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12
10, 2009
President Serzh Sargsyan responds to questions raised by journalists
Before heading to Moscow for a working visit, in Zvartnots airport President Serzh Sargsyan answered the questions from the media.
Mr. President, now when the protocols have already been signed, would it be accurate to state that your condition – to go to Turkey if borders are open – has been met?
President Sargsyan: We don’t set conditions for anyone. On the contrary, we have been insisting that our relations must develop without preconditions. What was meant is that there should be appropriate prerequisites, and I believe those prerequisites have been created. Besides, in relations I attach great importance to the principle of reciprocity: The President of Turkey, Mr. Gule responded to my invitation and came to Armenia. Now I see no reason not to accept his invitation. My colleague has sent out a written invitation and if nothing extraordinary happens in the coming days, I will go to Bursa and will support our football team, Armenia’s national team.
Mr. President, in that case how would assess yesterday’s statements of the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey?
President Sargsyan: Unfortunately, our public first reads these statements from the Azerbaijani internet sites, which are naturally, are trying to distort, misrepresent statements of the Turkish officials by making them sound tougher. However, those statements have been made, and in my opinion they are first of all addressed to the Azerbaijani audience. Otherwise, it is very odd: If the Turks are not going to ratify the protocols, why have they initialed them? Perhaps they were thinking that we wouldn’t have enough will power to do it and would retreat? Perhaps. In any case, the ball today is in the Turks’ court and we have enough patience to wait and see what happens next. We have declared out steps publicly and will move steadfastly forward. If the Turks ratify the protocols and follow the set timetable, we will carry on with the process; if they don’t ratify the protocols, we have nothing to be embarrassed about and we will do what we have said we were going to do.
Mr. President, after negotiations in Chisinau the President of Azerbaijan declared that the issues of returning of the territories adjacent to Nagorno Karabakh had already been agreed upon. Will you confirm or deny that statement?
President Sargsyan – The fact that the Azerbaijani President is disappointed with the results of the negotiations is not surprising. Surprising are the ideas which he articulated in that interview, including that particular one. I have no idea with whom the President of Azerbaijan has reached agreement on that issue. You might have noticed that there are perceptible uncertainties in that particular paragraph. He wouldn’t say when or where. We have never discussed the issue of returning territories with the President of Azerbaijan. He is disgruntled with the course and the results of the negotiations because the only thing we have discussed were two issues: the final status of Nagorno Karabakh and its interim status. If he is disappointed I cannot help him.
Mr. President, now when the protocols have already been signed, would it be accurate to state that your condition – to go to Turkey if borders are open – has been met?
President Sargsyan: We don’t set conditions for anyone. On the contrary, we have been insisting that our relations must develop without preconditions. What was meant is that there should be appropriate prerequisites, and I believe those prerequisites have been created. Besides, in relations I attach great importance to the principle of reciprocity: The President of Turkey, Mr. Gule responded to my invitation and came to Armenia. Now I see no reason not to accept his invitation. My colleague has sent out a written invitation and if nothing extraordinary happens in the coming days, I will go to Bursa and will support our football team, Armenia’s national team.
Mr. President, in that case how would assess yesterday’s statements of the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey?
President Sargsyan: Unfortunately, our public first reads these statements from the Azerbaijani internet sites, which are naturally, are trying to distort, misrepresent statements of the Turkish officials by making them sound tougher. However, those statements have been made, and in my opinion they are first of all addressed to the Azerbaijani audience. Otherwise, it is very odd: If the Turks are not going to ratify the protocols, why have they initialed them? Perhaps they were thinking that we wouldn’t have enough will power to do it and would retreat? Perhaps. In any case, the ball today is in the Turks’ court and we have enough patience to wait and see what happens next. We have declared out steps publicly and will move steadfastly forward. If the Turks ratify the protocols and follow the set timetable, we will carry on with the process; if they don’t ratify the protocols, we have nothing to be embarrassed about and we will do what we have said we were going to do.
Mr. President, after negotiations in Chisinau the President of Azerbaijan declared that the issues of returning of the territories adjacent to Nagorno Karabakh had already been agreed upon. Will you confirm or deny that statement?
President Sargsyan – The fact that the Azerbaijani President is disappointed with the results of the negotiations is not surprising. Surprising are the ideas which he articulated in that interview, including that particular one. I have no idea with whom the President of Azerbaijan has reached agreement on that issue. You might have noticed that there are perceptible uncertainties in that particular paragraph. He wouldn’t say when or where. We have never discussed the issue of returning territories with the President of Azerbaijan. He is disgruntled with the course and the results of the negotiations because the only thing we have discussed were two issues: the final status of Nagorno Karabakh and its interim status. If he is disappointed I cannot help him.