March 21, 2007 - 14:48 AMT
Actually Turkey doesn't wish normalization of relations with Armenia
"The reconstruction of the Church on Akhtamar is an extra proof that Armenians were natives there," RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian told a news conference in IA Regnum's press center today. Turkey represents its move as a gesture of good will for normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations, he said. "As a matter of fact, it's not so. Turkey meant to impress the international community. If Turkey wished to normalize relations it would open borders. Just imagine, in order to attend the inauguration of the St. Cross Church the Armenian delegation will have to fly to Istanbul or Tbilisi and then head for Van. It will take 16 hours while a trip from Yerevan to Van would take 4 hours only. Things are not clear with the Yerevan-Van-Yerevan charter flight yet," he said adding that the Armenian delegation will be led by Gagik Gyurjian, the Deputy Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs.