British Ambassador to Armenia Thorda Abbott-Watt shares the optimism of Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian over the opportunity to make progress in the Nagorno Karabakh settlement, the British diplomat stated at a final news conference on completion of her mission in Armenia. «The parties can attain at least a temporary solution, which can provide an opportunity to open borders in the near future. This is what should be welcomed, as I believe Armenia cannot realize its potential with closed borders,» the British Ambassador to Armenia stated. Answering a question on possible British assistance, as and EU country, to opening Turkey’s border with Armenia, Thorda Abbott-Watt said, «Part of the talks on Turkey’s accession to the EU includes expectations that the new country should not joint the EU as long as it has differences with its neighbors.»
As of the issue of recognition of the Armenian Genocide, it should be reminded that Thorda Abbott-Watt stated in March 2004 that the 1915 killings of over one million Armenians in Ottoman Turkey were not a Genocide. This caused anger not only in Armenia, but also the Armenian Diaspora. When asked during the final news conference whether she holds the same opinion at the end of her diplomatic mission, the diplomat said, “I think our position is well known. I know that this is a subject that is hurtful to my Armenian friends. Therefore, I really don’t see the need to keep restating it.” Great Britain was one of the first countries of the world to report on the events of 1915-1918, and it remains our position that we deplore the atrocities which took place and we offer our continuing sympathies to the descendants of all those people who were affected,” she added. “Owing to that during all these years while I was the Ambassador I visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex to Victims of the Armenian Genocide and I expect my followers will act in the same manner,” she emphasized.
It should be noted that Tony Cantor, 59, who was British Ambassador to Paraguay before, will replace Thorda Abbott-Watt as the British Ambassador to Armenia.
