UNITED STATES WELCOMES HOSTS ARMENIAN LEADER’S DECISION TO HALT RATIFICATION OF AGREEMENTS WITH TURKEY

Azerbaijan Business Center
April 23 2010

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. "Football" diplomacy between Armenia and Turkey
has collapsed: Armenia has halted officially ratification of the
agreements on normalization of relationships with Turkey, and found
support on the occasion from the process initiator – United States.

Philip Gordon, assistant secretary for the Bureau of European
& Eurasian Affairs, has claimed: "We take into account Armenian
president’s statement that Armenia halts discussion of Armenian-Turkish
protocols in the parliament. The president’s statement shows clearly
that Armenia does not stop the process and ceases it temporarily until
the Turkish party is ready for advancement. We welcome President Serzh
Sargsyan’s decision top continue work in direction to peace, stability
and reconciliation. We consider that the process of settlement of
relationships will bring great favor to Turkey and Armenia and the
Caucasus region. We keep on appealing both parties to leaver doors
open for reconciliation and settlement of ties," Mr. Gordon said.

In his turn, President Sargsyan signed an order to suspend the
procedure of ratification of the protocols "On establishing of
diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey" and "On development
of links between Armenia and Turkey (signed on 10 October 2009) and
stated that Armenia has not withdrawn fully from the process under
pressure of the US, European Union and Russia. He justified his order
with national interests and Turkey’s non-readiness for settlement.

Turkish prime minister Recep Erdogan claimed of readiness to continue
ratification on the conditions of which Armenia is aware.