YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS: In its September 21 issue the Italian leading daily “Corriere dela sera” has posted an interview with President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan. The interview entitled “In case of collision of Russia and West, Armenia points out the third way” refers to Armenia’s position in the context of Russia-West relations, Middle East crisis, as well as to Nagorno Karabakh and Armenian Genocide relations.

“Armenpress” news agency presents the part of the interview.

-President Serzh Sargsyan, which are the prospects of peaceful regulation of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict?

-The long negotiations gave important results – a regulation framework, based on three principles: non-use of force or threat of force, territorial integrity and self-determination. But the resolution to the conflict seems to be far away under the light of the recent events.

-Do you mean Ilham Aliyev’s threat on Twitter?

-Yes, and not only. Azerbaijan, periodically violating the ceasefire regime, does more than the Twitter.

-What kind of role does Turkey have?

-Not positive. Ankara defends, supports and presents the profits of Azerbaijan.

 -Additionally, there is also the Armenian genocide issue, the centenary of which will be commemorated in 2015, whereas Turkey continues to deny it. Will Turkey ever change its position?

-I am optimistic in the issue that one day Turkey will face its history and will recognize the Armenian Genocide. Because the number of people who are aware of that crime and are aware that Armenians do not blame them in the matter, is growing year by year in Turkey’s society. For the genocide we blame those, who governed in Turkey in 1915, the responsibility for which was recognized by the Turkish court.  Anyway, I have invited President Erdoğan to participate in the centenary commemoration ceremony, but I doubt that he will come.

-What role can Armenia play in the Middle East crisis, particularly, in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS)?

-The recent events in the Middle East trouble international community, particularly, the USA. There were large and viable Armenian communities in Iraq and Syria, which being Christian have lived there in harmony with Muslims for many years. Now in that territory we see gradual destruction of the Christian cultural heritage. The news about destruction of Armenian churches and monuments open our wounds. We are a small country, but the efforts of our coalitions directed toward stabilization of the region have always been accepted positively. Besides, the presence of Armenian communities in those territories makes us more vulnerable. At the end of October the deployment of Armenian peacekeeping forces in Lebanon – in the staff of the UN peacekeeping mission, under the Italian command, is intended.

The text of President Sargsyan’s interview to “Corriere dela sera” is posted in many Italian-language websites. To read the text in Italian, visit the following link.