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Turkish, Armenian ambassadors face off in TV debate
The New Anatolian / Rome
High-ranking diplomats from Turkey and Armenia, two countries without diplomatic ties, on Monday participated in a first-ever TV debate on sensitive issues including the Armenian genocide claims.
Turkish Ambassador to Rome Ugur Ziyal and his Armenian counterpart Ruben Sugaryan debated Turkish-Armenian relations on Italian state television channel RAI, where the recognition of existing borders, the establishment of a commission to investigate the alleged genocide and the opening of borders were discussed.
Concerning the recognition of existing borders, Ambassador Ziyal stressed that although Ankara wants to establish good relations with Yerevan, he urged Armenians to recognize the borders established by the Kars and Gumru treaties of 1921, and make giving up claims to Turkish territory a priority to establish diplomatic relations.
Commenting on Ziyal's remarks, Sugaryan said that Turkey's unilateral decision to close its borders to Armenia was a violation of the 1921 treaties.
In a move to put pressure on Sugaryan, Ziyal asked for a clear answer from Yerevan and said, "Unfortunately, I haven't gotten an answer from the ambassador. It's only our border gate with Armenia that is closed but our airspace is open. As two neighbors we have to look to the future. If you can give a positive answer to my question, cooperation is definitely possible."
In response to Ziyal's insistence, the Armenian ambassador stated that Yerevan would accept the latest agreement if a new one was not to be signed and implemented.
The recognition of current borders was one of the issues that dominated the agenda of secret talks between Turkey and Armenia last year. During the talks, Ankara suggested an exchange of letters between the two countries in which both parties would reaffirm their commitment to the Kars and Gumru Treaties of 1921. Armenian diplomats rejected this suggestion, stating that while they do not have any territorial claims or problems with recognizing the existing borders, they cannot accept this since the treaties set down Nagorno-Karabakh as Azerbaijani territory. The Armenian side proposed other formulas to meet Turkish expectations.
The second point of discussion raised during the televised debate was a Turkish proposal to establish a joint commission composed of historians to investigate Armenian genocide claims.
While Ziyal stated that the truth about the 1915 events can only be brought to light through the investigation of archives by historians, Sugaryan defended the view that only joint governmental commissions, not historians, can solve the issue. "We can't escape responsibility by handing the issue over to historians," Sugaryan added.
The Turkish ambassador, for his part also touched on the differing views that exist between Turkey and Armenia over the tragic events of 1915 and said, "Turkey's position on this issue is not based on denial but based on historians starting a comprehensive investigation of the archives."
In April last year, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a letter to Armenian President Robert Kocharian proposing to set up a commission of historians who would jointly study the events of 1915 to 1918 and the genocide allegations. Kocharian responded by calling for the creation of a Turkish-Armenian intergovernmental body that would tackle this and other issues of mutual concern.
The third issue that dominated the discussion was the opening of the Turkish border gate to Armenians.
While the Armenian ambassador expressed Yerevan's willingness to establish diplomatic relations with Ankara without proposing any preconditions including the Turkish recognition of Armenian genocide claims, he also called on Turkey to take steps toward establishment of relations, initiating dialogue and the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border.
Turkey is considering reopening its border with Armenia on the condition that Yerevan commits to a partial pullout from the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. Ankara seeks a withdrawal from four regions in Nagorno-Karabakh and believes that such a move can facilitate a comprehensive agreement between Yerevan and the Azeri capital Baku.
The New Anatolian / Rome
High-ranking diplomats from Turkey and Armenia, two countries without diplomatic ties, on Monday participated in a first-ever TV debate on sensitive issues including the Armenian genocide claims.
Turkish Ambassador to Rome Ugur Ziyal and his Armenian counterpart Ruben Sugaryan debated Turkish-Armenian relations on Italian state television channel RAI, where the recognition of existing borders, the establishment of a commission to investigate the alleged genocide and the opening of borders were discussed.
Concerning the recognition of existing borders, Ambassador Ziyal stressed that although Ankara wants to establish good relations with Yerevan, he urged Armenians to recognize the borders established by the Kars and Gumru treaties of 1921, and make giving up claims to Turkish territory a priority to establish diplomatic relations.
Commenting on Ziyal's remarks, Sugaryan said that Turkey's unilateral decision to close its borders to Armenia was a violation of the 1921 treaties.
In a move to put pressure on Sugaryan, Ziyal asked for a clear answer from Yerevan and said, "Unfortunately, I haven't gotten an answer from the ambassador. It's only our border gate with Armenia that is closed but our airspace is open. As two neighbors we have to look to the future. If you can give a positive answer to my question, cooperation is definitely possible."
In response to Ziyal's insistence, the Armenian ambassador stated that Yerevan would accept the latest agreement if a new one was not to be signed and implemented.
The recognition of current borders was one of the issues that dominated the agenda of secret talks between Turkey and Armenia last year. During the talks, Ankara suggested an exchange of letters between the two countries in which both parties would reaffirm their commitment to the Kars and Gumru Treaties of 1921. Armenian diplomats rejected this suggestion, stating that while they do not have any territorial claims or problems with recognizing the existing borders, they cannot accept this since the treaties set down Nagorno-Karabakh as Azerbaijani territory. The Armenian side proposed other formulas to meet Turkish expectations.
The second point of discussion raised during the televised debate was a Turkish proposal to establish a joint commission composed of historians to investigate Armenian genocide claims.
While Ziyal stated that the truth about the 1915 events can only be brought to light through the investigation of archives by historians, Sugaryan defended the view that only joint governmental commissions, not historians, can solve the issue. "We can't escape responsibility by handing the issue over to historians," Sugaryan added.
The Turkish ambassador, for his part also touched on the differing views that exist between Turkey and Armenia over the tragic events of 1915 and said, "Turkey's position on this issue is not based on denial but based on historians starting a comprehensive investigation of the archives."
In April last year, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a letter to Armenian President Robert Kocharian proposing to set up a commission of historians who would jointly study the events of 1915 to 1918 and the genocide allegations. Kocharian responded by calling for the creation of a Turkish-Armenian intergovernmental body that would tackle this and other issues of mutual concern.
The third issue that dominated the discussion was the opening of the Turkish border gate to Armenians.
While the Armenian ambassador expressed Yerevan's willingness to establish diplomatic relations with Ankara without proposing any preconditions including the Turkish recognition of Armenian genocide claims, he also called on Turkey to take steps toward establishment of relations, initiating dialogue and the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border.
Turkey is considering reopening its border with Armenia on the condition that Yerevan commits to a partial pullout from the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. Ankara seeks a withdrawal from four regions in Nagorno-Karabakh and believes that such a move can facilitate a comprehensive agreement between Yerevan and the Azeri capital Baku.
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