POLITICAL COURAGE, GENUINE COMMITMENT AND THE WISDOM TO COMPROMISE CAN BRING ABOUT REMARKABLE RESULTS

armradio.am
17.11.2009 12:52

"The two processes are running in parallel and they should both go
forward as rapidly as their own respective dynamics make it possible,"
the Foreign Minister of Switzerland, Michelin Calmy Rey said in
response to the question whether the normalization of Armenia-Turkey
relations would contribute to the Karabakh conflict settlement.

"We support the Minsk Group process, and we are pleased to note that
the negotiations in this framework have been going on intensively
during the last year or so. We very much hope that the forthcoming
meeting between President Aliev and President Sargsyan will again
contribute to further strengthen this positive momentum, and that an
agreement on the key principles will soon be achieved. If anything,
the normalization process between Turkey and Armenia showed that
political courage, genuine commitment and the wisdom to compromise
can bring about remarkable results. The situation in the region is
complex and delicate, but I am convinced that the positive developments
between Turkey and Armenia can and will have a positive influence,"
Michelin Calmy Rey said in an interview with APA.

What will Switzerland do as the mediator if the protocols are not
ratified by the parliaments of the two countries? "The mandate that we
received from the parties was to assist them in coming to an agreement
which would allow them to normalize their relations. This was achieved
with the conclusion and then the signing of the two protocols. Beyond
that, Switzerland remains of course in contact with the parties. We
encourage them not to lose the momentum and to proceed diligently
with the ratification process, so that the implementation of what
was agreed can rapidly start. Needless to say, we fully support this
process which, we are convinced, will greatly benefit both countries,
both peoples and eventually the whole region. We are of course ready,
if so requested by the parties, to continue to be of assistance in
this context," the Swiss Foreign Minister concluded.