Aram Safaryan: U.S. wants to help Armenian-Turkish talks forward

April 16, 2010 - 13:51 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Prosperous Armenia Party gives a high estimate of President’s Serzh Sargsyan’s visit to Washington by five reasons.

“First, President Sargsyan’s summarized the domestic political events in his remarks; second, meetings he held were the result of U.S. policy aimed to help Armenian-Turkish talks forward; third, the dialogue will continue, as it contributes to establishment of regional peace; fourth, President Sargsyan made himself clear that Armenia will never agree to unilateral concessions on Karabakh and will continue its campaign for worldwide recognition of the Armenian Genocide, fifth, he reminded that the Armenian-Turkish dialogue should be continued both on official and public levels,” party member Aram Safaryan told a news conference on April 16.

The ongoing process between Armenia and Turkey is an Olympic marathon which should be passed with honor, according to him.

As to Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, he said that Azerbaijan should recognize independence of NKR.

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.

On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country’s Organic Law.

Commenting on the CC ruling, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “it contains preconditions and restrictive provisions which impair the letter and spirit of the Protocols.” ”The decision undermines the very reason for negotiating these Protocols as well as their fundamental objective. This approach cannot be accepted on our part. Turkey, in line with its accustomed allegiance to its international commitments, maintains its adherence to the primary provisions of these Protocols. We expect the same allegiance from the Armenian government,” the Ministry said.