Statement of the Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey in Response to a Question Regarding the Assertion by Charles Aznavour, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Armenia to United Nations Office in Geneva and Ambassador to Bern, in a Television Broadcast in Switzerland, that a “Turkish Prime Minister Stated That He hated Armenians and Greeks” and his Suggestions on Turkish-Armenian Relations.

It has not been possible to understand from where Charles Aznavour's assertion stems. We strongly reject this baseless and meaningless accusation. The Turkish people have a long experience of co-existence with the Armenian and Greek peoples. We have always emphasized that it is wrong to derive hostility from history.

On the other hand, we welcome the fact that, as a world-renowned artist and intellectual, Charles Aznavour develops ideas and makes suggestions for the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations. Although we do not agree with some of his views, we believe that the right method for the two peoples to better understand each other, for a better comprehension of historical events and for the establishment of a peaceful common future is through dialogue, empathy and working on just memory.