenians to remain
in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Why were the states in the former Yugoslavia able to obtain
independence? Should Karabakh be denied the same rights — simply
because Azerbaijan has raw materials like oil and natural gas at its
disposal, as well as Turkey as its patron? We don’t think that is fair.

SPIEGEL: Would Armenia agree to extensive autonomy for Nagorno-Karabakh
within Azerbaijan, the way it was under the Soviet Union?

Sarkisian: Of course not. Giving Karabakh back to Azerbaijan would
lead to the expulsions of the Armenian population within a very short
period. Nagorno-Karabakh was never part of independent Azerbaijan. The
region wasn’t associated with Azerbaijan until a 1923 decision by the
Communist Party’s Caucasian Bureau, under pressure from Stalin. If
Karabakh were to become part of Azerbaijan, one would have to, at the
very least, restore the Soviet Union. I don’t think anyone seriously
wants that.

SPIEGEL: Turkey has been pursuing European Union membership for
decades. Is membership a goal for Armenia too?

Sarkisian: Europe’s values are attractive for us. That’s the reason
we’re currently reforming our administration, following the European
model, of course. We know very well we must solve problems if we want
to become a full-fledged member of a system. How long that process
takes depends on us — but also on the EU.

SPIEGEL: Your country shares a border with Iran. How do you assess
the global community’s conflict with Tehran?

Sarkisian: We’re watching with concern. Iran is one of only two land
routes that connect us to the outside world. Everyone in Armenia
knows that if Iran hadn’t kept the border open during the war, there
would have been supply shortages for our citizens. The situation
was similar during the Five-Day War (South Ossetia war) in 2008,
when rail connections through Georgia were disrupted. We’re building
a pipeline and a rail line together with Iran.

Interview conducted by Benjamin Bidder in Yerevan, Armenia. Translated
from the German by Ella Ornstein.

ld/0,1518,687387,00.html

ARMENIAN LEADER TALKS TO DER SPIEGEL

news.az
April 6 2010
Azerbaijan

Serzh Sargsyan German weekly Der Spiegel has published on its website
an interview with the Armenian president that has already provoked
a response from Baku.

Russian versions of the interview appeared yesterday on Armenian
websites. The Armenian president’s spokesman, Armen Arzumanyan,
told Tert.Am on Monday that Der Spiegel had promised to correct what
he described as inaccuracies in the weekly’s published version of
President Serzh Sargsyan’s interview.

The interview was not available on Der Spiegel’s website yesterday,
but appeared in German today. It has been translated below by News.Az.

It is the Armenian president’s remarks about Nagorno-Karabakh that
prompted a response from the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

Der Spiegel’s Benjamin Bidder said to Serzh Sargsyan: ‘Turkey
wants to make the opening of the border dependent on progress in
the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. Armenia waged a war for this territory,
which has been claimed by Azerbaijan since the collapse of the Soviet
Union but is inhabited mainly by Christian Armenians.’

‘Turkey always wants concessions from our side, but this is
impossible,’ Sargsyan replied. ‘The vital issue is the realization of
the right to self-determination of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. If
Azerbaijan were to recognize the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh, I
think the issue could be solved in a matter of hours. Unfortunately,
it looks as though Azerbaijan wants a military solution to the
problem. The Azerbaijanis still believe that they can connect
Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan. This would mean, however, that in a
short time it would become impossible for the Armenian population to
remain in Nagorno-Karabakh.’

‘Of course not,’ Sargsyan said when asked whether comprehensive
autonomy would be enough for Nagorno-Karabakh. ‘Giving Karabakh
back to Azerbaijan would lead in a short time to the expulsion of
the Armenian people. Nagorno-Karabakh was never part of independent
Azerbaijan. The region was linked to Azerbaijan for the first time in
1923 by decision of the Caucasus Buro of the Communist Party under
pressure from Stalin. If Karabakh were to be part of Azerbaijan,
one would at the very least have to restore the Soviet Union. I don’t
believe that anyone could seriously do that.’

