THORBJORN JAGLAND: A NUMBER OF OBSTACLES REMAIN FOR ARMENIA-TURKEY RAPPROCHEMENT
PanARMENIAN.Net
09.02.2010 18:57 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia-Turkey rapprochement process has so far
been reassuring, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn
Jagland stated.
He didn’t venture to predict further development of events, refusing
to give forecasts as to Protocols ratification. Normalization of ties
between Armenia and Turkey might take a lot of time, he noted.
"A number of obstacles remain for Armenia-Turkey rapprochement. Yet,
the first step was taken, which I’m sure won’t be the last,"
Jagland said.
CE Secretary General expressed hope for increased role of Turkey in the
region, as well as Europe. "Turkey’s internal policy aims to increase
social and cultural rights of national minorities, which has to be
reflected in the updated constitution," CNNTurk cited him as saying.
The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of
the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet
Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks
held through Swiss mediation.
On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of
Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country’s Organic Law.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
