ANKARA. - Turkey has condemned Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan’s speech in which he urged Armenian youth to return Armenian historical lands that are currently part of Turkey, reports Today’s Zaman.

A statement released by Turkish MFA on Tuesday said Turkey strongly condemns a response of Sarksyan “to a question about occupying eastern Turkey,” reports the paper.

Earlier in response to a student’s question concerning future borders of Armenian state and whether the Western Armenia with the Mount Ararat will ever be united to Eastern Armenia, the president answered that everything depends on the young generation. Every generation has some goal to achieve, he added.

Current generation defended and liberated a part of Armenian land. If the future generation makes much effort then Armenia will be one of the best states in the world. Generally, the power of the state is not defined through its territory. The state should be modern, secure and prosperous. The Armenian people are able to achieve their goal. And they will if they believe, added President Sargsyan.

Turkey said it is “very irresponsible behavior” to make recommendations to youth and future generation that could provoke animosity and ideology of hatred among nations.

The statement said “at a time when peace attempts have intensified in the region, expressions that the Armenian president did not shunned to use signal that he has no intention for peace.”