Armenia strives to establish relations with Turkey without preconditions, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said during a joint press conference with his Swiss counterpart Micheline Calmy-Rey.

Expressing gratitude to Switzerland for mediating talks between Armenia and Turkey, President Sargsyan said that Ankara pursues its shortsighted policy of splitting Armenia and the Diaspora. He stressed that if Turkey continues its policy, Armenia will lose trust in process of normalization of bilateral relations with Turkey.

“I am surprised that Turkey does not realize that the Armenian Diaspora emerged as a result of the Armenian Genocide in a whole. Today Diaspora is our pride and our power. Representatives of the Diaspora are Armenia’s ambassadors to world states,” said President Sargsyan. “For instance, famous singer Charles Aznavour is our envoy to Switzerland.”

Speaking about the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, President Sargsyan stressed that condemnation and affirmation of the crime by world community will not hamper Armenia-Turkey reconciliation.

He brought an example of Switzerland, a country that recognized and condemned the Genocide and gained victory over geopolitical and economic environment on the ground of human right protection and justice.

“However, this did not prevent Switzerland from mediating between talks Armenia and Turkey,” he added.