Fried: `Armenian Genocide Allegations is a Complicated Issue´

By Suleyman Kurt, Ankara

Published: Friday, March 17, 2006

zaman.com

Daniel Fried, the US Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, said the Armenian genocide allegations is a “complicated issue” and must be examined by the parties in a courageous way.

Fried together with Upper Karabag (Karabagh) problem negotiator Steven Mann met Turkish Foreign Ministry officials yesterday.

Speaking after the talks Fried said, “Tragedies of the past must be handled with courage and nations must look at their futures.”

The US diplomat underlined he has no message about the Turkey-Armenia relations, indicating the US’s attitude towards the issue is well-known, and President George W. Bush will probably make a relevant statement on the issue this April as he does every year.

The American official added the issue of Washington’s demand of opening the Turkish-Armenian border also came to the agenda during the contacts.