Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has reassured the Turkish side and the international community that Armenia is ready to ratify the diplomatic protocols signed with Turkey at the parliamentary level after lawmakers in Ankara do the same.

Speaking at Chatham House in London Wednesday afternoon Sargsyan stressed that as the political leader of the political majority in the Armenian Parliament, he rules out “any possibility of the Armenian Parliament failing to ratify the protocols in case Turkey ratifies the protocols without preconditions, as agreed.”

“Senior Turkish officials repeatedly assert the political independence of their parliament and the unpredictability of its decision. Moreover, they try to obtain non-partisan ratification by securing the potential support of opposition parties, as well. It is understandable. However, they ought to remember that in case of Armenia they deal with a country, which persevered throughout the process and did not stop even in spite of losing a key ally in the ruling coalition. I am confident that President Gül and Prime Minister Erdogan will, subject to the demonstration of political will, find sufficient support within their party that holds the majority of seats in the Turkish Parliament,” said Sargsyan.

”We are confident that the normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations can become the greatest input of the recent decades in achieving peace and stability in the South Caucasus. With this vision, we have agreed to move forward without any preconditions, not making our relations contingent upon Turkey’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide. However, if, as many suspect, it is proven that Turkey’s goal is to protract, rather than to normalize relations, we will have to discontinue the process.”

In his speech on “Values and Security in the South Caucasus”, the Armenian leader also announced that “immediately after today’s meeting here at the Chatham House, I am going to instruct my staff to submit the Armenia-Turkey protocols to the Armenian National Assembly for the ratification process to be initiated.”

In the text of the speech disseminated by his press office, Sargsyan acknowledged the complex nature of the process.

“It is common knowledge that Turkey repeatedly attempted to voice preconditions related to the resolution of the Mountainous Karabakh issue. It is, however, obvious that attempts to link these two processes will undermine both the normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations and the talks around the Karabakh issue. I, however, believe that the rapid normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations can set an example of a proactive problem-solving attitude that will positively stimulate and set an example the resolution of the Karabakh conflict,” said Sargsyan. “I would like to take one step further and inform you that I am going to invite [Azerbaijani] President [Ilham] Aliyev to the potential opening ceremony of the Armenian-Turkish border. I believe it can serve as an essential and in some ways exemplary measure for the region, which will clearly demonstrate how existing problems should be solved and that every conflict, even the stalest one, can be resolved by means of negotiations and the ability to look truth in the eye. I am sure that the best way to facilitate the resolution of the Karabakh issue is setting the example of one’s own country being able to resolve issues for the benefit of the whole region.”

To read the full speech by President Serzh Sargsyan at Chatham House, see here...


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