US DEPARTMENT OF STATE: ARMENIA AND TURKEY NOW NEED TO MOVE FORWARD IN RATIFYING THE PROTOCOLS AND IMPLEMENTING THEM

ArmInfo
2010-02-03 09:01:00

ArmInfo Philip Gordon, Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian
Affairs, U.S. Department of State, said at a briefing on Monday that
the Armenian-Turkish normalization is an issue of great importance
to the USA. "As you know, the protocols on establishing diplomatic
relations between the two countries were signed last October. We said
at the time and continue to believe that both countries now need to
move forward in ratifying them and implementing them. And we believe
that because we believe this is an opportunity to overcome really
historic differences between the two countries in a way that would
benefit both – to establish and normalize relations between the two
countries and open the border would contribute to peace and stability
in the region.

And we think that is true regardless of other issues that it needs to
move forward independently of other issues simply because it is in the
interests of the two countries. So we are in regular touch with both
governments and encourage them to move forward with that process. And
that’s where it stands. We will continue to work with both of them,"
he said.