SERGEI LAVROV: "RUSSIA IS READY TO SUPPORT THE NORMALIZATION OF ARMENIA-TURKEY RELATIONS WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS"

APA
Jan 14 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku – APA. Russia is interested in the soonest ratification of
Armenia-Turkey protocols, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who
is visiting Armenia, said at the press conference with his Armenian
counterpart Edward Nalbandian, APA reports quoting Novosti-Armenia.

According to Sergei Lavrov, the sooner Armenia-Turkey relations
are normalized, the better it is for the region. Mentioning that he
participated in the ceremony of signing of the protocols in Zurich
Sergei Lavrov said Russia was ready to support the normalization
process with the infrastructure projects (especially in the railway).

"We are ready to help, if the sides are ready," he said.

Nalbandian said Armenia was doing its best to ratify the protocols
in a short time. According to Nalbandian, the ratification procedure
was more complicated in Armenia than in Turkey, because the opinion
of the Constitutional Court was required first.

"The fact showing that Armenia is decisive in ratifying these
documents, is that the Constitutional Court passed a decision within
a day, whereas the discussions might delay. But the Turkish parliament
received the protocols in October. I do not want to think that Turkey
delays the protocols. I want to believe that Turkey will not delay
the ratification," he said.