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YEREVAN, APRIL 19, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian-Turkish cultural relations continue registering some progress, notwithstanding the suspension of the regulation of the political relations. The intellectuals of the two countries keep making visits to Armenia and Turkey.
The Turkish writer Ataol Behramoğlu arrived in Armenia to participate in the Poetry Festival, held in the framework of the program “Yerevan World Book Capital”. The Armenpress correspondent interviewed him, getting detailed information about the writer’s impressions about Armenia.
- Mr. Behramoğlu, you have arrived in Armenia to participate in the Poetry Festival. How do you feel here and what impressions do you have?
- I feel very well here and my impressions are positive. I congratulate the Armenian Writers’ Union for the organization of such initiative, which is very important. I am happy as well that I was able to plant a tree in the Poetry Park established in the framework of the Festival. Everything is quite well.
- How do you evaluate the current level of the relations between the Armenian and Turkish writers?
- We can’t say that our relations are close but it should be noted as well that we know and feel each other. I think that we should know each other better and be closer, as we have many similarities in the fields of history, culture and geography. We cannot live so far from each other. But I am an optimist and I think that everything will be fine. I am happy that being a Turkish writer, I have been invited here, notwithstanding all the difficulties. There are not everyday flights from Istanbul to Yerevan but I managed to come.
- You are in Armenia for the first time. What did amaze or interest you much?
- I have been in Yerevan for the first time, right. The girls are very beautiful here and the Armenians are a very good nation. I have very many Armenian friends in Istanbul, who are very good and close to me. That is why this circumstance does not amaze me, I know these people. I do not have the feeling of a foreigner in Armenia.
- Do you want to return here?
- By all means. I wish that the visits of the intellectuals of the two countries would become more often and the people know each other better.
- The participants of the International Poetry Festival visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial, built in the memory of the victims fell in the Armenian Genocide. Did you go with them as well?
- No, I have not, because I arrived in Yerevan after dinner. It is very hard for me to talk about it. Historians should speak of it more objectively and all the nations should accept that such tragedies have happened in the history.
- Nevertheless, the Turkish Leadership continues its denial policy…
- I think that in the entire world there are political issues to be resolved.
Interviewed by Arusik Zakharyan