YEREVAN.- Normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations is in U.S. interests, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in Yerevan on Monday

Washington always welcomed the rapprochement without any preconditions, she said during a joint press conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Edwrad Nalbandian.

“The ball is in Turkey’s court,” she said, adding that there is no link between normalization of Armenia-Turkey ties and tension in Yerevan-Baku relations.

“U.S. will continue to play active role in the settlement of both issues,” she said expressing hope that finally the borders in the South Caucasus will open and regional cooperation will be established.

In October 2009 Armenia and Turkey signed protocols in Zurich to normalize diplomatic relations between the states. However, in 2010 the Armenian president suspended the process due to Turkey’s non-constructive stance. Ankara set preconditions and linked the reconciliation process to resolution of the Karabakh conflict.