ARMENIA supports Turkey’s EU course but believes it cannot join the bloc unless it reconciles itself with its past and develops constructive relations with its neighbours, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said yesterday.
Sargsyan, on an official visit to Cyprus, said he fully supports Cyprus’ positions as regards the Cyprus problem.
Speaking through an interpreter after talks with President Demetris Christofias, Sargsyan said Cyprus and Armenia do not “solve problems with threats” or on the basis of political interests.
He underlined that despite efforts to normalise relations with Turkey, the borders between the two countries remain closed and there are no diplomatic relations between them.
“Armenia is not against Turkey’s EU accession. But on the other hand we believe that Turkey cannot continue its EU course without reconciling itself with its past and without developing constructive relations with its neighbouring countries,” the Armenian president said.
The two countries have been at loggerheads for decades over the mass killings of some 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turks during World War I, killings which Armenia wants recognised as genocide.
Numerous countries, including Cyprus in 1982, have recognised the genocide but Turkey rejects this, saying the figures are exaggerated and those killed were victims of civil war.
Christofias said the talks with Sargsyan took place in a very friendly environment of mutual understanding, noting that “this also describes our very friendly bilateral relations”.
He thanked the Armenian President and the people of Armenia for their continuous support of Cyprus.
“I would like to thank President Sargsyan and the people of Armenia for their continuous support of our struggle to free our country from Turkish occupation and from Turkey’s policy to illegally bring settlers to the island and for your support of the reunification of Cyprus based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation with only one sovereignty, citizenship and international personality,” Christofias said.
Referring to the “courageous stance” of the government and the president of Armenia over the normalisation of relations with Turkey, Christofias said “Cypriots understand very well the difficulties and the necessity of such an attempt”.
Christofias pledged that Nicosia will continue to actively support further enhancement of EU-Armenia relations.
Cyprus, he said, is a firm supporter and friend of Armenia in the EU.
Christofias and Sargsyan signed a joint declaration on bilateral relations, while the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Markos Kyprianou and Edward Nalbandian signed an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation.
The two countries also signed agreements on tourism and health.
Speaking at an Armenia-Cyprus business forum hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Christofias said economic and trade relations between the two countries could improve to their mutual benefit.
Christofias said Cyprus is gradually turning into a vital economic link between the European Union and the countries of the Middle East, Asia and North Africa and “Armenian companies will be able to expand more effectively into the European Union and Middle East markets in co-operation with Cypriot companies,” he said.
“This co-operation can and should be reciprocal, with Armenia serving as an access route to the Caucasian countries for the business world of Cyprus,” he added.
Christofias noted that despite the fact that the trade and economic relations between Armenia and Cyprus are for the time being very limited, “the appropriate conditions exist for them to become closer and better.”
