YEREVAN. – Turkey will not ratify the Armenian-Turkish protocols, and today the relations between Yerevan and Ankara depend on the relations of Armenia and Azerbaijan, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview with the Spanish agency EFE.
Asked whether relations with Turkey have changed after the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide held in Armenia and around the world, the head of state replied that these events had no effect on relations between Yerevan and Turkey, since they simply do not exist.
“We did not have a goal of raising anti-Turkish hysteria. Yes, we criticized the Turkish authorities for their policy of denial. We do not blame the Turkish people. We believe that denial is a continuation of the crime, and we believe that impunity and denial lead to new crimes. We are fighting not only for international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, but that of all genocides,” the Armenian leader said.
Serzh Sargsyan drew attention to the fact that in 2008 he initiated the process of reconciliation with Turkey, which was not completed because of Ankara.
“Protocols should have been ratified by the parliaments of Armenia and Turkey. We are still waiting for the Turks to ratify them. I am convinced that they will not do this, because the Turks have already expressed their opinion, and today the relations between Armenia and Turkey depend on the relations of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Turks are putting forward preconditions. At the same time, Armenia does not consider recognition of the Armenian Genocide as a precondition. Thus, we are not ready to accept the preconditions put forward by the Turkish side,” the president said.
Armenia believe that the problems that exist between the two countries can be discussed after the establishment of diplomatic relations, he added.
Referring to the situation with refugees in Armenia, the Armenian leader stressed that Armenians do not consider those who fled the war in Syria as refugees. Most of them are of Armenian origin, Serzh Sargsyan explained.
“We do not call these people refugees. They are our brothers and sister, we are one blood. We accepted 20 thousand Syrians, most of them of Armenian origin. Of course, they face many problems, but today Armenians living in Armenia are also experiencing difficulties and problems. We are trying to do everything so that they could adapt to the living conditions in Armenia,” Sargsyan said.
