November 24, 2008 - 14:09 AMT
Hayk Demoyan: Armenian 'pass' to Turkey still unreciprocated
Armenian football diplomacy's pass to Turkey has remained unreciprocated, according to the director of the Armenian Genocide Museum.

"What Ankara is doing is imitation of activity to gain time," Hayk Demoyan told a news conference in Yerevan.

"Turkey failed to take return steps during the several months that passed since Gul's visit to Yerevan. On the contrary, Ankara publicly reiterates intention to form a commission of historians and to stop the process of the Armenian Genocide international recognition," he said, adding that if Turkey really wants to normalize relations with Armenia, it should put into operation the Kars-Gyumri line, establish diplomatic relations with Armenia, stop to lay claims in the Karabakh issue and put an end to its information war against Armenia.

"These are not preconditions for Ankara but if this country wants reconciliation, it should fulfill them," he said.

A regular "information attack" concerns reconstruction of the ancient Armenian capital of Ani, according to Mr. Demoyan.

"Reconstruction of Ani will promote tourism and, consequently, income. Meanwhile, Turkish authorities are planning to circulate information about explosions allegedly organized by Armenians, the goal of this canard being to prove that Armenians themselves destroy their cultural heritage," he said.