Kazakh Envoy Shies Away from Recognizing Genocide

YEREVAN (Armenpress)—Kazakhstan’s newly-appointed ambassador to Armenia, Timur Urazayev, shied from recognizing the Ottoman killings of Armenians in 1915 as genocide during an interview on June 21, claiming that “Kazakhstan mourns the memory of innocent victims martyred in 1915-1918, and in general, during the First World War.”
“This is very sensitive issue for Armenians, and we understand this. When the issue of the Genocide recognition is being raised, perhaps, first of all it should be directed against the guilty. Kazakhstan in its turn had huge losses in 1920-1930s when 40% of the people died from starvation. There are active public discussions over this issue in order to recognize this event as genocide against the Kazakh people. Our country doesn’t hurry to go towards that path. At this moment, when we start to speak about the genocide, a second question is always being raised, who is the guilty?”
“Regardless of our stance, we would not want to take such steps that will not improve the overall situation in the region, as well as the relations with other states,” the Ambassador said.
Urazayev believes that the time will come where Armenia and Turkey will achieve a mutually acceptable decision. “I am confident that the historical assessments are given and known to everyone, but the political assessments will be given when the necessary conditions exist. We will cooperate with the regional states, both with Armenia and Turkey in order to reach mutual understanding between the peoples of the two states,” he stated.
The Ambassador also said Kazakhstan has repeatedly said it supports the peaceful settlement of all regional conflicts, including the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and remained neutral regarding the initiator of the ceasefire violation.
“We do not want firing along the Nagorno-Karabakh-Azerbaijan contact line, and the ceasefire regime will be maintained. Concerning the April events which were are known as the ‘Four-Day War,’ we know that both sides had losses as a result. We express our condolences to both sides. Such things must not take place. What relates to the assessments, Kazakhstan is not involved in the OSCE Minsk Group. Only those countries which are authorized by the international community can give assessments. In a state of information wars, even I sometimes have difficulties in understanding this or that event,” the Ambassador said.
He said the President of Kazakhstan is ready to support the sides to reach the peaceful settlement of the conflict.