ACCORDING TO EDUARD SHARMAZANOV, TURKISH SIDE SHOULD SHOW POLITICAL WILL TO RATIFY PROTOCOLS

Noyan Tapan
Oct 15, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 15, NOYAN TAPAN. A new stage opens in Armenia-Turkey
relations with "football diplomacy’s" end. Republican Party of Armenia
(RPA) Spokesperson Eduard Sharmazanov expressed such an opinion at
an October 15 press conference. In response to the question of why
nevertheless President Serzh Sargsyan left for Turkey while he had
declared in advance that he will go there if we are on the threshold
of open borders or lifting the blockade E. Sharmazanov said that a
positive prospect opens by the signing of the protocols.

He does not share the opinion that Armenian diplomacy like the
football national team lost this process. Moreover, according to
E. Sharmazanov’s estimation, serious developments took place over
this one year. "As a result of President Serzh Sargsyan’s initiating
policy Armenia has become a force forming agenda in the region. We
have passed from passive position to an active one, which is done
not at the expense of our national and state interests," he said
adding that in Armenia-Turkey relations the President supports only
establishment of relations without preconditions.

E. Sharmazanov also considers positive the fact that in the past
months Armenian side’s position was highly evaluated by the U.S., EU
countries, and Russia. In his opinion, it is logical that the Turkish
parliament should be the first to ratify the protocols as the border
was closed on Turkey’s initiative. Thus, according to E. Sharmazanov,
the Turkish side should show a political will to do it.