The Armenian-Turkish subcommittee will not discuss the Armenian Genocide, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan stated, commenting on the Protocols on normalizing the Armenian-Turkish relations initialed on August 31. “We have never concealed the fact that an intergovernmental commission is to be formed, with different subcommittees to discuss all possible issues. One of the subcommittees is to deal with restoring the confidence between the two nations through a historical dialogue. We have not raised the issue of 1915 or of the Armenian Genocide,” the Minister said.

On August 31, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Ministries of Armenia and Turkey issued a press release, which says: “The Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey have agreed to start their internal political consultations on two protocols – the ‘Protocol on the establishment of diplomatic relations’ and the ‘Protocol on the development of bilateral relations’.” Under the latter, an intergovernmental commission is to be set up, with one of its subcommittees to deal with historical issues: establishing a dialogue to restore the confidence between the Armenian and Turkish nations, making an impartial examination of historical documents and advancing proposals with the involvement of Armenian, Turkish, Swiss and other international experts.