Giving an interview to CNN Turk television, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that Turkey wants to mend fences with Armenian diaspora.
Stating that Turkey wishes to normalize relations not only with Armenia but also with Armenian diaspora in the United States, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said, "In this aspect, it is not correct to consider all Armenians by the same rule. Maybe a more comprehensive period of peace awaits us."
Stating that the problem has psychological, legal, political, historical, international law and protocols dimensions, Davutoglu said that Turks and Armenians should overcome these obstacles if they really want to reconcile. "Togetherness of Armenians and Turks roots back to Malazgirt. The peaceful relations lasted till the last century. The most important thing is to overcome psychological barriers," said he.
Evaluating the relations with Armenian diaspora in United States as a new step in the process of normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia, Davutoglu said, "If US government makes positive statements following the example of Swedish government, we then may send Ambassador Namik Tan back to Washington and intensify relations with Armenians."
Stating that Turks should try to understand what Armenians feel but also Armenians should do the same, Davutoglu said, "1915 means "displacement" for Armenians but on the other hand it means "Gallipoli and Sarikamis" for Turks. There were traumas in every frontline during the fall of the Empire."
Stressing that Turkey wants to establish contacts not only with Armenia but also with Armenian diaspora, Davutoglu said, "But if that cannot be achieved, if the circles that benefit from the status quo, from the sector that Armenian diaspora created, from the frozen relations between Turkey and Armenia come onto the stage again, of cource it would be hard to establish peace."
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