The ARF-D Bureau member Vahan Hovhannisyan declined an invitation to take part in the Wilton Park conference on Turkey`s policies for engagement in the contemporary world to be held in Istanbul, March 24 to 27.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) informed Armenian News-NEWS.am that this is the 3rd Wilton Park conference in Turkey to be sponsored by the Turkish foreign office. Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglu will make an opening address.

In his letter of response, Vahan Hovhannisyan pointed out that the reason for his refusal to take part in the conferences either organized by the Turkish government or attended by Turkish officials is that Turkey denies the Armenian Genocide and responsibility for that crime. "I am sure that the Turkish Foreign Minister will appreciate this principle-based stance," says the letter.

"We are for a dialogue and Armenian-Turkish reconciliation. However, we witnessed that Turkey abused Armenia`s sincere and friendly step. Turkey will not put an end to the illegal blockade of Armenia and keeps on holding a biased stance in the Nagorno-Karabakh problem," the Armenian politician`s letter says.