"We are certain that Turkey must repent. It is neither a precondition nor the wish to satisfy revenge. Turkey has to confront its past. For once, Turkey's leadership can find the strength and reevaluate its approaches on the Armenian Genocide," Serzh Sargsyan declared in Marseilles during a reception with representatives of the Armenian community by Mayor of Marseilles Jean-Claude Goden.
"Armenia's position is clear and remains unchanged. We are ready to have normal relations with Turkey like neighboring countries should have. Poland and Germany were neighboring countries, and the German Chancellor Willy Brandt, realizing the crime that his country had committed, kneeled at the ghetto in Warsaw. Sooner or later Turkey, which considers itself a European country, will have an administration that is close to being called European and will incline at Tsitsernakaberd. It would be better if that happened soon, but that is the Turks' problem. Armenia is not imposing anything. Turkey has to do that for the sake of the Turks, just like Willy Brandt did that for the Germans," Serzh Sargsyan continued.
He also addressed the gathered: "The Armenians of Europe can also help the homeland with this."
"It is difficult to leave a familiar environment and start something new in a familiar, but in reality unfamiliar homeland. For that, it is necessary to hold open and free discussions on the current issues so that we play by the European rules of the game in our homeland. Indicating the flaws is only half the effort, and the other half is missing. We have registered great progress, but we have issues and problems that we are all very aware of. It is necessary to seek the directions for overcoming the difficulties and share the honor and responsibility for success.
We call on all of you to participate in the honorable act of solving Armenia's issues."
Sargsyan also said: "We have to discuss our issues without avoiding our share of responsibility and, of course, I am the first one to be responsible for the flaws. But I would like all of you to participate, do your part and, as I already said, share the honor of success."
We remind that the delegation led by Serzh Sargsyan is participating in the assembly of the European People's Party in Marseilles.
