Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan was the guest on Pozner TV show

The president said he could not have completely ruled out the possibility of Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s participation in the Genocide centennial events given the earlier attempts to establish a dialogue with the country (the “football diplomacy” with the former president, Abdullah Gul). Admitting that Turkey is not considered responsible for the atrocity committed by the Ottoman Empire, its predecessor, the Armenian leader said that the denial makes it an accomplice. President Sargsyan said it is his desire to see Turkey relieve itself of the burden it has been carrying for decades.

Reiterating Armenia’s official position ruling out territorial demands, the president said he thinks that a properly considered and unrestrained recognition would be secondary to the right to demand. In that context, he highly praised German President Joachim Gauck’s speech admitting his country’s complicity in the Armenian Genocide.

The president said he sees that speech reflected the German leader’s concerns over the relations among different peoples. Mr Sargsyan emphasized the importance of such a responsible approach, considering Armenia a responsible element of the international community. Citing the “football diplomacy” initiated with President Gul back in 2008, he said Armenia is historically in favor of only an unconditional dialogue.