LDP: ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS FROZEN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
23.03.2010 16:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The protocols on normalization of the
Armenian-Turkish relations are frozen, according to Cem Toker, the
leader of Liberal Democrat Party (LDP) of Turkey.

"Ankara is unlikely to ratify the protocols. Linkage to the Karabakh
process, Armenian Constitutional Court’s ruling and the resolutions
adopted recently by the US House panel and Swedish parliament almost
nullified the possibility of ratification," the Turkish politician
said, adding that despite possible failure of the protocols, the
process of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations should not
be suspended.

"The border between the two countries should be opened," he said.

Commenting on adoption of the Armenian genocide resolution by the
US House Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Toker said it will hardly
be put on the House floor. He said he acknowledges the "atrocities"
committed in 1915 but he has not shaped his opinion on "whether they
constituted a genocide". Nevertheless, the Turkish politician attended
the Armenian Genocide Memorial to commemorate the innocent victims.

As to Turkey’s aspiration to mediate for Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement process, he said he doesn’t rule out that "after the
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, Turkey may act as an
intermediary."

Asked to comment on Turkish Prime Minister’s recent statement on
deportation of illegal Armenian workers, Mr. Token labeled it as
inadmissible.