Armenia already met Turkey halfway

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey wants to see Armenia a weak and economically undeveloped country, said Kiro Manoyan, ARF Dashnaktsutyun Bureau's Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office Director.



"Ankara has set preconditions to Armenia for 20 years already," he told a conference in Stepanakert.



"How will Armenia benefit by establishment of diplomatic relations with Turkey? It will have the opportunity to pursue an independent policy in the region and will gain political advantage over Azerbaijan in the Karabakh issue," he said.



Armenia met Turkey halfway, when it refrained from imposing conditions, according to Mr. Manoyan.    



"We should have told Ankara that we will not agree to open dialogue unless it recognized the Armenian Genocide," he said, adding that Armenians should not sacrifice the unity of nation to normalize relations with Turkey.



"We must never lose our national values for the sake of temporary achievement," he said.