Discussion of “Armenian genocide” in US Congress element of pressure

Monday, 08 February 2010 08:26

"Turkey is an independent state and it takes the decisions considering its national interests."

“I do not believe in coincidence in policy and diplomacy. The discussion of the recognition of the so-called “genocide” by the US Congressmen is an element of pressure today. But everyone should know that Turkey is not a country that can be spoken with in a language of pressure”, Turkish FM Ahmed Davutoglu told Turkish journalists, according to Hurriyet.

According to him, these are the links of one chain. At first the Constitutional Court of Armenia passes decisions that fully contradict to the spirit of the signed protocols, then Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan demonstrates unconstructive approach in negotiations in Sochi and now the date has been appointed for discussion of the so-called “genocide” in the US Congress.

“Why do these events occur in this very period? When signing protocols with Armenia, we have demonstrated the political will and started rapprochement on a goodwill basis. They should not blackmail us with April 24. If someone wants to put pressure on us, it will be useless. Turkey is an independent state and it takes the decisions considering its national interests”, he said.

“If Americans use such methods, we declare officially that the process of the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement will fail. This does not meet the interests of either Washington, or Yerevan or Ankara. Therefore, the United States should be more attentive to this issue and not hamper this process by excessive efforts”, he said.

Davutoglu also accused the Armenian side of insincerity, because it raises the issue of “genocide” despite the normalization of process. “They start raising the issue of ‘genocide’ every time before April 24, like Greeks do when they raise old problems before the EU-Turkish summits”.