ANKARA OFFICIAL STATEMENT TRIGGERS ARMENIA’S CONCERN

News.am
15:03 / 10/12/2009

Statements by Turkish officials trying to link the Armenia-Turkey
normalization with the Armenia-Azerbaijan relations are addressed
exclusively to Azeri audience, RA President Serzh Sargsyan stated
before leaving for Moscow at Zvatrnots airport (Yerevan). He commented
on Turkish Prime Minister’s statement that there will hardly be any
progress in Armenia-Turkey reconciliation till the territories under
Armenian control are returned to Azerbaijan.

The Armenian President expressed his discontent with the fact that
the Armenian public learns about the statements from Azeri media,
which are biased. "Such statements sound rather odd. If Turkey is not
ready to ratify the Protocols, why did it sign them two days ago? Maybe
Turkey deems we would lack willpower and would stop half way? Anyway,
the ball is on Turkey’s field and we have enough patience to see how
the process evolves," said President Sargsyan.

He stressed that Armenia has announced its further steps and intends
hence to move steadily in this direction. "If Turkey ratifies the
Protocols, and fulfils the commitments within the set timeframe,
we will continue cooperation, if not, with no hesitation we will do
what we consider appropriate," the Armenian President stated.

NEWS.am reported earlier that the Turkish Premier made the
following statement yesterday: "Armenia and Azerbaijan should settle
Karabakh conflict on the same track, it is our objective. If the
Azerbaijani-Armenian dispute moves toward a solution, our public will
want the normalization of the Turkish-Armenian relationship. Earlier I
said that Protocols should enter the Parliament. What will be decided
on Armenia-Azerbaijan issue in the Turkish parliament? We will not
adopt a positive approach unless Armenia withdraws from the ‘occupied’
Azerbaijani territory."