Thursday 5 April 2007

Turkey Misleads Europe about Its True Intentions and Policies toward Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net/ Reports, based on sources in the Turkish government, are being circulated by the Turkish media allege that "secret talks" are taking place between Armenia and Turkey aimed at normalizing relations between these two countries. Sources close to the Turkish government quoted the government's spokesperson, Namik Tan, as saying that Turkey intends to continue to make efforts to normalize relations with Armenia.

The European Armenian Federation recalls that, each year, on the eve of the European Union's annual assessment of Turkey's candidacy, Ankara revives its efforts to misinform and disorient European public opinion about its true intentions and policies toward Armenia. "We have no doubt that meetings between emissaries of both countries may occur but there is a clear evidence that, as in the past, actual progress will not be possible until Turkey undertakes a fundamental realignment of its policies toward Armenia," said Hilda Tchoboian, Chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.

The Federation notes that Turkey continues to strangle Armenia through blockade and a broader strategy aimed at isolating Armenia internationally, and that it persists in escalating its political campaign to deny the Armenian Genocide. The European Armenian Federation urges the European authorities to condemn Turkey's efforts to mislead and confuse the European family of nations regarding its true posture toward Armenia. "If Turkey truly wants to become a European nation, it needs to take the steps that the world expects of it - including acknowledging its state responsibility for the Armenian Genocide and lifting its blockade of Armenia," concluded Tchoboian.

To remind, the Turkish MFA stated that Yerevan and Ankara hold “secret talks”. The Armenian Foreign Ministry neither confirmed nor refuted the information, remarking that the Armenian and Turkish diplomats hold meetings at various levels.

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