US AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY: ARMENIAN COURT RULING POSTIVE STEP IN RATIFICATION PROCESS

armradio.am
05.02.2010 13:58

US Ambassador to Turkey James Jeffrey reconfirmed Washington’s position
on the Armenian Constitutional Court ruling on the Armenia-Turkey
Protocols. In an interview with Sabah, the American diplomat spoke
about the process of normalizing Armenia-Turkey relations, the Armenian
court’s decision, issues relating to the recently banned Kurdistan
Workers’ Party (PKK), and the matter of Cyprus.

Asked whether the Protocols "are dead," Jeffrey said, "No. Nothing’s
dead. With its decision, the Armenian Constitutional Court gave a
green light to ratifying the Protocols."

"We are working with Turkey every day. We are attempting to make
progress in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In truth,
those are two separate processes. However, Turkey doesn’t see it that
way. There are a number of conflicts that must be resolved in the
Caucasus. They can move forward in different speeds, but they’re all
important. They are parallel processes…" said the ambassador, adding
that there are no restrictive clauses in the Armenian court’s ruling.

"Certain statements in the Constitutional Court’s ruling have made
Turkey uncomfortable; however, we consider that decision to be positive
and see no restrictive clauses in that. We believe that both parties
approach their obligations assumed under the Protocols seriously,"
said Jeffrey.