YEREVAN TO REVOKE SIGNATURES FROM PROTOCOLS IF RATIFICATION DELAYED

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.03.2010 21:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ It has been 95 years Turkey has denied the
Armenian Genocide . Armenia stated its readiness to ratify the
Protocols aimed at Armenian-Turkish normalization after the Turkish
parliament does it. But Ankara does not cease voicing preconditions
for the ratification of these protocols, and the basic precondition
is related to Nagorno Karabakh, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan
told the French newspaper Le Figaro.

"In the XXI century closed borders and the language of preconditions
are unacceptable. We say, let’s first establish relationships, and then
talk about all issues. Both countries want to deepen their relations
with Europe and share European values, excluding hostile actions
towards each other. And the international community, I belive, must
express its position over the matter, " the Armenian President said.

Being dragged out, Armenian-Turkish normalization process is losing
gradually its advocates, those who initially supported the Protocols ,
Serzh Sargsyan said.

The President of Armenia said he has a great wish to normalize
relations with Turkey, but recent statements of Turkey prompt that
Ankara will not ratify the Protocols in the foreseeable future.

"We warned if Turkey uses the reconciliation process for other
purposes, we will take appropriate steps. We will revoke our signatures
from the Protocols if ratification delayed,"Serzh Sargsyan said.

Commenting on the decision of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
on the Armenian Genocide, the President of Armenia said that Armenia
wants Turkey recognize this fact. "But Congress and the U.S. State
Department is unlikely to make decisions based on our wishes and
opinions," the president of Armenia said.