TEHRAN. – “Turkey is outraged. If it recognizes the Armenian Genocide, new claims processes would begin. The Armenian Genocide is Turkey’s ‘Sword of Damocles,’” former Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Mohammad Farhad Koleini told Irdiplomacy News agency of Iran, referring to French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s recent declaration made in the Armenian capital Yerevan.   

According to Koleini, Turkey fears that, if it formally recognizes the Armenian Genocide, the Armenians would claim lands and this would transfer the process to a new phase.

The Iranian diplomat also invited an attention to the fact that the European countries, including France, use the Armenian Genocide issue as a means of pressure against Turkey.