Statement recognizing the Armenian Genocide voiced by Iranian Vice President Hamid Baghaei proves that Iran’s position on the issue is conditioned by principle of historic justice rather than religious solidarity with Turkey, Heritage Party MP Larisa Alaverdyan told NEWS.am.

Alaverdyan welcomes this statement, noting that it does not that much contradict Tehran’s official stance. “To date Iranian officials have not voiced such direct statements recognizing Genocide, nevertheless Tehran has never adhered to aggressive denial policy,” she noted. One should seek the reasons in age-old confrontation between Turkey and Iran, she stressed.

Iranian Vice President Hamid Baghaei stated that a hundred years ago the Ottoman Government committed genocide against a certain number of Armenians. Although the Ottoman Government does not exist now, Armenians demand official apologies and restitution from Turkey, he added.