Yesterday American “The Wall Street Journal” published an interview given by RA defense minister Serj Sargsyan entitled “Even though the Genocide…”, in which the minister says that he hopes the process of integrating Turkey in the EU would give a long-expected opportunity to develop civil relationship between Armenia and Turkey. “We think that the negotiations on the issue of joining the EU will help Turkey develop better relations with its neighbors even if it is considered as a future member of the EU” said Serj Sargsyan. According to the Armenian defense minister, the Armenian-Turkish relationship and the Armenian Genocide are important issues, “which should be discussed in the framework of the negotiations of integrating Turkey in the EU”. “It is very important to remember the past for the purpose of stopping such things happen in the future” said the minister. “We believe that the EU will be involved in the process of looking for break points in the Armenian-Turkish relationship more actively” concluded Serj Sargsyan. The minister thinks that Armenia has a correct and clear policy standing to the issues of the Armenian-Turkish relationship. “We’d like to develop routine diplomatic and other relations with Turkey without any preconditions. It also means that we are even ready not to connect the relations with the issue of the Genocide. What is more important, we want to use such relations as a tool to solve the outstanding problems in our relationship” noted Serj Sargsyan. The minister thinks that the solutions can be found only if we “start direct dialogue and work hard for that purpose”. “It is a pity that the only actions Turkey has undertaken so far since Armenia’s recommendation to develop routine diplomatic relations has been punishing and threatening those recognizing the fact of the Genocide”. The minister also notes that Turkey has been denying so far to develop diplomatic relations with Armenia, keeps the borders closed in spite of the growth of international pressure on them and condemnations, as well as they do their best to alienate Armenia from the regional transportation projects and do not have a constructive role in the process of the Karabakh conflict negotiations. “Anyway, Armenia does not consider the possible integration of Turkey in the EU as a threat to Armenia’s national security. Even more, we believe that Turkey will be changed and will be ready to turn face to face with its past and future” said Serj Sargasyan. “Neither the Turks nor the Armenians are going to leave from the region. The most logical solution is to develop normal diplomatic relations directly with each other” noted the defense minister, “I don’t mean that Armenia should develop relations with Ankara by all means. What I say is that Armenia is ready to develop diplomatic relations without any preconditions”. “We can’t always be enemies, even if we can, there is no need and sense in such enmity” concluded the article the Armenian defense minister.
