October 27, 2005 - 19:52 AMT
Oskanian: Turkey Has No Courage To Do What Would Be Better for It
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian in an interview with Suddeutsche Zeitung rated Ankara's proposal on creation of a commission on the investigating the events of the past as "propaganda move". "First, all the proofs exist, and second, a commission of the kind cannot work in a vacuum. First of all Turkey should open the borders and establish diplomatic relations with us. Only then the initiative will have sense," Armenian Foreign Minister stated. "We want the European Union to force Turkey to open the Armenian border. Besides, the Genocide issue should be discussed in the country publicly," he added. When asked about the suspension of the meetings of the Armenian and Turkish FMs Vartan Oskanian said, "I do not wish to take part in merely protocol meetings to convince the world that Armenia and Turkey are holding negotiations. However, as a matter of fact nothing happened. Ankara is not ready for serious steps. Turkey is subordinate to the interests of a third state. Abdullah Gul underestimated Baku's influence. However this fact demonstrates that Turkey has no courage to do what would be better for it."