Davutoğlu had better visit Armenian Genocide Memorial instead of making provocative statements: Armenia's Deputy FM

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Responding the request of “Armenpress” News Agency, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan commented on the statements of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Ahmet Davutoğlu regarding the Armenian-Turkish relations and regional issues as well.

- Mr. Kocharyan, how would You comment on the recent statements made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Ahmet Davutoğlu regarding the regional issues?

- Before visiting Yerevan to participate in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization’s session, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Ahmet Davutoğlu had better take the chance and visit the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex to pay a silent tribute to the Genocide victims memory instead of making provocative statements, which can have solely a negative impact on the possible positive developments in the region. Turkey can contribute to the normalization of ties with Armenia by ratifying and implementing the Armenian-Turkish Protocols signed in Zürich in 2009 without any preconditions.

If Turkey wants the further acceleration of the process of establishment of civilized relations between the countries of the region, then it must recognize the Armenian Genocide organized by the Ottoman Empire and open the Armenian-Turkish border, which it has closed.