Tuesday, September 16 2014

 The unblocking of the border to Turkey is one of the priorities for Armenia within the frames of stimulation of cooperation in the format of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation,  Armenia National Assembly Vice-Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov said in his opening remarks at the 43rd Session of the Cultural, Educational and Social Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation.

"The unresolved nature of Armenian-Turkish relations and the last closed border in Europe continue remaining a linchpin in the matter of ensuring security in Europe. It is a paradox, but a fact, that EU accession candidate Turkey has shut the border to the neighboring country, when borders in the European Union have long become history, and freedom of movement, has become a fundamental principle," Sharmazanov said.     

He thanked all the countries that recognized the Armenian genocide and emphasized that this is a crime against mankind that does not have time limitation. On the threshold of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, Sharmazanov again emphasized the importance of the international recognition of the Armenian genocide. He added that Turkey, which aspires to join the European Union, continues to stall facing its own past, evade accountability, distort history with its policy of denial, and it even spares no effort to force denialism upon other countries.