Tert.am
23:05 ¢ 10.10.09
Protocols’ Signing Postponed over Disagreements
A planned peace agreement between Turkey and Armenia hit a last minute
snag on Saturday over disagreements with statements to be read at the
historic ceremony, Reuters reports.
U.S. officials sought to help smooth over disagreements with Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian over the statements, while Turkish
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu waited at the venue along with
international dignataries.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton returned to a Zurich hotel so
U.S. officials could meet Nalbandian, whose delegation had not left
for the venue where the deal was due to be signed at 5 p.m local time.
"We’re helping facilitate the two sides come to agreement on
statements that are going to come out," U.S. State Department
spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters. "There’s not a breakdown."
A U.S. official said a new version of the Turkish statement had been
brought to the hotel.
One Reuters witness at the hotel saw the Armenian delegation in a
huddle, having heated discussions. Other Reuters witnesses described
the atmosphere at the hotel as tense.
Tert.am correspondent from Zurich reports that for now no news is
delivered to the journalists who are waiting for the ceremony in the
Zurich University building.
Tert.am
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
