The fact that Turkey does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus is inconceivable, said on Wednesday the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, while reiterating Yerevan`s steady support for a Cyprus solution, according to Famagusta Gazette.
We are seeking a peaceful resolution both for the Cyprus issue, as well as for the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, he noted, during an event at the University of Cyprus, where he spoke on the “political agenda of Armenia ahead of the 25th anniversary of Independence”.
He added that a Cyprus settlement is feasible, if other forces stop raising obstacles in the process.
Speaking on a settlement over Nagorno-Karabakh with Azerbaijan, President Sargsyan expressed his appreciation over Cyprus` steady support of the efforts undertaken by the OSCE Minsk Group.
Asked on Yerevan’s policy vis-a-vis the two issues, Sargsyan said that Cyprus is recognized by the world community and the fact that Turkey stands alone in not recognizing it, is meaningless.
On Nagorno-Karabakh, he said that not even Armenia has proceeded with its recognition, since negotiations are ongoing and anything else could lead to fresh strife.
He said however that the right to self determination should to be respected through a referendum.
On bilateral relations with Turkey, the President of Armenia said that the main obstacle were Turkish-Azerbaijani relations.
He explained that Armenia’s point of view over the genocide and Turkey’s obligation to reconcile itself with the past had no relation, whatsoever, with forging diplomatic ties between the two countries.
We are ready to develop diplomatic relations with Turkey, he went on, but noted that Ankara was associating the issue with its ties with Baku.
On relations with Nicosia, President Sargsyan noted that Armenians do not forget that Cyprus was the first country to bring up the recognition of the Armenian genocide in the UN General Assembly, and was the first European country to acknowledge it.
Bilateral ties are becoming deeper in various sectors, the President went on, underlining in particular the potential in education and military cooperation.
He also referred to the economic potential, through membership in the Eurasia Economic Union and the opening of Iran’s market.
Sargsyan also referred to the turbulence in the Middle East and said that it was sad to see the descendants of Armenian refugees in Syria and other countries to be obliged to become refugees themselves.
The event was also addressed by Vartkes Mahdessian, the representative of the Armenians in the House of Representatives, as well as by the Rector of the University of Cyprus, Constantinos Christofides.
