Monday, November 27, 2006

The More States Recognize Armenian Genocide the More Aggressive Turkey Becomes

27.11.2006

YEREVAN (YERKIR) - “Recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey is not a precondition for the establishment of normal neighbor relations,” RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian told France Press, PanARMENIAN.Net reported, citing RFE/RL.

He voiced assurance that ‘the obstacle can be removed via cooperation between the Armenian and Turkish people. The RA FM described the proposal of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan on formation of a commission of historians for investigation of the events of 1915 as smoke screen.

“How can a joint commission be formed in the absence of diplomatic relations between Yerevan and Ankara?” he said adding that it’s a political issue and the approach should be political. Minister Oskanian condemned Turkey for its denial policy. “The more states recognize the Armenian Genocide the more aggressive Turkey becomes.

Turks have never been so organized at the state level as in this denial campaign,” he remarked. In his words, the adoption of the French bill penalizing the Armenian Genocide denial is a response to the aggressive line of the Turkish government. When commenting on the fear that the acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide may arouse claims of compensation Vartan Oskanian said. “Armenia’s foreign policy agenda includes the recognition of the Genocide only.”


Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.

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