RA MFA: Armenia ready to start serous dialog with Turkey over past and future

PanARMENIAN.Net - "Armenia and Armenians wish for substantive progress with Turkey regarding our painful past and a potential of a shared future as neighbors," RA MFA Acting Press Officer Vladimir Karapetyansays in his statement. In particular, the statement notes, "We do not want to be played in a never-ending process of "gestures" that do not intend to make real inroads in reconciliation and pursues propaganda purposes drawing away the attention of the international community from real problems. Armenia calls on the international community to encourage Turkey to engage in a substantive process toward open borders and normal relations. Actually the Armenian side would like to estimate Turkey's initiative on renovation and opening of the Holy Cross Church on Akhtamar island as a real step forward aimed at reconciliation and approach of Armenian and Turkish people. However it is difficult to do that since the Turkish government does not recognize the true value of the civilization and nation, which created this monument. The Armenian side thinks that first of all opening of Armenian-Turkish border, which was closed in 1993, will become a real progress in improvement of bilateral relations."