President of Turkey may visit Armenia on 24 April 2015 and lay a wreath on the Armenian Genocide Memorial, said the first president of Armenia, Leader of the Armenian National Congress, when commenting on President Serzh Sargsyan's speech at the 13th congress of the Republican Party, in an interview with Ilur.am.
Ter-Petrosyan thinks Serzh Sargsyan invited his Turkish opposite number to Armenia, as there was already an appropriate arrangement achieved through a third party. Recalling Turkish prime minister's condolences made on April 23 2014, Ter-Petrosyan said the Turkish president will probably visit Armenia on occasion of the Armenian Genocide centennial.
"Armenia will perceive that visit as partial recognition of the Armenian Genocide, while Turkey will consider it as tribute to the memory of its citizens. That visit may launch a second round of 'the soccer- policy' of the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation. However, propaganda and anti-propaganda may lead to such a political heat that may prevent the Turkish president's visit," he said. According to Ter-Petrosyan, the leadership of Armenia use the Armenian Genocide centennial to manipulate on the patriotic feelings if the people and increase their authority inside the country.
"Instead of consolidating and raising a wave of patriotism among Armenians worldwide, like it was on the 50th anniversary of the Genocide, they make a show that will probably serve their own goals," he said. He is concerned that the authorities of Armenia again seek to make the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide as a cornerstone of the country's foreign policy. He cannot understand Serzh Sargsyan's discontent at Turkey's suggestions to set up a committee of historians and open archives. "At his meeting with the Armenian community in Russia in 2008, Serzh Sargsyan said that Armenia is not against such a committee of historians, if the Armenian-Turkish border is opened. Consequently, actively opposing that idea, Sargsyan has either forgot or tries to conceal his shameful agreement to include the given provision in the Armenian-Turkish protocols. Better late than never," he said.