At Monday's sitting of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, MP Agnesa Khamoyan from the opposition "Armenia" Faction asked questions to the NA deputy speaker, acting NA speaker Hakob Arshakyan from the January 14 meeting of the special representatives of Armenia and Turkey—in Moscow.

"After the meeting, a message is disseminated that the meeting was held in a positive and constructive atmosphere. What positive and constructive atmosphere is it about? Can you explain where the agreement was reached to have representatives to try to normalize relations between Armenia and Turkey?" Khamoyan asked.

Arshakyan responded that ever since the establishment of Armenia’s independence, when Turkey imposed certain restrictions on Armenia and closed its borders with Armenia, the position of Armenia has always been such that it is in favor of establishing relations and opening its borders with Turkey without preconditions.

"That logic has not changed, the Armenian government is still acting from those positions, and we are in favor of opening the borders and normalizing relations [with Turkey] as soon as possible without preconditions. It is in the interests of Armenia and the Armenian people," the NA deputy speaker said.

As for the first talks between the representative of Armenia—NA vice-speaker—, Ruben Rubinyan, and the representative of Turkey, the Arshakyan noted that the Armenian foreign ministry had issued a statement describing the process of these talks.

"If you recall, last year the representative of the Russian foreign ministry first announced that there was a process, the Armenian side spoke with the Russian side about starting a possible process, which was confirmed by the Armenian foreign ministry. After that, the Turkish side announced the appointment of an envoy, the Armenian foreign ministry welcomed it and said it would also appoint a special representative. Then the Turkish side and then Armenia appointed special representatives. The agreement on the actual place and site [of this meeting] was made with the help of the Russian side as well.

You ask, ‘What do you mean by saying 'constructive atmosphere’?’ We mean a constructive atmosphere. As a result of the meeting, the foreign ministries of Armenia, Turkey, and Russia issued press releases, the Russian foreign ministry issued a statement," Hakob Arshakyan said.