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Elkhan Polukhov on Monday
described as ‘unfounded’ Sargsyan’s accusations that the Armenian
people would be expelled. ‘Mr Sargsyan seems not to know that
Azerbaijan will never drive out its population because of their
ethnicity,’ Polukhov told journalists in Baku. ‘Azerbaijan has never
refused to grant the Armenians and Azerbaijanis of Nagono-Karabakh the
right to self-determination according to international legal norms
within the framework of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,’
he said.

Asked by Der Spiegel what kind of solution he proposed, Sargsyan said:
‘Why could the states of former Yugoslavia achieve independence?

Shouldn’t Karabakh have much the same right – is it only because
Azerbaijan has raw materials like oil and gas and Turkey as a patron?

We don’t consider this fair.’

Polukhov responded that Yugoslavia, like the USSR, had collapsed
due to historical events and pointed out that Armenia had gained
its independence at that time. ‘It is at the very least, therefore,
politically incorrect to draw parallels between Azerbaijan and
Yugoslavia,’ Polukhov said.

Rapprochement with Turkey

Asked whether he regretted the invitation to Turkish President Abdullah
Gul to watch the Turkish football team play in Yerevan last September,
Sargsyan replied, ‘No, I am convinced that there is no alternative
to cooperation between Turks and Armenians. We want to break through
the centuries of enmity. We were clear from the beginning that this
would be no easy process.’

‘Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in his recent
interview with Der Spiegel that "there can be no talk of genocide",’
the weekly said. ‘Why can your neighbour not come to terms with its
own past?’

‘Mr Erdogan also said that Turks were not capable of committing
genocide, and that Turkish history was "as bright as the sun",’
Sargsyan replied. ‘The Turks are opposed to classifying the massacre
as genocide. However, Ankara is not the one to decide on this issue.

However great Turkish opposition may be, it’s not a question for
Ankara to decide.’

Asked about Erdogan’s recent threat to deport illegal Armenian migrants
from Turkey, Sargsyan said, ‘Such unacceptable statements stir my
people’s memories of the genocide. Unfortunately, it doesn’t surprise
me, coming from a Turkish politician. We don’t have to go back very far
in history to find similar statements. In 1988 similar voices could
be heard in today’s Azerbaijan. This led to pogroms in Azerbaijani
towns such as Sumgayit and Baku and the deaths of dozens of Armenians.’

‘The world must respond resolutely,’ Sargsyan said, when asked
how the international community should react. ‘America, Europe,
as well as Germany, all those countries that have been involved
in the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement process, should openly state
their position. Had all the states recognized the genocide by now,
the Turks wouldn’t talk that way. It is, however, a source of hope
that many young people in Turkey stood up against that statement. A
new generation is growing up in Turkey and the political leadership
of that country has to reckon with its opinion.’

Asked why he was against the creation of a bilateral commission of
historians to investigate the genocide claims, Sarsgyan said: ‘How
can such a commission work objectively if in Turkey using the term
genocide leads to persecution and criminal charges? Ankara is just
trying to delay decisions. When foreign parliaments or governments
ask Turkey to recognize the genocide, they will be told: "First wait
for the outcome of the commission." Creating such a body would mean
casting doubt on the fact of the genocide perpetrated against our
people. We are not prepared for this. A commission would be meaningful
if Turkey acknowledged its guilt. In that case scholars could study
jointly the causes of the tragedy.’

‘The genocide took place 95 years ago. Why is its recognition so
important for Armenia?,’ Der Spiegel asked.

‘It is a matter of historical justice and our national security. The
best way to prevent the repetition of such an atrocity is to condemn
it clearly,’ Sargsyan said.

Asked whether Armenia would like to have Mount Ararat, the symbol
of Armenia, back, Sargsyan said, ‘Nobody can take Ararat away from
us, we keep it in our hearts. Wherever in the world Armenians live,
you will find the image of Ararat in their homes. I am sure that the
time will come when Ararat will no longer be a symbol of division
between our peoples but a sign of understanding. However, I would
like to clarify the following: no representative of Armenia has ever
made any territorial claims on Turkey. This is what the Turks assume,
maybe because of a guilty conscience?’

