Vice-Speaker of Armenian National Assembly Edward Sharmazanov has told ArmInfo journalist that Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davultoglu's statement addressed to the Armenian nation is a means of pulling the wool over the international community's eyes.
According to him, Davutoglu's statement is just a part of Ankara's policy. "In fact, Davutogllu attempted at reiterating Erdogan's statement in April 2014", said Sharmazamov. He believes that in his speech Davutoglu contradicts himself. "The Turkish Prime Minister says that history politicization is inadmissible, yet Ankara itself politicizes the issue by talking of everyone, who recognizes the Armenian Genocide, as enemies. Article 301 of the Turkish constitution is an outstanding example of the fact that Ankara politicizes the issue. Davultoglu also urges to reconcile with the history, meanwhile Yerevan has been pressing on this very point and Ankara has been steadfastly refusing to acknowledge", said Sharmazanov. Commenting on the Turkish Prime Minister's statement that Ankara was taking actions regarding a free and objective discussion on the Armenian Genocide, Sharmazanov called it flanneling. "As a person who participates in various international events dedicated to the Armenian Genocide, I am no stranger to Ankara's pressure on event-organizers, as well as on the international community regarding the recognition of the Armenian Genocide", he said.
To note, the day before Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu addressed Armenians over the Genocide of 1915. According to him, representative of various nationalities and religious who lived side-by-side for centuries experienced terrible sufferings in the last years of the Ottoman Empire. "We once again respectfully remember Ottoman Armenians who lost their lives during the deportation of 1915 and share the pain of their children and grandchildren. It is Turkey's humanistic responsibility to defend the memory of Ottoman Armenians and their cultural heritage", said the Turkish Prime Minister. He has assured that Turkey is allegedly taking steps towards freedom of expression, discussion, creation of an atmosphere for discussing documents and facts, as well as the creation of joint future.