Outside meddling would worsen Turkish-Armenian ties: patriarch

ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency

Ateşyan spoke during a charity event in Istanbul. AA photo

Third-party interference in debates over the events of 1915 will "freeze" relations between Turkey and Armenia, acting Turkish-Armenian Patriarch Aram Ateşyan said today.

"We are in favor of solving our problems in our own country," Ateşyan told journalists while answering questions on the French Parliament's passing of a bill penalizing the denial of 1915 events as genocide.

"Third parties should stay out of this matter. Their interference would create a chill and freeze ties between Turkey and Armenia."

Ateşyan said foreign countries were following their own agendas when they interfere in Turkish-Armenian relations and added that he did not want to comment on such affairs.