PRESIDENT SARGSYAN – "I WILL GO TO BURSA TO CHEER ON OUR TEAM"
an-harc-pataskhan/
2009/10/12 | 15:59
Politics
Before leaving for Moscow, RoA President Serzh Sargsyan answered a
few questions from reporters at Zvartnots Airport. The following was
issued by the presidential press service.
Q – Mr. President, now that the protocols have been signed can it
be concluded that your precondition that the border be opened before
you travel to Turkey has been implemented?
A – We have never spoken about preconditions with anyone. On the
contrary, we have always talked about normalizing relations without
preconditions. What we have mentioned is that there must be positive
steps or prerequisites, and I think we can say that these have
been met. In addition, I have always placed great importance on the
principle of reciprocity. Turkish President Gul accepted my invitation
to come to Armenia and I see no serious obstacles why I shouldn’t
respond in kind. If there are no shattering developments within the
next two days I will go to Bursa and support our football team.
Q – If this is the case, how would you interpret yesterday’s statements
of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan and Foreign Minister Davutoglu?
A – It’s unfortunate that our public receives information about
those statements from the Turkish media outlets that naturally wish
to skew and condense official statements. In any event, I believe
those statements have been directed towards internal Turkish public
opinion. Otherwise, I would find it incomprehensible if the Turks
failed to ratify the protocols, which they’ve just signed. Perhaps they
thought we wouldn’t garner the will to go ahead and thus back down;
perhaps. In any event, the ball is now in the Turkish court and we
have the patience to see what develops. We’ve made our position quite
public and will not waiver from this direction. If they ratify the
protocols and keep their end of the bargain, we will continue with
the process. If they don’t, we will have no qualms but to do what we
have already stated.
Q – Mr. President, after the negotiations in Kishnev, the Azerbaijan
president declared that agreement had already been reached on the
return of the territories surrounding the NKR. Can you either affirm
or deny this statement?
A – What was amazing in that interview wasn’t that President Aliyev
was displeased with the results of the negotiations but what he
stated; including what you just noted. I have no idea with whom the
Azerbaijani president reached such an agreement. And if you’ll note,
there are several points of confusion in that statement. He doesn’t
say when or where. We have never discussed the return of territories
with the Azerbaijani president. He is dissatisfied with the results
of the negotiations because we have only discussed two issues – the
final status of Nagorno-Karabakh and interim status issues. If he is
displeased in this matter, I cannot help him.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
