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Washington Again Signals Ankara On Soonest Ratification Of Protocols

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  • Washington Again Signals Ankara On Soonest Ratification Of Protocols

    WASHINGTON AGAIN SIGNALS ANKARA ON SOONEST RATIFICATION OF PROTOCOLS

    PanARMENIAN.Net
    18.03.2010 11:15 GMT+04:00

    /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey's work with Armenia to normalize relations
    demonstrates both the promise and the difficulty of this enterprise,
    a US senior official said.

    "It holds out the prospect of positive transformative change in the
    region. The steps taken so far by both countries have shown vision
    and courage. Last October, in the presence of Secretary Clinton,
    the foreign ministers of France, Russia, and Switzerland, and the EU
    High Representative, the Turkish and Armenian Foreign Ministers signed
    protocols on normalizing and developing their relations," Mr. Philip
    H. Gordon Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of European and
    Eurasian Affairs, said during his sixth annual Sakip Sabanci Lecture.

    "We believe that the implementation of these protocols - leading to
    diplomatic ties and open borders - would be a historic development that
    would benefit both countries and contribute to security and economic
    prosperity throughout the region. We appreciate the effort that has
    been made so far and urge both countries to ratify the protocols
    without preconditions and as soon as possible, a point President
    Obama made on the phone to President Gul just two weeks ago.

    Let us not squander the historic progress already made. Ratification
    will bring valuable benefits to both Turkey and Armenia. All who are
    invested in the process must do their part to ensure that it moves
    forward," he said.

    "Let me address in this context the resolution recently considered
    by the House Foreign Affairs Committee. As President Obama has said,
    our interest remains a full, frank, and just acknowledgement of the
    facts related to the events of 1915. But the best way to do that, we
    believe, is for the Armenian and Turkish people themselves to address
    this history as part of their efforts to build a future of shared
    peace and prosperity. As both Secretary Clinton and Secretary Gates
    have indicated, further Congressional action could impede progress
    on the normalization of relations and for that reason we oppose this
    resolution," Mr. Gordon concluded.
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