Turkey is a valuable partner of Great Britain at NATO, British Ambassador to Armenia Ms. Katherine Leach told reporters, Wednesday, when commenting on Turkey's policy of Armenian Genocide denial.
The ambassador said they have been working on a reconciliation program in Europe for the last 70 years to have what they have now. Europe sees Turkey's efforts to come closer to the European Union. However, Ms. Leach said, Europe encourages also the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation efforts and welcomes the Armenian-Turkish protocols signed in Zurich in 2009. In this light, the ambassador said that the year 2015 is symbolic for Armenia, as the country will be marking the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
Ms. Leach said she hopes Ankara will make a step forward. German Ambassador Mr. Reiner Morell, in turn, said organizing events timed to the centennial of the World War I they seek to demonstrate that it is possible to overcome enmity, reconcile and go ahead together.
According to the ambassador, the biggest achievement after the WWII was establishment of the European Union, which is the zone of peace, and it cost big efforts to achieve that. "It is important to try to overcome difficulties and to apologize. We hope Turkey will be thinking over that issue within the coming years. However, I would like to mention also positive changes in the Turkish society in this issue. We can expect some progress in the near future," Mr. Morell said.