Serzh Sargsyan: recognition of Armenian Genocide is an issue of historical justice

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Prime Minister insists that Turks could not perpetrate the Armenian Genocide, as the Turkish history is “transparent and bright, like the sun.”

“Turks refuse to acknowledge the 1915 events as Genocide but this is not an issue for Ankara to decide,” Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview with Der Spiegel. “Threats to exile illegal Armenian migrants are not new; they awaken my nation’s bitter memories about the Genocide. The international community - the US, Europe and specifically Germany, all the countries involved in the process of the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation - should publicly express their position on the issue. Worldwide recognition of the Armenian Genocide could prevent Turkish officials from making such statements. Meanwhile, protest actions organized by youth representatives in Turkey inspire with hope. A new generation is growing up there, and the political leadership shall take into consideration its opinion,” the RA President noted.

Mr. Sargsyan also said that a historical commission cannot work impartially, if people are persecuted and condemned for the use of term Genocide in Turkey. “It is important for Ankara to prolong the process of decision-making. This way, when parliaments or governments of other countries try to adopt Genocide resolutions, Turkey will be able to say: ‘do not interfere, look, our historians are solving these issues’. Creation of such commission would mean questioning the fact of the Genocide perpetrated against our people. It is unacceptable for us. The establishment of such a commission would have been reasonable, if Turkey admitted its guilt. In such case, historians could jointly study the reasons, which had resulted in this tragedy. Armenian Genocide recognition is an issue of historical justice and our national security. The best way to prevent repetition of this horrible crime is its condemnation. At the same time, Turkey is scared by possible territorial claims and indemnity obligations. Nobody can deprive us of Ararat, which is in our hearts. You will definitely find a picture of Ararat in the house of any Armenian living in any corner of the world. I believe that the time will come when Ararat will not be a symbol of separation but will embody mutual understanding between the two peoples. However, I should specify the following: none of Armenian officials has ever presented territorial claims to Turkey. Turks themselves assign this to us, maybe due to acknowledgement of the guilt. We do not correlate the Genocide recognition with the opening of the border. And it is not our fault that the reconciliation does not take place. Turks permanently want us to yield, which is impossible. The execution of the NKR people’s right to self-determination is a very important issue. If Azerbaijan recognizes NKR independence, I think it will be possible to resolve the issue within several hours. Unfortunately, Azerbaijan is still thinking of regaining NKR, what, have no doubt, will result in total eviction of Armenian from Karabakh during a short period of time,” Mr. Sargsyan said.

He also reminded that the countries of former Yugoslavia managed to get independence. “Then why can’t Karabakh exercise the same rights? Is Azerbaijan’s oil and gas along with Turkey’s protection the only reason for it? In our opinion, this is unfair,” the Armenian President concluded.