PACE CO-RAPPORTEURS LEFT ARMENIA "WITH UNDERSTANDING"
By Aghavni Haroutiunian
AZG Armenian Daily
23/01/2009
International politics
Edward Nalbandian isn’t against meeting with Mammadyarov in Zurich
Armenia together with the European institutions and European Council
tries to do all in its power to ease the repercussions after the
post-election developments in March, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian said after presentation of the Ministry’s briefing 2008
answering the questions of the journalists connected with the PACE
discussions in January.
More interesting is that, according to the Minister, John Prescott
and Jorge Colombien, the Co-rapporteurs on Armenia that recently
arrived in Yerevan connected with the PACE resolutions 1609 and 1620,
studied the question "with understanding".
Touching upon Karabakh conflict settlement, the Armenian Foreign
Minister mentioned that during their last visit to the region the
OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs presented an initiative to hold a meeting
in Zurich at the level of Ministers that will precede the Armenian
and Azerbaijani Presidents’ meeting in Davos; both Presidents gave
their consent to the meeting.
Mr.Nalbandian mentioned that the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister gave
his consent. The Armenian FM isn’t against the meeting with his
counterpart as well.
What about the statements about signing an agreement in the nearest
future based on the basic principles of Karabakh conflict settlement,
the Minister said that there is always such a probability but it’s
not right to set time limits.
What about the Armenian-Turkish relations, Armenia has adopted an
initiating policy and its position remains the same – opening of the
border and improvement in relations without preconditions.
To the question, "What price is Armenia ready to pay for improvement
of relations with Turkey?" Nalbandian answered that he heard similar
question during a press conference in Turkey.
"Turkey needs improvement in relations not less than Armenia", the
Minister said adding, "We should turn that sorrowful page of history
with joint efforts; but not by forgetting but recognizing it".