Not Turkey but Azerbaijan connects Armenian Genocide with Karabakh problem

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Turkish side voiced a wish to normalize relations with Armenia, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakossian told a news conference on the outcomes of his meeting with Turkish FM Abdullah Gul. The talks between Ankara and Yerevan were launched after Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a letter to RA President Robert Kocharian, he said. "As you remember, the Turkish Premier proposed formation of a commission of historians on investigation of the Armenian Genocide issue. In response, the Armenian President offered to form an intergovernmental Armenian-Turkish commission on establishment of a dialogue between the two states. We meet with the Turkish MFA officials from time to time, however, I should repeat that Armenia's stance on the issue is unchangeable. We are ready for normalization of relations without preconditions while Turkey lays down conditions as regards the Armenian Genocide issue," stressed Kirakossian. "It's also worth mentioning that it's not Turkey but Azerbaijan that binds the Armenian Genocide issue with the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. "I have several times read such information in the Azeri Press Agency. Nevertheless, I have never noticed anything of the kind in Turkish media," the RA Deputy FM said.



To remind, Arman Kirakossian met with Turkish officials during Hrant Dink's funeral in Istanbul February 23.