‘We do not link opening the border with recognition of the genocide; it
is not our fault if rapprochement is foundering,’ Sargsyan said, when
asked whether it wouldn’t be better to open the border than quarrel.

EU

Asked whether European Union membership was a goal for Armenia,
Sargsyan said, ‘European values are attractive to us. That’s why we
are now reforming our administration on the European model, of course.

We know full well that if we want to be a full member of a system,
we must solve the problems. It doesn’t depend on us how long the
process will take, but on the European Union.

Iran

Asked his opinion on the international community’s conflict with
Tehran, Sargsyan said: ‘We view this with concern. Iran is one of
only two countries that connect us with the outside world. Everyone in
Armenia knows that if Iran had not opened its border during the war,
it would have led to restrictions in supplies to our towns. It was the
same during the five-day war of 2008, when the rail link via Georgia
was cut off. We are building a pipeline and a rail link together with
Iran just now.

Der Spiegel

AZERBAIJANI ANALYST ON POSSIBLE MEETING BETWEEN TURKISH PM AND ARMENIAN PRESIDENT IN U.S.

Today
4.html
April 6 2010
Azerbaijan

Interview with Azerbaijani political analyst Arif Yunus.

Can we say that Erdogan’s upcoming visit to Washington will remove
issue of the "Armenian genocide" from the agenda of the U.S. once
and for all?

To begin with, the issue of "genocide" will not be removed from the
agenda of the United States neither today nor in the coming years. It
will continue hanging over Turkey as the sword of Damocles. It’s
a good tool for putting pressure on Ankara. Problems in US-Turkish
relations will long be ambigious, because Turkey is also a regional
power and seeks to conduct its policy.

In addition, we must understand that the voters in the U.S. have a
significant role. There can not be policy, when the president can,
roughly speaking, shut the mouths of parliamentarians. It does not
work in the United States. And the role of ethnic diasporas in the
U.S. has been playing and will continue to play an important role.

Another thing, is that this year the U.S. president is not going to
do what Armenians expect him to do – he will not make a statement
recognizing the "genocide" on April 24th.

At the same time, the scheduled visit of the Turkish Prime Minister is
related to a new situation in our region rather than "genocide" issue.

Tehran’s nuclear program is the number one issue for the U.S. The U.S.

needs a stable situation in the South Caucasus and the possibility of
using this territory for its future plans in the region, particularly
in connection with Iran. Of course, Turkey’s position also plays a
great role both in relation to Iran and in relation with Caucasus
countries.

In your opinion, will Turkish PM and Armenian President meet in
the U.S.?

I am sure of it. Anyway, I’ll be very surprised if this meeting does
not take place. Americans themselves want this meeting to happen. I
have no doubt that during his meeting with Erdogan, Obama will surely
discuss all issues related to Armenian-Turkish relations. After all,
the question today is very important for both the U.S. administration
and Turkey. Each side hopes to solve its problems. Americans need
further progress in Armenian-Turkish relations, which stalled after
the protocols were signed in Switzerland. There were even fears about
the future prospects of Armenian-Turkish relations. So, this issue
will be discussed both in the course of US-Turkish negotiations and
during meeting between Erdogan and Sargsyan in the U.S.

In your opinion, will the Turkey-Armenia border finally open? Will it
be linked to the resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict?

Opening of the Armenian-Turkish border is a matter of time. Most
likely, it will open soon. Simply, each side is trying to squeeze
dividends in its favor and lose as little as possible. But it is very
doubtful whether this issue will be legally linked with the process of
settling the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. Of
course, during his meetings with Obama, and then with Sargsyan the
Turkish prime minister will try to link these two issues together. He
knows that Turkish society and Baku also want this. The best way out
for Erdogan and his supporters is to link these two processes. But
he is unlikely to succeed. Anyway, today it is difficult to imagine.

Is it possible that Armenian terrorism will again be used as a
mechanism of pressure on Turkey, and Armenian terrorists will organize
attacks in the country?

I think it has already been left in the past. First, let’s not forget
that notorious Armenian terrorist organization ASALA was supported
by the USSR, and was part of the great geopolitical struggle of
the Soviet Union against NATO and U.S. in that period. There is a
different situation in the region.

