ARMENIA-TURKEY NORMALIZATION WILL RESULT IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STABILITY IN THE REGION
Anna Nazaryan

"Radiolur"
10.12.2009 16:06

The official welcome ceremony for the President of Latvia, Valdis
Zatlers, took place at the President’s Office today, followed by a
face-to-face meeting between the Presidnets of Armenia and Latvia.

Greeting his Latvian counterpart, President Serzh Sargsyan said:
"Although this is the first visit between our countries, but over the
past year we have had a number of opportunities to exchange views. The
intensification of the political dialogue evidences the willingness
of our countries to deepen the bilateral relations, and your visit
is a good proof of this."

"I’m glad to visit Armenia. The Latvian side has business interests
in Armenia, that’s why more than ten businessmen accompany me today,"
Latvian President Valdis Zatlers said. The meeting of the Presidents
was followed by a joint press conference.

Valdis Zatlers told reporters that "good will is necessary for
normalization of the Armenian Turkish relations. "The signing of the
protocols was a great step and a positive impulse for solution of
global issues, as well," he said.

"It’s very important for Turkey to understand that stability will
be established in the region when the Armenian-Turkish relations are
normalized," President Serzh Sargsyan said.

"The Republic of Armenia is willing to meet its international
commitments, i.e. ratify the Armenian-Turkish protocols, and expects
the same from Turkey. I have declared that if Turkey drags out the
ratification of the protocols, Armenia will use the opportunities
provided by international law. I declare now that I have instructed the
corresponding state bodies to prepare amendments to our legislations
regarding the signing, ratification and cancellation of international
agreements," President Sargsyan said.

The attempts to tie the Karabakh issue to the Armenia-Turkey
normalization will lead to a failure, President Sargsyan said and
added: "I have forwarded the protocols to the Constitutional Court
and the discussion will take place on January 12, 2010," the Armenian
President stated.

"Everyone should understand that the more the ratification process
drags out, the more obstacles appear. The political developments
might hider the process in the future," he added.