ARMENIAN PRESIDENT: IF IT IS PROVEN THAT TURKEY’S GOAL IS TO PROTRACT, RATHER THAN TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS, WE WILL HAVE TO DISCONTINUE THE PROCESS.

ArmInfo.
2010-02-10 20:45:00

ArmInfo. We are confident that the normalization of Armenia-Turkey
relations can become the greatest input of the recent decades in
achieving peace and stability in the South Caucasus, President of
Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said during his speech in the Chattem House
British Royal Institute of International Affairs.

With this vision, we have agreed to move forward without any
preconditions, not making our relations contingent upon Turkey’s
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

However, if, as many suspect, it is proven that Turkey’s goal is
to protract, rather than to normalize relations, we will have to
discontinue the process.

I would not claim that the process has so far been easy. It is common
knowledge that Turkey repeatedly attempted to voice preconditions
related to the resolution of the Mountainous Karabakh issue. It is,
however, obvious that attempts to link these two processes will
undermine both the normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations and the
talks around the Karabakh issue.