LARISA ALAVERDYAN: ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROCESS STILL IN DEADLOCK

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 14, 2010 – 18:19 AMT 13:19 GMT

Secretary of Heritage parliamentary group Larisa Alaverdyan said that
the statements by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan during his visit
to Washington prove that the Armenian authorities are not going to
damage relations with the Diaspora.

"However, I would like to note that the signing of the Armenian-Turkish
Protocols has significantly effected these relations," Mrs. Alaverdyan
told a press conference in Yerevan.

She noted that Heritage questions the efficiency of the meeting between
the Armenian President and Turkish Prime Minister in Washington, as
"separating lines" between Armenia and Turkey were defined more clearly
after it. "The meeting has not solved the current problems, to the
contrary – it has alienated the parties even more," the parliamentarian
said, adding that the Armenian-Turkish process is still in a deadlock.

According to Mrs. Alaverdyan, the main reason for the postponement
of the Armenian-Turkish Protocols ratification by Turkey is not the
factor of Azerbaijan but rather Ankara’s inability to solve three
tasks simultaneously – termination of the worldwide campaign for
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, achievement of progress in the
Karabakh conflict settlement and recognition of its borders by Armenia.

As for the usage of the term Genocide by Barack Obama on April 24,
she said it will be in focus of U.S. electors, who expect their
President to keep his election pledge.

"After April 24, the Armenian-Turkish process will continue at a
very low rate. We believe that sooner or later a new process should
be started," the Secretary of Heritage parliamentary group said.

As to Azerbaijan’s threats of war, she thinks resumption of hostilities
in Karabakh unlikely.