ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SUSPENDS RATIFICATION OF PROTOCOLS WITH TURKEY
ITAR-TASS
April 22 2010
Russia
YEREVAN, April 22 (Itar-Tass) — Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan
has signed a decree to terminate the ratification of protocols on
the establishment of diplomatic relations with Turkey and on the
development of relations with that country.
The decree says that the decision was made in view of Thursday’s
joint statement by the political councils of the parties affiliated
with the ruling coalition and in compliance with Armenia’s law On
International Treaties.
The ruling coalition has suggested removing the ratification issue from
the agenda of National Assembly sessions "until the Turkish side has
displayed the readiness for the further continuation of the process (of
normalizing relations with Yerevan – Itar-Tass) without preconditions."
"The political majority in the National Assembly of Armenia regards
as unacceptable statements the Turkish side has made over the past few
days, including those by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, that link the
ratification of Armenian-Turkish protocols by the Turkish parliament
with the settlement of the conflict between Nagorno-Karabakh and
Azerbaijan," the statement runs.
The presidential decree has instructed the Armenian Foreign Ministry
to notify Turkey of the decision.