October 16, 2006 - 14:35 AMT
Peaceful Co-Existence of Armenia and Turkey Possible
Armenian and Turkey co-exist in peace, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said in an interview with the Armenian Public TV. "Turkey is a big country and our neighbor. We should resign ourselves to the thought that we live next to a nation, whose ancestors perpetrated the Genocide," Oskanian said. In his words, the Armenian Genocide problem should be considered not at historical but at political level. "Taking into account the current political situation within Turkey the proposal of Prime Minister Erdogan on formation of a historical commission is insincere and not serious," the RA FM said. In his words, this proposal was made for a mere PR purpose to show Europe that Turkey is ready to discuss the issue. "If a commission of historians is formed nothing will change. It will consist of Turks denying the Genocide and of Armenians pressing for its recognition," Oskanian underscored. "This issue cannot be considered at historical level with Turks, who themselves politicized the problem," the Minister said. According to him, the response of the Armenian President on formation of an intergovernmental commission is more logical and corresponds to the political reality, reports newsarmenia.ru.