Speaking at the 120th Session of the CoE Committee of Ministers, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian addressed Armenian-Turkish relations.

It was the RA President’s initiative to normalize relations with Turkey. Despite numerous difficulties, Armenia launched the process under Swiss mediation, held negotiations and signed the Protocols by mutual understanding that there could be no preconditions. This stance was shared by mediating and assisting states, as well as by the entire world community.

After the Protocols were signed Turkey again resorted to preconditions, which it used to do initially. Thus it actually hampered ratification of the protocols by the Turkish Parliament. This is the reason, why the RA President decided to suspend the ratification process in Armenia until Ankara is ready to continue the process without any preconditions, and that move was welcomed by the international community, Nalbandian said, the RA foreign office press service informed NEWS.am.

A.G.