Epress.am News from Armenia
“A political battle continues between Turkey and Armenia. The US, the European Union and Russia made promises to Armenia, but betrayed us. The protocols are a political fiasco from the Armenian viewpoint,” said Armenian National Congress coordinator Levon Zurabyan in a recent interview with the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry says it holds Turkey responsible for the protocols having not yet come into force while Armenia remains ready for dialogue without precondition.
Zurabyan told the Daily News in a recent interview that the political battle continues between Turkey and Armenia, adding that the protocols add tension to bilateral relations instead of easing them. “Both sides accuse each other of not actualizing the protocols. Both sides are trying to put the blame on each other.”
Zurabyan said the (Serzh) Sargysan government had made a big mistake by signing onto the road map. “Sargsyan thought the US, the EU and Russia would pressure Turkey to enforce the protocols. Armenia was given promises. We warned the Sargsyan government that due to Turkey’s strategic importance no country would take any risk for Armenia. But they did not listen.”
Zurabyan criticized the Sargsyan administration, the US, the EU and Russia, saying Armenia was deceived. “Armenia made concessions on the protocols. Turkey wanted to prevent the US Congress from recognizing the Armenian Genocide and they’ve managed it through the protocols. The protocols are a political fiasco from Armenia’s viewpoint.”