May the process of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict mark
progress any time soon?

No. As always, we’ll hear optimistic statements by the OSCE Minsk Group
and other Western diplomats and experts. There will be statements by
the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia. But realistically, I expect
no breakthrough in this regard in near future.. The positions of the
conflicting parties are too far apart, and today I see no positive
dynamics towards the settlement of the conflict.

How do you assess the socio-political situation in Armenia? Does
former President Kocharian have a chance to return to politics?

Today the situation in Armenia is quite difficult. But when compared
with Serzh Sargsyan’s early days in power, today his position is much
stronger than it was a year ago. And we can say that today he feels
as president much more confident than a year ago.

However, socio-political situation in Armenia is heavily dependent on
three factors: the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, relations with
Turkey and the economic situation in the country. And since there is
uncertainty and serious problems in all three cases, it means that
socio-political situation in Armenia will be permanently subject to
changes and shocks.

Since the power in Armenia is not democratic and would not be
inclined to seek dialogue with the opposition and solve problems
based on democratic principles, I do not rule out changes in Serzh
Sargsyan’s position. Therefore, we can only talk about the current
situation of Sargsyan.

NEWLY ESTABLISHED TURKISH AGENCY TO COUNTERBALANCE ARMENIAN DIASPORA?

news.am
April 6 2010
Armenia

Turkish President Abdullah Gul approved decision #5978 on establishing
the department for foreign and national Turks.

It will have three vice-presidents, three advisers and 101 officers,
the Turkish presidential website reports.

The body will work with Turks living abroad, tackle their problems
and develop cultural and humanitarian ties. Turkish sources report,
that the newly established department aims at opposing the Armenian
Diaspora.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT MEET FIDH PRESIDENT

news.am
April 6 2010
Armenia

RA President Serzh Sargsyan held a meeting on Apr. 6 with Ms. Souhayr
Belhassen, President of the International Federation of Human Rights
(Fédération internationale des droits de l’homme) (FIDH) on the
occasion of the FIDH’s 37th conference.

The RA presidential press office Affairs informed NEWS.am that the
Armenian leader expressed his appreciation of the FIDH’s cooperation
with Armenia and welcomed the FIDH’s decision to hold such a
representative conference in Yerevan.

President Serzh Sargsysan pointed out numerous problems with human
rights protection in Armenia. He stated that all of them cannot be
resolved at once.

Ms. Belhassen thanked the Armenian leader for Armenia’s efforts
to host the conference at a high level. She designated the FIDH
conference in the South Caucasus as a historic event. She pointed
out that the Armenian capital has turned into the capital of human
rights today. According to her, Armenia is favorably distinguished
in the region in terms of human rights protection, personifying the
whole region.

‘TURKEY FIRST NEEDS TO MAKE PEACE WITH ARMENIANS IN TURKEY’: BAGDAT

Tert.am

Hayko Bagdat, an Armenian who was born and raised in Turkey, says
peace between Turkish and Armenian people is more important for him
than Turkey’s normalization of relations with Armenia because he
would like to have a "normalized life" in Turkey, where he lives.

"Turkey may or may not have good relations with Armenia. The first
thing Turkey needs to do is to make peace with Armenians in Turkey,
where you can find Armenian heritage everywhere," Bagdat told Turkish
news source Today’s Zaman.

"I understand the benefits of the normalization of relations with
Armenia from the perspective of realpolitik, but it is not enough
for me. For me, the important thing is to have normalization in my
daily life."

Born into a family with a Greek mother and an Armenian father, Bagdat
is married to a Turkish woman. Bagdat said he feels comfortable where
Turkish is spoken.

ARTSVIK MINASYAN ASKS ARMENIA’S GOVERNMENT TO REMOVE THEIR ROSE-COLOURED GLASSES

Tert.am

Armenia today is in the post-crisis stage of ascent; the 2011 GDP
per capita in the country will reach 2008 indicators, said RA Deputy
Minister of Finance Vardan Aramyan rather optimistically at a press
conference today, noting that this year’s budget based on a 1.2%
economic growth has risen slightly as a result of discussions with
the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The deputy minister announced
that the rate of the economic growth will speed up after June.

