Ratification of Armenian-Turkish protocols can raise possibility of new war in KarabakhApril 2, 2010 - 15:44 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan is likely to meet with his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama in Washington. This meeting will offer the U.S. President a chance to avoid using the term Genocide in his April 24 address to the Armenian community, said Kiro Manoyan, ARF Dashnaktsutyun Bureau’s Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office director. “Erdogan knows that his refusal to take part in the impending Nuclear Security Summit will bring more pressure on Turkey. So, he will go to the U.S. to try to prevent recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Mr. Obama,” he said. “The U.S. is interested in normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations. With ratification of protocols, it will relieve the burden of Woodrow Wilson’s arbitration award.” As to Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, Mr. Manoyan said no progress is expected. “War is possible on two cases: if Azerbaijan is confident of victory and if Turkey sacrifices Azerbaijan’s interests for reconciliation with Armenia. At that, ratification of protocols can raise the possibility of a new war in Karabakh,” he said. The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now. The Armenian-Turkish Protocols The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks held through Swiss mediation. Top stories Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. President of the Armenian parliament Alen Simonyan met with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova. Achieving stable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains a priority of the OSCE, said Ian Borg. The Cabinet of Ministers decided on Thursday, November 9 to allocated AMD 120 million to arrange the gathering. Partner news | Russia sends note of protest to Armenia over envoy’s trip to Ukraine’s Bucha Russia has sent a note of protest to Armenia over the visit of Vladimir Karapetyan and Tigran Ter-Margaryan to Bucha. Armenia: Protesters march to parliament, some spend the night on street The protesters did not disperse despite heavy rain that began at around 2 a.m. local time. Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Pashinyan visits flood-hit region Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, June 8 visited the disaster area in the Lori province. |