WE MUST BE VIGILANT: SAFRASTYAN ON POST-PROTOCOLS SIGNING

Tert.am
16:51 15.10.09

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s visit to Turkey is the end of
one stage in Armenian-Turkish relations and the start of another,
said Turkologist and Director of Oriental Studies Institute of the
National Academy of Sciences Ruben Safrastyan.

He found it difficult to answer how long it will take before the
Protocols are ratified, but he did state that the result of the
process, that is, establishing relations and opening of the border,
will not be implemented soon.

According to Safrastyan, Turkey will take advantage of the signing
of the Protocols to once again exert pressure on and get concessions
from Armenia, and Armenian diplomacy must work with this in mind.

"Our diplomacy must be vigilant and ready for developments," he said.

Safrastyan also spoke about the reasons why Turkey signed the
pre-signed Protocols.

According to him, Turkey firstly signed the Protocols to prevent
passing of the resolution on the Armenian Genocide by the US
Congress. The other reasons, which, according to the Turkologist,
have deeper and strategic significance for Turkey, are EU accession
and forming its role in the world in a new way.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress