GENOCIDE RECOGNITION OSKANIAN YEREVAN STANCE

Yerevan, January 9.

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian stated in Yerevan today that “in 2007 we expect considerable developments in the process of recognition of the Armenian Genocide in a number of states, in particular, in France and the USA”.

Mediamax reports that speaking at a news conference in Yerevan today, the Armenian Foreign Minister expressed disagreement as to the point of view, according to which the presence of the issue on the international recognition of the Armenian genocide on the foreign policy agenda of Armenia hinders the normalization of the relations with Turkey.

Vartan Oskanian reminded that the issue of Genocide recognition was not included in the foreign policy agenda of Armenia till 1998; however, it did not assist the re-opening of the border with Turkey. Besides, the Minister noted, Turkey continues to consider not the Genocide problem, but the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as a main obstacle to the normalization of the relations with Armenia.

“The activization of the international process on recognition of the Armenian Genocide became a reason for serious anxiety in the ruling and political circles of Turkey, forcing them to hold an intensive counter-propagandistic activities both in and outside of the country”, Vartan Oskanian stated.

Armenian Foreign Minister said that during 2006 there was no considerable progress registered in the Armenian-Turkish relations “because of Turkey’s policy concerning Armenia

News Source:  MEDIAMAX NEWS AGENCY