Interview with RA NA Speaker Artur Baghdasaryan
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In April 2005, the progressive humankind will mark the 90th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire. What is your attitude towards this event?
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In April 2005 the 90th
anniversary of one of the biggest crimes known to the history of humankind will be marked. During all my official visits I discuss this issue during the negotiations. I think that 90 years will be an impetus for returning to the tragic events and for giving a meaning both for the Armenians and for other nations.
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What do you think, should Turkey justify itself before the eye of the whole world, as it did the civilized Germany, or the Armenians should forgive that tragedy?
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It would be logic and natural that during the passed 90 years not only other countries but Turkey as well would have adopted and condemned the Genocide. Unfortunately, the world knows other such examples. I mean the case with Germany, when the fact of Jewish Holocaust was officially adopted. I think that in a modern world there should be a clear position, especially towards such events, the crime ever committed should be condemned, to prevent further repetition. It is not accidental that day-by-day the number of countries that publicly recognize and condemn the Genocide is replenished. I am sure that Turkey will sooner or later accept the crime of 1915 initiated by the Young Turks and implemented under their direct leadership, as first of all, it was emanated from their interests, if they to have equal relations in a civilized world. As to whether the Armenians forgive or not forgive, I think that such a problem doesn’t exist in reality. First of all, never and nothing will make any Armenian forget the Genocide, during the Soviet power, at least till 1965, it was a criminally chargeable crime to remember the year of 1915, but did anyone forget it?
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What do you think about the further development of relations between Turkey and Armenia?
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I think that there should be normal relations between Turkey and Armenia. When in 2004 in Strasbourg I met with the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, we talked for nearly two hours, free and honest conversation about the problems of the part and present. I think that the meetings with each other and the discussions of problems are the way that can end the deadlock, give solutions to the existing problems. Yes, solutions, because instead of fighting with the problems it is necessary to find solutions through discussions, comparing the viewpoints or through opposing.
The problem is not this; we always nationally look back, remain in the past or look forward and try to have normal relations with our neighbor? Let us consider that today there are completely other legal relations in the world, both in Armenia and in Turkey. I think, we should be guided by the criteria adopted in the world public. Yes, there was Genocide, a great crime was committed, but that doesn’t mean that the Armenians and Turkish should forever be enemies with each other. Remember the history of Europe but that of the passed centuries and of the 20th
century. Europeans should have never conciliated and even shouldn’t have diplomatic relations and established European Union, because periodically they have been in war with each other: Great Britain, Germany, France, Balkan countries, Russia... But the world today is guided by the principles of cooperation and good neighborly relations, which we Armenians, cannot ignore based on our interests and for not staying back from the world public. Turkey should understand that using double standards is not allowed. The apostasy of the Armenian Genocide, closing the frontier with the neighbor is inadmissible for a country wishing to become a member of the European Union.
Lilit Nazaryan