KIRO MANOYAN SAYS OBAMA TO FULFILL HIS PROMISE

Yerkir
16.03.2009 15:47

Yerevan (Yerkir) – It is likely that an agreement between Armenia
and Turkey on opening the border could be signed this year, and since
Armenia has said its word, it is now up to Turkey to show political
will, Kiro Manoyan, the director of the ARF Political and Hay Dat
Office, told a news conference today.

He sadi that Turkey is trying to play a significant role in the region
and realizes that "it is impossible without establishing relations with
Armenia." He added, however, that the signing of the agreement will
not happen during the forthcoming visit of Turkish Foreign Minister Ali
Babacan in April as Turkey is waiting for the US reaction, especially,
if US President Barack Obama is going to pronounce the word genocide.

Manoyan said that the opening of the border would lead to the Turkish
economic invasion into Armenia while Armenia and Turkey are in
unequal conditions.

The opening of the border would not necessarily become a positive
thing, Manoyan said. "ARFD is voicing its concern over the signing of
an agreement as well as the normalization of the relations; Armenia
should not take steps in the bilateral ties that could restrain its
actions in defending its rights in the future. Armenia should not
take steps that could question the fact of the Armenian genocide," he
said. He added that ARF is going to propose to the cabinet a number
of economic measures in case of the opening of the Armenian-Turkish
border.

Manoyan said that US President Obama is likely to stick to his promise
and use the word genocide in his April 24 address and is trying to
butter Turkey during his upcoming visit to that country.