PARLIAMENTARY FACTIONS REFER TO THE CONSULTATION ON THE PRESENT ROUND OF REGULATION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS INVITED ON THE INITIATIVE OF ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSIAN

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 18, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: During today’s parliamentary
briefings the NA factions referred to the consultation on the present
round of regulation of Armenian-Turkish relations which has been
invited on the initiative of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

Member of "Orinats Yerkir" faction Hovhannes Margarian noted that
the Party has always been for the regulation of Armenian-Turkish
relations and opening of the borders without any preconditions.

"We welcome the initiative of the President to invite the third in
turn thematic consultation round the most important national issues
to get informed about the opinion of all the parties," he said.

Heads of more than 5 dozen parties took part in the consultation and
the discussions will still continue. The Party supports the issue to
be discussed in different levels.

According to the Head of Armenian Revolutionary Federation faction
Vahan Hovhannisian during the consultation the Head of the State has
not excluded the opportunity of changes and the political power will
continue the fight towards it.

The ARF will take part in the parliamentary hearings. Referring
to the proposal of "Heritage" faction Larisa Alaverdian to adopt a
parliamentary statement, V. Hovhannisian said that in such decisive
moments everything can be useful; the factions will discuss the
proposal of their partner.

According to the secretary of Prosperous Armenia fraction Aram Safarian
they also gave their approval on the conduction of parliamentary
hearings and their participation in them. A. Safarian noted that
the Prosperous Armenia Party is for regulation of the relations with
Turkey without preconditions and within commonsense period of time.

According to the member of the Parliament the only obstacle in the
regulation of Armenian-Turkish relations remains the position existing
in the Turkish zation of bilateral relations must be conditioned by
the regulation of the Karabakh conflict.

"Even if the protocols are not ratified the process of opening of
the borders will continue as we have adopted European standards
according to which there must be no close borders," Head of the
Armenian Republican Party fraction Galust Sahakian said. He noted
that he is principally for the expression of opposite opinions by
the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.

Head of the "Heritage" party board Armen Martirosian, who did not
take part in the consultation invited by the President noted that the
discussions must be launched in the state institutions including the
National Assembly, and that in October 1 Parliamentary hearings the
fraction will present its position.