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SARKISIAN CONFIRMS TURKEY TRIP, AGAIN WARNS ANKARA
http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/18 49587.html
12.10.2009
Armenia's President Serzh Sarkisian announced on Monday his decision
to visit Turkey this week to attend a football match between the
two neighbors, while questioning Ankara's commitment to honor the
fence-mending agreements with Yerevan. (UPDATED)
Sarkisian suggested that Turkish leaders' weekend statements linking
the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations with a settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh were "primarily addressed to the Azerbaijani
audience."
"Otherwise, it would seem strange to me: if the Turks are not going
to ratify the protocols, then why did they sign them [in Zurich on
Saturday] in the first place?" he told journalists. "Maybe they thought
that we might not display sufficient will and take a step back. Maybe."
"In any case, the ball is in the Turkish court today, and we have
enough patience to await further developments," said Sarkisian. "If
the Turks ratify the protocols, if they stick to the agreed timetable,
we will continue the process. If not, we will not be bound by anything
and will do what we have announced."
In a televised address to the nation on Saturday, Sarkisian likewise
implicitly threatened to walk away from the controversial agreements,
which have put him at odds with nationalist groups in Armenia and
its influential Diaspora, if Ankara fails to implement them "within
a reasonable timeframe." Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
stated on Sunday that the establishment of diplomatic relations and
reopening of the border between the two states hinges on a breakthrough
in the Karabakh peace process.
Galust Sahakian, the parliamentary leader of Sarkisian's Republican
Party (HHK), indicated on Monday that Armenia's National Assembly
will start debating the protocols only after they are approved by the
Turkish parliament. "If Turkey makes any reservations, our parliament
will not even include [the issue] on its agenda," said Sahakian.
Both the HHK and Erdogan's Justice and Development Party have a solid
majority in their respective legislatures.
Sarkisian also made clear that he has accepted his Turkish counterpart
Abdullah Gul's invitation to watch with him the return match of
Armenia's and Turkey's national soccer teams that will be played in
the western Turkish city of Bursa on Wednesday. The Armenian leader
said earlier that he will visit Turkey it only if Ankara takes "real
steps" to normalize bilateral ties.
Sarkisian said on Monday that "sufficient prerequisites" are now
in place for the landmark trip. "Turkey's president, Mr. Gul, had
responded to my invitation and come to Armenia [in September 2008,]
and I now see no serious basis not to accept his invitation," he
said. "My counterpart has sent a written invitation, and unless
something extraordinary happens in the next two days, I will go to
Bursa and cheer for my favorite team."
The president answered journalists' questions at Yerevan's Zvartnots
as he prepared to fly to Moscow for what his office described as a
brief working visit. Shortly before his departure, Sarkisian sent
a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama thanking Washington for its
active role in the Turkish-Armenian dialogue.
"I am convinced that without the decisive help of the United States
it would have been impossible to make effective efforts in this
direction," he said after "warmly" congratulating Obama on winning
the Nobel Peace Prize.
Meanwhile, Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said later on
Monday that the Erdogan government will send the protocols to the
Turkish parliament "next week." "The assembly will decide whether
to approve or reject them," Cicek told reporters after a cabinet
meeting. But he underlined that the "parliament will undoubtedly
follow developments in Armenia during this process."
According to the AFP news agency, Cicek described the pacts as a
"sincere and serious show of will" by Turkey. But he reiterated that
lasting peace in the region also depends on the resolution of the
Karabakh dispute.
http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/18 49587.html
12.10.2009
Armenia's President Serzh Sarkisian announced on Monday his decision
to visit Turkey this week to attend a football match between the
two neighbors, while questioning Ankara's commitment to honor the
fence-mending agreements with Yerevan. (UPDATED)
Sarkisian suggested that Turkish leaders' weekend statements linking
the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations with a settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh were "primarily addressed to the Azerbaijani
audience."
"Otherwise, it would seem strange to me: if the Turks are not going
to ratify the protocols, then why did they sign them [in Zurich on
Saturday] in the first place?" he told journalists. "Maybe they thought
that we might not display sufficient will and take a step back. Maybe."
"In any case, the ball is in the Turkish court today, and we have
enough patience to await further developments," said Sarkisian. "If
the Turks ratify the protocols, if they stick to the agreed timetable,
we will continue the process. If not, we will not be bound by anything
and will do what we have announced."
In a televised address to the nation on Saturday, Sarkisian likewise
implicitly threatened to walk away from the controversial agreements,
which have put him at odds with nationalist groups in Armenia and
its influential Diaspora, if Ankara fails to implement them "within
a reasonable timeframe." Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
stated on Sunday that the establishment of diplomatic relations and
reopening of the border between the two states hinges on a breakthrough
in the Karabakh peace process.
Galust Sahakian, the parliamentary leader of Sarkisian's Republican
Party (HHK), indicated on Monday that Armenia's National Assembly
will start debating the protocols only after they are approved by the
Turkish parliament. "If Turkey makes any reservations, our parliament
will not even include [the issue] on its agenda," said Sahakian.
Both the HHK and Erdogan's Justice and Development Party have a solid
majority in their respective legislatures.
Sarkisian also made clear that he has accepted his Turkish counterpart
Abdullah Gul's invitation to watch with him the return match of
Armenia's and Turkey's national soccer teams that will be played in
the western Turkish city of Bursa on Wednesday. The Armenian leader
said earlier that he will visit Turkey it only if Ankara takes "real
steps" to normalize bilateral ties.
Sarkisian said on Monday that "sufficient prerequisites" are now
in place for the landmark trip. "Turkey's president, Mr. Gul, had
responded to my invitation and come to Armenia [in September 2008,]
and I now see no serious basis not to accept his invitation," he
said. "My counterpart has sent a written invitation, and unless
something extraordinary happens in the next two days, I will go to
Bursa and cheer for my favorite team."
The president answered journalists' questions at Yerevan's Zvartnots
as he prepared to fly to Moscow for what his office described as a
brief working visit. Shortly before his departure, Sarkisian sent
a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama thanking Washington for its
active role in the Turkish-Armenian dialogue.
"I am convinced that without the decisive help of the United States
it would have been impossible to make effective efforts in this
direction," he said after "warmly" congratulating Obama on winning
the Nobel Peace Prize.
Meanwhile, Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said later on
Monday that the Erdogan government will send the protocols to the
Turkish parliament "next week." "The assembly will decide whether
to approve or reject them," Cicek told reporters after a cabinet
meeting. But he underlined that the "parliament will undoubtedly
follow developments in Armenia during this process."
According to the AFP news agency, Cicek described the pacts as a
"sincere and serious show of will" by Turkey. But he reiterated that
lasting peace in the region also depends on the resolution of the
Karabakh dispute.