HAROUT SASSOUNIAN: ANKARA WILL RATIFY PROTOCOLS IF ARMENIA COMPROMISES OVER KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net –
April 6, 2010 – 13:06 AMT 08:06 GMT

Turkey will sign the protocols on normalization of relations with
Armenia immediately if the latter compromises over Karabakh, ceding
the security area, said Harout Sassounian, the publisher of The
California Courier.

"Turks were never interested in opening of the border and establishment
of diplomatic relations. They use the protocols to gain concessions on
Karabakh and Genocide issues from Armenia. No step towards ratification
was made, with the protocols being in the parliament for over six
months," he told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

As to international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Mr.

Sassounian said that the protocols hinder the process. "This year,
the Armenian Genocide resolution scraped through the U.S. House
Committee on Foreign Affairs due to one extra vote in favor. The same
happened in the Swedish parliament. 7 years ago, a similar resolution
was passed by the House panel with a vote 40 to 7," he said.