Armenian, Turkish diplomats did not discuss Genocide issue

March 26, 2010 - 13:11 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Genocide issue was not discussed during the meetings between Armenian and Turkish diplomats, an Armenian senior diplomat stated.

"I personally took part in the meetings which preceded the dialogue between the two countries," Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakossian said.

He also emphasized that both the Armenian President and Foreign Minister numerously stated that Armenia never questioned the fact of Genocide and its international recognition. "Speculations on the issue are inadmissible," Mr. Kirakossian said.

Earlier, ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Ali Babacan said that the Armenian Genocide issue was discussed during diplomatic meetings under Swiss mediation.

The Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres and deportations, involving forced marches under conditions designed to lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths reaching 1.5 million.

The majority of Armenian Diaspora communities were formed by the Genocide survivors.

Present-day Turkey denies the fact of the Armenian Genocide, justifying the atrocities as “deportation to secure Armenians”. Only a few Turkish intellectuals, including Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk and scholar Taner Akcam, speak openly about the necessity to recognize this crime against humanity.

The Armenian Genocide was recognized by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, Italy, 45 U.S. states, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Argentina, Belgium, Austria, Wales, Switzerland, Canada, Poland, Venezuela, Chile, Bolivia, the Vatican, Luxembourg, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Sweden, Venezuela, Slovakia, Syria, Vatican, as well as the European Parliament and the World Council of Churches.