Why are you speaking instead of Turkey? Turkey says it has no preconditions: Vigen Khachatryan

We will engage in dialogue with Turkey without preconditions. This was stated by ruling faction MP Vigen Khachatryan during a briefing with reporters.

In response to the question of why Turkey does not unilaterally open the border with Armenia if the contact is without preconditions, Khachatryan said, "Turkey expresses readiness to continue meetings of representatives when they reach an agreement, report to their leadership, and decide to start negotiations. At that time, the establishment of diplomatic relations and the opening of borders will be discussed; for now, preparatory work is underway."

Commenting on the assertion that Turkey sets preconditions, Khachatryan stated, "Who? You? Why are you speaking on behalf of Turkey? Turkey says, 'I have no preconditions.' When regulating its relations with Armenia, Turkey has announced that it will take into account Azerbaijan's opinion; that is its issue, with whom it wants to consider. When there is a precondition, contact will cease. If the borders are opened and relations are established, it does not mean that we will renounce the Genocide."

Khachatryan referred to his recent speech in the National Assembly regarding the inclusion of Artsakh within Azerbaijan. "When I said that it was wrong to raise the viewpoint of 'Artsakh being outside Azerbaijan,' that did not mean that this issue should not be raised; it should have started with security from which the status would follow," he stated.

He noted that they expect Armenia to have diplomatic relations and open borders with all its neighbors. "All knotty issues will be resolved through dialogue; during this time, we must avoid creating obstacles," he emphasized. Khachatryan described the recent statement issued by the Artsakh National Assembly as emotional, mentioning that the Artsakh NA hurried with such a declaration.