interfax, Russia
April 23 2010

Armenia-Turkey normalization process suspended

YEREVAN April 23

Armenia on Thursday unilaterally suspended a process in which it had
been trying to normalize its relations with Turkey, accusing Turkey of
being unprepared to "remain party to the process that has begun to and
move forward without preconditions" and taking an "unacceptable"
position in the process.

"For a year senior Turkish officials have been speaking in the
language of preconditions. For a whole year Turkey has done everything
possible to drag out time and ruin the process. This brings us to the
unequivocal conclusion and position that Turkey is not prepared to
remain party to the process that has begun and to move forward without
any preconditions and in keeping with the spirit of the protocols that
have been signed," President Serzh Sargsyan said in an address to the
nation on Thursday.

He was referring to two protocols signed by the two nations’ foreign
ministers in Zurich on October 10, 2009, and mapping out measures for
the two nations to build a normal relationship. The planned measures
included establishing diplomatic relations.

"We are past any reasonable time [for decision making], in our
opinion," he said.

"It is senseless to turn the Armenian-Turkish dialogue into an end in
itself. We consider these tactics to be unacceptable and, from this
moment forward, we consider the current phase of the process of
normalization of relations to be over," Sargsyan said.

The president said he is still discussing prospects for the process
with the French, Russian and U.S. presidents and with international
officials. "I am grateful to them for their help. I will not conceal
that our partners have urged me to continue the process, they have
urged me not to halt it," he said.

"Out of respect for them and for their efforts, we have decided not to
withdraw from the process completely but just to suspend the
ratification process of the protocols," Sargsyan said.

"The phase that began with a soccer match between the Armenian and
Turkish national soccer teams in 2008 is over," he said. "I am sure
that this is what our national interests dictate."

Armenia will keep its signature under the protocols in a bid to keep a
chance to normalize its relations with Turkey, Sargsyan said. "We will
resume discussions on the process when we are sure that a proper
atmosphere exists in Turkey," he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress