EDWARD NALBANDYAN: NEW PROCESS IN ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS UNDER WAY

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 2 2009
Armenia

"The Armenian President’s policy initiated a process of new quality in
the Armenian-Turkish relations. As a result, a step was made welcomed
by the entire international community," RA Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandyan told today’s news conference on the Protocols initialed by
Armenia and Turkey. Nalbandyan said that the international community
urges Armenia and Turkey to honor agreements and sign the Protocols
as soon as possible, which will establish peace and stability in the
region. The Armenian Foreign Minister said that Armenia initiated the
process, wishing to open a new page in its relations with Turkey. He
expressed hope that Ankara has a similar wish. Nalbandyan stated
Armenia is ready to continue the process, and "we will see Turkey’s
behavior." As to whether Turkey may frustrate the process, Nalbandyan
stated that nothing can be ruled out. "The whole world is inclined
to follow one way, and if one of the sides follows a different way,
it opposes itself to the rest of the world," Nalbandyan said.

On August 31, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and
Foreign Ministries of Armenia and Turkey issued a press release, which
says: "The Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey have agreed
to start their internal political consultations on two protocols –
the ‘Protocol on the establishment of diplomatic relations’ and the
‘Protocol on the development of bilateral relations’ – which have
been initiated in the course of their efforts under Swiss mediation.