PARLIAMENTARIAN MAJORITY SPEAKS IN SUPPORT OF PROTOCOLS

Panorama.am
17:07 22/09/2009

The secretary of National Assembly Republican fraction Edward
Sharmazanov confirmed in today’s news conference the party’s
disposition that the normalization of Armenian-Turkish ties should
be held without any preconditions.

"It’s quite obvious for us that the issues of Armenian Genocide and
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can not be considered in Armenian-Turkish
ties," Mr. Sharmazanov declared.

Once again quoting Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan’s
statement at NA, fraction’s secretary said that there would not be
any changes in the protocols. According to him there are pros and
cons both in Armenia and Turkey.

"That’s why the issue will be discussed at parliaments of both states
and it will be defined how to quote after the hearings. But, in any
case, any recommendation is important," he said.

Mr. Sharmazanov says he is aware of the recommendations present by
his ARF colleagues concerning the protocols, and he says they stress
that Armenian Genocide and NKR conflict resolution should not become
matters of discussion.

It’s worth mentioning that the presigned Armenian-Turkish protocols
should be voted in the parliament. Is it to suppose that the protocols
will be ratified if the majority of the parliament is the Republicans?

"All the Republicans have one general disposition for this matter:
the document in this format is about establishing diplomatic ties
with Turkey. President Sargsyan resumed this very process a year ago
and we advance it. If Turkish side also expresses similar political
will than we expect successes."

If the document is put on discussion table without any changes in it,
then what is the sense to organize hearings? The Republican Deputy
said: "It’s possible that the opinion of Republican Party is more
convincing and has definite impact on others."