April 30, 2009 - 15:09 AMT
Ankara statements can split Armenian society
Being problematic, the legal framework of Treaty of Kars was blatantly violated by Turkey, Armenian Genocide Museum Institute Director Hayk Demoyan told a news conference in Yerevan today.

According to him, Treaty of Kars was signed by Kemalist Turkey and Soviet Republics of Transcaucasia. The Treaty implicates that Turkey should recognize the Nakhijevan region and declare it under Azerbaijan's jurisdiction.

"In case of normalization of relations, Armenia and Turkey must sign a new intergovernmental agreement. We should not even think of Treaty of Kars. Such statements by Ankara can cause a split in the Armenian society," the Armenian historian said.

Speaking of new intergovernmental agreement between Yerevan and Ankara, Demoyan noted, it would be good to put in the document Turkey's readiness to liquidate consequences of the Armenian Genocide.

"The document should cover such issues like rescue of Armenian cultural heritage in Turkey and definition of statuses. Following Treaty of Lausanne, Turkey took the responsibility to respect cultural and religious rights of ethnic minorities in the country," concluded Demoyan.