MINISTRY
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
———————————————-

PRESS AND
INFORMATION DEPARTMENT

Telephone: +37410.544041 ext. 202

Fax: +37410.565601

Email: press@mfa.am

www.armeniaforeignministry.am

PRESS RELEASE

Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian’s answer to the question of
“Interfax” News Agency

Question:

Minister, recently some Turkish officials have been making statements
to the effect that the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations
is conditioned by other issues like the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh
problem and the process of international recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. Could you comment on that?

Answer:
The normalization of Armenian – Turkish relations should have no preconditions
and it is with this mutual understanding that we have been negotiating
with the Turkish side.

Normalization of the relations
has no linkage to the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh problem and has
never been a subject of negotiations towards the normalization of Armenian
– Turkish relations.

It has been said many times,
and I want to stress it again, that the normalization of Armenian –
Turkish relations can never question the reality of Armenian Genocide.

Today, dozens of states and
international organizations have recognized the Armenian Genocide, which
Armenia has welcomed.

I believe, that the statements,
which put forth preconditions for the normalization of Armenian Turkish
relations may be regarded as an attempt to impede the
progress reached in the negotiations.