The RA Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary
Affairs Deputy Chair and Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF-D,
Dashnkatsutyun) MP Artsvik Minasyan, however, didn’t agree with
Aramyan’s forecast. In fact, Minasyan went as far as to say to Aramyan
to remove his rose-coloured glasses, since "the colour density on
the colourful glasses cannot change the situation."

"Your much-loved international bodies record the poverty level in
Armenia as being at 30%, [and] the unemployment indicator is the same.

And it’s not advantageous for you to present the truth with bright
colours," said Minasyan, while proposing the government to publicize
specific results from the work carried out.

Prior to this observation, Aramyan was stating that the level of
unemployment declined in the two months of this year, and that the
government’s decision to raise pension and social welfare payments
will ease the social tension.

NEW LIE BY AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN OFFICE

news.am
April 1 2010
Armenia

Belarus has repeatedly stated its position on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict through high-ranking officials. Minsk is for the soonest
settlement of the conflict within international law, Belarussian
Ambassador to Armenia Stepan Sukharenko told NEWS.am.

The Azerbaijani mass media recently reported that the participants
in the Azerbaijani-Belarussian consultations pointed out that "the
only way of establishing durable peace in the region is settling
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the principle of sovereignty and
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan."

"Both friendly nations, Armenia and Azerbaijan, are close to us. We
are for the soonest settlement of the conflict in the conflicting
parties’ interests, as the present situation cannot be considered
normal," the Ambassador said.

So it is obvious that the Azeri mass media is once again misinforming
the public about the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

378 HAVE JOINED THE ON-LINE PETITION "WE ARE LIVING IN ANOTHER TURKEY"

armradio.am
02.04.2010 15:40

Angered by a Turkish-Armenian representative’s failure to emphasize
the group’s suffering in 1915 during a recent meeting with the prime
minister, community members have demanded "civilian" leadership within
the community through an online petition.

The intra-communal split stems from a March 26 meeting in Ankara
between Bedros Sirinoglu, president of the Yedikule Surp Prkich
Armenian Hospital Foundation, and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

During their conversation, Sirinoglu, who is also a prominent
businessman, described the events of 1915 as "a fight between two
brothers," and said Armenians in Turkey have no problems whatsoever.

Furious at the remarks, some members of the Armenian
community have started an online petition campaign at
bizbaskabirturkiyedeyasiyoruz.blogspot.com, a domain name that means
"We are living in another Turkey." The petition had been signed by
378 individuals as the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review went to
press Thursday.

Speaking to the Daily News, Sirinoglu said he was deeply sorry
about the issue. "I do not deny what was experienced, but calling it
‘genocide’ does no good to anyone," he said.

Rakel Dink, the widow of assassinated Turkish-Armenian journalist
Hrant Dink, and other Dink family members are among those who have
signed the online petition. Signatories see the petition as a first
step on the path toward "civilianizing" the community.

Pakrad Oztukyan, editor at the weekly Agos, where Dink once worked,
is among the signatories. "This is the reaction of the Armenian
people, a denominational stance and a first step on the path toward
civilianization," he told the Daily News.

UNRECOGNIZED TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS TO DISCUSS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

armradio.am
01.04.2010 13:56

The unrecognized Parliament of the TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus) will discuss the resolution on Armenian Genocide, Gibrahayer
e-magazine reports.

A small political party of the far left, represented by Ragip Levent
has announced that in the next session of the so-called Assembly
of the TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) he will submit a
resolution for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, honouring
the survivors of the Armenian Genocide who fled to Cyprus in the
beginning of the 20th century.

Levent said that Armenians and Turks lived in harmony for decades
and as Turkish Cypriots who witnessed the influx of the Armenians to
Cyprus have the moral obligation to make a statement towards history.

"As we are all trying to make a fresh start with the solution of the
Cyprus problem, we as Turkish Cypriots must do our bit, towards our
Armenian Cypriot compatriots," Levent concluded.