September 4, 2009 - 13:54 AMT
Ankara attempts to impose preconditions on Armenia
The Co-Chairmen of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, Representatives Frank Pallone and Mark Kirk today expressed reservations regarding Turkey's willingness to cooperate in the implementation of its agreements under a set of recently signed protocols on the normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations, says an ANCA release sent to PanARMENIAN.Net. In their statement, the two legislators called into question several points related to the protocols. With regard to "historical commission" long advanced by Turkey, they set forth their view that: "Any attempt to include a review of historical fact, such as the Armenian Genocide, or to include the ongoing Nagorno Karabakh peace process into these negotiations stands in direct opposition to the intent of these talks." Leaders of the Armenian Caucus closed their statement by expressing hope that, "Turkey, by lifting its illegal blockade, will open the door to normalized relations between Yerevan and Ankara, and a new era of Armenia-Turkey relations based on truth, justice, peace and cooperation."