Why on the eve of April 24?
Armenia and Turkey, together with Switzerland as mediator, have come to a joint agreement on the normalisation of bilateral relations. In this context, a road-map has been identified but no reference has been made to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
We tried to find out our civilians' opinion on the agreement.
Psychologist Serzh Ishkhanyan considers the agreement on relations as a positive fact. Te more positive the relations with our neighbours are, the better for Armenia, says the psychologist.
Designer Arthur Minasyan thinks nothing serious will happen until Turkey enters the European Union.
"Turkey will not collaborate with us in a due way. I think everything is imitated and is unserious. I wonder why an agreement should be reached on the eve of April 24. I don't think it was a pure accident," says Mr. Minasyan.
Student Arman Ghairibyan welcomes the tangible progress achieved by the two countries. At the same time he says Armenian authorities shouldn't forget the Genocide.
Biologist Inga Bazikyan says the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is certainly vital but the economic and political situation in Armenia suggests improving relations with Turkey.
"A developing country needn't better only sports relations with its neighbour. Undoubtedly, the issue of the Genocide must constantly be raised on all levels, but we shouldn't break all relations with Turkey."
"Evil must always be punished. Such large-scale crimes cannot have limitation period. History has shown that we cannot trust Turks as they never honour their pledges," says mounter Sergey Sakanyan.
"If the agreement doesn't refer to the Genocide, it should be inadmissible for Armenia. Each Armenian family honours the victims of the Great Genocide and pay homage to the innocent victims' memorial in Tsitsernakaberd. It is a pity that such an important agreement doesn't refer to the Armenian Genocide," said biologist Gayane Grigoryan.
