GREAT PART OF ARMENIANS APPROVE IMPROVEMENT OF RELATIONS WITH TURKEY, POLLS

Focus News
Sept 14 2009
Bulgaria

Yerevan/Ankara. Great part of Armenian citizens back the establishment
of relations with Turkey and expect for the border between the two
countries to be opened soon, a public opinion survey executed among
Armenian citizens in Yerevan shows, CNNTurk reports.

In reference to the protocols signed between Turkey and Armenia,
Armenia’s ruling Republican Party spokesman Eduard Sharmazanov said
the party counts on its parliamentary majority to ratify the papers
and remarked that Armenian government expects the same positive
political will on behalf of Turkish Justice and Development Party. In
interview to CNNTurk, Sharmazanov said that speaking in details the
protocols have certain paragraphs that each of the countries could
interpret according to its own potions. He added that in contrast
to the general expectations of the Armenian and Turkish society, the
commission on history that is to be established will not examine the
Armenian genocide. In his words, the Armenian genocide is a reality
which cannot be denied.

The Armenian politician added that the Turkish-Armenian relations
cannot be bound to a third country and Armenia accepts the position
of the Minsk Group about Nagorno-Karabakh.

While the ruling power backs the protocols, the opposition in Armenia
is restless in its criticism, saying such a move undermines Armenia’s
authority.