ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS ON TURKEY TO PUT ASIDE PRECO

[MosJan]

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS ON TURKEY TO PUT ASIDE PRECONDITIONS FOR NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS: Addressing the 56th UN General Assembly session Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian called on Turkey to put aside its preconditions for improvement of relations with Armenia in the interests of regional and world peace.

"In this post-September 11 world, when the Cold War has truly and finally ended, where erstwhile adversaries have found reasons to put aside ideology and establish partnerships, perhaps Turkey will put aside preconditions in the interests of regional and world peace," he said.

"Armenia would like to have normal good neighborly relations with Turkey and is hopeful that Turkey will establish diplomatic relations with Armenia, open the borders and engage in constructive cooperation," Oskanian said.

In reference to the Armenian genocide, which Turkey refuses to acknowledge, minister Oskanian said: "The memory of the Armenian Genocide continues to haunt and obstruct Turkey's relations with Armenia. However, we are confident that this issue can be addressed between the two governments, through dialogue."

"The events of the last two months reminded Armenians that man is indeed capable of immense, indescribable evil and that mass violence is not a thing of the past. Yet, if we, as the victims of Genocide, are unwilling to permit our own tragic past to define our actions in the future, we can confidently call on Turkey to do the same, and join us as equal participants in a dialog between our two peoples," Oskanian said.