ARMENIA’S EXPECTATIONS POST-PROTOCOLS SIGNING: DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER RESPONDS

Tert
Oct 19 2009
Armenia

"What expectations does Armenia have after the establishment process of
the now-signed Armenian-Turkish Protocols?" asked Tert.am to Armenia’s
Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan.

"In the first place, our expectations are those which are outlined in
the Protocols, the establishment of diplomatic relations, opening the
border and a regular schedule of goods transportation, as is accepted
in the case of an open border," responded the deputy foreign minister.

Asked if it’s possible that there might be obstacles in ratifying
the Protocols, particularly from Turkey’s side, Kocharian responded,
"Of course, I’m not excluding that."

At the same time, he noted that he doesn’t wish to forestall events.

In the deputy foreign minister’s words, a difficult process began one
year ago when Turkey’s president visited Armenia to attend a football
match, the result of which is today’s signed Protocols.

Armenia’s deputy foreign minister, however, particularly highlighted
that the change neither places the fact of the Armenian Genocide
into doubt nor hinders the process of international recognition of
the Genocide.