Russia supports normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey
07.03.2018,
18:34
The Russia Federation stands for the normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said today, when commenting on Armenia's decision to declare void and null the Armenian-Turkish protocols on the establishment of diplomatic relations and normalization of ties, signed in 2009 In Switzerland.
YEREVAN, March 7. /ARKA/. The Russia Federation stands for the normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said today, when commenting on Armenia's decision to declare void and null the Armenian-Turkish protocols on the establishment of diplomatic relations and normalization of ties, signed in 2009 In Switzerland.
She said the Russian delegation was in Zurich and took an active part in the signing process. “We proceed from the importance of normalization of relations between these countries in their own interests," Zakharova said today.
"Once again I say that Russia took an active and effective part in the development of relevant agreements. We commented on this topic later, and these assessments are relevant," Zakharova said.
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan declared the Armenian-Turkish protocols void and null on March 1. The decision was made following a meeting of the National Security Council of Armenia.
In 2009, on October 10, Armenia and Turkey signed "Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations" and the "Protocol on the Development of Bilateral Relations" in Zurich which were to be ratified by the parliaments of both countries.
However, on 22 April 2010, the president of Armenia signed a decree suspending the ratification of the protocols, stating that Turkey was not ready to continue the process, since it became known that the protocols had been automatically removed from the Turkish parliament’s agenda.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly in September 2017 Serzh Sargsyan stated that Armenia never put the recognition of the Armenian Genocide as a precondition for regulating relations with Ankara. Sargsyan said also that in the absence of positive progress on the part of Turkey, Armenia would declare them null and void in 2018 spring.
Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic relations; the border between the two countries was closed in 1993 by Ankara in solidarity with Azerbaijan. Relations between Armenia and Turkey remain tense because of Ankara’s biased stance on Karabakh problem and its painful reaction to Armenia’s efforts to obtain worldwide recognition of the Armenian Genocide, committed by the Ottoman Turkey during World War I. -0-
She said the Russian delegation was in Zurich and took an active part in the signing process. “We proceed from the importance of normalization of relations between these countries in their own interests," Zakharova said today.
"Once again I say that Russia took an active and effective part in the development of relevant agreements. We commented on this topic later, and these assessments are relevant," Zakharova said.
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan declared the Armenian-Turkish protocols void and null on March 1. The decision was made following a meeting of the National Security Council of Armenia.
In 2009, on October 10, Armenia and Turkey signed "Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations" and the "Protocol on the Development of Bilateral Relations" in Zurich which were to be ratified by the parliaments of both countries.
However, on 22 April 2010, the president of Armenia signed a decree suspending the ratification of the protocols, stating that Turkey was not ready to continue the process, since it became known that the protocols had been automatically removed from the Turkish parliament’s agenda.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly in September 2017 Serzh Sargsyan stated that Armenia never put the recognition of the Armenian Genocide as a precondition for regulating relations with Ankara. Sargsyan said also that in the absence of positive progress on the part of Turkey, Armenia would declare them null and void in 2018 spring.
Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic relations; the border between the two countries was closed in 1993 by Ankara in solidarity with Azerbaijan. Relations between Armenia and Turkey remain tense because of Ankara’s biased stance on Karabakh problem and its painful reaction to Armenia’s efforts to obtain worldwide recognition of the Armenian Genocide, committed by the Ottoman Turkey during World War I. -0-
