Friday, April 24 2015 09:03

The Republic of Armenia has never declared any territorial claims either to Turkey, or to any other country since our independence, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview with the Hurriyet newspaper. 

"There has never been such an issue on the foreign policy agenda of our country, and there is none today. That is a clear cut position. We are a fully-fledged and responsible member of the international community. As a member to the United Nations we recognize our role in the international affairs, we respect the principles of international law, and the same, incidentally, we anticipate from our neighbor to the West. The one that illegally keeps the border with our country shut, turning it into the last closed border in Europe, and brings up unacceptable preconditions for the establishment of the diplomatic relations with Armenia in disrespect towards the international community that mediated the Zurich Protocols. The Zurich Protocols, I remind you, which bears Turkey's own signature underneath," the president said.

"And, finally," the president said, "I would like to register: you might have noticed that the talk of Armenia's territorial claims towards Turkey or any intentions of our to that effect is mainly carried in Turkey, not in Armenia. I will stop here to let each of us draw his own conclusions as why it is so."

In response to the question whether Armenia is concerned about the fact that around 30 heads of states are going to participate in the Gallipoli event in Turkey, the president said: "The events scheduled for the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Centennial are not a matter of competition for us. If the Turkish authorities are in pursuit of securing more state leaders in attendance at any cost in order to overshadow the Armenian Genocide Centennial events, we have got much more serious and forward-looking goals, that is to establish a vigorous platform together with the international community in struggling against the past and future crimes against humanity. In contrast to Turkey, we neither force, nor threaten, and nor blackmail the international community to partake in our commemoration events. The representatives of states and international organizations are coming to Armenia guided not by political or economic gains, but principles, universal values and moral imperatives."
The president said that this is the first year that the Gallipoli celebration is planned on the very same day of April 24, when the Armenian people for a hundred years has been firmly getting together to commemorate the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide.

"Regardless of what name do the Turkish authorities ascribe to the Armenian Genocide, such an indelicate move manifested disrespectful attitude towards their own citizens - the memory of 1.5 million murdered Armenians. Meanwhile, had Turkey a slightest willingness to normalize our relations, figuratively speaking, "it should not have organized a feast and celebration on the day when the neighbor is mourning at home"," the president said.

As for the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border, the president said it would change many things. "First of all, it will create a certain atmosphere of trust, lay foundation of establishing beneficial business ties, and make a considerable contribution to the economic development of the Eastern provinces of Turkey. Opening the border will also make contacts between our civil societies more active, making them more informed about each other's approaches and perceptions, which, I believe, will also have a positive impact on the two nations' rapprochement."