Public Television of Armenia
Feb 4 2010
US reconfirms support for normalization of Armenian-Turkish ties – official
The USA pledges to further support the process of normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations, US Deputy Secretary of State James
Steinberg said on 4 February in Armenia’s capital Yerevan, the
state-owned Armenian Public TV reports.
At a meeting with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Steinberg highly
assessed efforts of Armenia to solve regional problems, emphasizing
that the settlement of Armenian-Turkish relations is very important
for the USA, the Novosti-Armenia news agency quoted the press-service
of the Armenian president as saying in its 4 February report.
The Armenian Constitutional Court issued a decision on 12 January
saying that the Armenian-Turkish protocols on establishment diplomatic
ties and development of bilateral relations is in line with the
Armenian constitution. At the same time, the court included several
assessments in its decision: implementation of the protocols pertains
to bilateral relations only, and cannot involve a third country and
the protocols cannot be interpreted in a way that contradicts a
provision of the Armenian Constitution, which says that Armenia is
committed to seeking international recognition of the Armenian
genocide. The Turkish Foreign Ministry responded with a statement on
18 January saying that the Armenian Constitutional Court’s decision
contains preconditions.
Steinberg reconfirmed the US position on decision of the Armenian
Constitutional Court, saying this decision is a positive step for the
continuation of the process, Novosti Armenia added on the same report
on 4 February. The US diplomat said that the political will is
necessary to advance the normalization process, the agency reported.
For his part, the Armenian president welcomed the USA’s balanced
position in multilateral relations, Novosti-Armenia reported.
The Armenian president expressed hope for the development of
Armenian-US relations, Novosti Armenia said in a separate report on 4
February. Sargsyan said: "Armenian-American relations are
traditionally warm, friendly nature and such visits are very important
from the point of view of continuation of dialogue between our
countries", the Armenian president’s press service told
Novosti-Armenia.
Sargsyan noted a progress in Armenian-US economic ties saying "the
United States is our fifth trade partner, and third export partner",
Armenian Public TV added in the same report on 4 February.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress