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    Emil Karabekian
  • 3 years ago
    • Categories: 2022

Ex-FM: Armenian authorities can’t hold Turkey dialogue on equal footing

Feb 4 2022
February 4, 2022 – 14:55 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - First Foreign Minister of independent Armenia Raffi Hovannisian believes that the current authorities are not capable of conducting a dialogue with Turkey on an equal footing.

"The rhetoric of the current authorities, which they have been promoting over the past months, indicates that they cannot negotiate with Ankara on an equal footing, and even more so, advance the agenda of discussions without preconditions," Hovannisian told a press conference Friday, February 4, Sputnik Armenia reports.

At the same time, the ex-Minister believes that Turkey's statements about the need to unblock regional transport communications already constitute a precondition, and the Armenian side should understand this.

According to him, negotiations without preconditions would be possible if the countries exchanged diplomatic notes, Ankara opened the border, which it itself closed, and a dialogue began around controversial issues.

"There has always been communication and this is positive, but if it (communication – Ed.) is being linked to the Karabakh issue, some roads, recognition of the border, then these are negotiations with preconditions and, in my opinion, they are unacceptable," the politician said.

At the same time, he said, in order to normalize relations, the Armenian side should raise a number of issues that are directly related to the rights of Armenians, such as the restoration of cultural heritage, the guaranteed return of Armenians to their homes, Armenia's access to the sea.

The next meeting of the special representatives of Armenia and Turkey in the normalization process will take place on February 24 in Vienna, Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vahan Hunanyan said Thursday, February 3.

Armenia has appointed Vice President of the National Assembly Ruben Rubinyan for the talks, while Turkey has dispatched former Ambassador to the United States Serdar Kilic as special representative.

The envoys held their first meeting on January 14 Moscow, Russia, in what the Armenian Foreign Ministry described "a positive and constructive atmosphere".

Emil Karabekian: