Armenia’s signature under protocols pleases West – ARFD memberNovember 24, 2011 - 15:37 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The only benefit Armenia may reap from refusal to withdraw signature from protocols with Turkey is pleasing some of its western friends who insist on continuing ratification process, according to ARF Dashnaktsutyun Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office Director. At news conference in Yerevan, Kiro Manoyan urged to discontinue the process as detrimental to Armenia’s national interests. Dwelling on Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s statement suggesting frozen Armenia-Turkey ties are hard to thaw, Manoyan questioned, “why did Turkey sign protocols if normalizing ties with Armenia was such a hard task to accomplish?” “Turkey is the only party to benefit from retaining protocols in their current state,” the expert stressed. The protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of the common border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks held through Swiss mediation. In August 2011, the protocols were removed from the agenda but later were brought back again. Top stories The Cabinet of Ministers decided on Thursday, November 9 to allocated AMD 120 million to arrange the gathering. Michael Roth believes sanctions must be put on the table after Baku‘s ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Yerevan City Council has elected Tigran Avniyan from the ruling Civil Contract as the mayor of the Armenian capital. The Armenian Parliament on Tuesday, October 3 voted to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Partner news | U.S. reacts to Russia’s criticism of upcoming Armenia-EU-U.S. meeting Matthew Miller has weighed in on Russia’s criticism of an upcoming Armenia-EU-U.S. meeting. Lavrov sees ‘collapse’ of Russia’s ties with Armenia Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has underscored heightened tensions between Russia and Armenia. Russia clarifying reports on Baku’s alleged arms supply to Ukraine Russia says is carefully working to verify reports about alleged arms supplies from Azerbaijan to Ukraine Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. |