Azg, Armenia
March 12 2010
LE FIGARO INTERVIEW WITH SERZH SARGSYAN
By Hovik Afyan
Within the framework of his visit to France, President Serzh Sargsyan
gave an interview to well-known French newspaper Le Figaro. In the
interview, the President touched upon the Armenian-Turkish processes
and Karabakh conflict negotiations. Speaking of Armenian-Turkish
relations, the President once again underlined that Armenia would
ratify the protocols only after Turkish Mejlis. Serzh Sargsyan said,
"Ankara is speaking in language of preconditions that mainly refers to
Karabakh, while there is a bilateral agreement to establish relations
without preconditions". "The international community should also play
a decisive role in the process", the President said. The President
also underlined, "If we make sure that Turkey uses the process for
other purposes, Armenia will disown its signature".
What about Karabakh conflict, the President said that everything
should be done to lift the blockade on Armenia, as the latter first of
all suffers from it. "In this case, Azerbaijan is in a different
situation; they cherish hopes for their oil dollars to buy armaments
and solve the conflict militarily", Serzh Sargsyan said.
To the question whether Armenia is afraid of a war, the Armenian
President answered, "War is always undesirable and people should
always avoid conduction of wars. At the same time, we are not afraid
of fighting a war, if it is necessary. Nevertheless, our position is
to solve the conflict by peaceful means based on mutual compromises".