November 25, 2008 - 16:19 AMT
Ankara engaged in political advertisement, Ara Papian says
Armenia needs diplomatic relations with Turkey, but Turkey needs them more, leader of Modus Vivendi center, historian and diplomat Ara Papian told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Ankara engaged in political advertisement and Yerevan helps this process, according to him.

Yesterday, during a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, Turkish FM Ali Babacan said Ankara could send an envoy to Yerevan without establishment of diplomatic relations in exchange for Armenia's consent to form a commission of historians to study the fact of the Armenian Genocide.

"It will be nothing but appointment of an ambassador at large. Armenia has a representative in the BSEC, who can also be named an ambassador at large," Mr. Papian said. "Establishment of diplomatic relations is a means of communication. At that, Armenia favors Turkey's ambitions in the region, for some reason."

"Formation of a commission of historians to study the fact of the Armenian Genocide is a condition Armenia can never accept. Consent will mean that Armenia questions this historical fact. Yes, it will be good to have an open border between Armenia and Turkey but we must never forget that it was Turkey, who closed the border," Mr. Papian said.