ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS: IT IS HIGH TIME FOR ARMENIA TO DISPLAY INDEPENDENCE AND STOP TRAILING DEVELOPMENTS

ArmInfo
2009-10-16 15:14:00

ArmInfo. It is high time for Armenia to display independence and
stop trailing developments, David Shakhnazaryan, Representative of
the Armenian National Congress, told media on Friday.

"I am presenting the proposals that I promised to present when it
is time to ratify the Armenian-Turkish protocols. I think it will
be difficult for the parliament to reject these proposals because I
suggest the parliament to pass a law prohibiting discussion of the
Armenian Genocide-related issues by the Armenian- Turkish historical
subcommission," Shakhnazaryan said. He is sure the authorities have
no reason to reject the given proposal otherwise it will mean that
they are going to discuss Genocide issue with Turkey. In addition,
Shakhnazaryan suggests the Armenian parliament to ratify the protocols
the first not waiting for the Turkish party to do that. Armenia must
set a condition that its ratification will become null if Turkey fails
to ratify the protocols within 2 months. "If the Armenian authorities
reject these proposals, it will mean that the Armenian-Turkish
relations depend on Karabakh conflict settlement. I propose this not
as a ANC representative but as a citizen of Armenia," he said.

As regards the Armenia vs. Turkey football match in Bursa,
Shakhnazaryan said: "Journalists were a real Armenian factor in the
stadium and not the authorities that were exultant over each goal of
the Turkish team."

Presidents of Armenia and Turkey Serzh Sargsyan and Abdullah Gul
watched the Armenia vs. Turkey qualifying match in the Turkish town
of Bursa on October 14. The game ended 2:0 in favor of Turkey.

Armenia and Turkey signed the "Protocol on the establishment
of diplomatic relations" and the "Protocol on the development of
bilateral relations" in Zurich on October 10. To come into effect
the protocols must be submitted to the respective Parliaments for
the ratification on each side. Armenia and Turkey have no diplomatic
relations and their border was closed in 1993 by Ankara.