Switzerland pursues continuation of Armenian-Turkish process

The official visit of National Assembly Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan’s delegation to Switzerland continued on September 29.

According to NA press office, Hovik Abrahamyan’s first meeting was with Swiss Foreign Minister, newly elected Vice President of the Swiss Confederation Mrs. Micheline Calmy-Rey. At the beginning of the meeting Hovik Abrahamyan congratulated Mrs. Calmy-Rey on election as Vice President of the Swiss Confederation on September 22.

The NA Speaker said that the Republic of Armenia attaches importance to comprehensive development of relations with Swiss Confederation, particularly, Switzerland’s mediatory mission in resolution of international problems.

Hovik Abrahamyan stressed the role of Armenians of Switzerland in development of bilateral relations. He noted that the Armenian authorities appreciate Switzerland’s assistance aimed at implementation of socio-economic reforms in Armenia.

The Speaker stated that Armenia highly assesses Switzerland’s assistance to its initiative to normalize the Armenian-Turkish relations.

Hovik Abrahamyan stressed that an agreement had been reached to establish relations with Turkey without preconditions but the Turkish party put forward preconditions unacceptable for Armenia.

The NA Speaker said that due to Turkey’s undue delay of ratification of protocols in reasonable term in parliament, President Serzh Sargsyan withdrew the protocols from the Armenian parliament agenda, however, he kept Armenian party’s signature under the protocols thus respecting mediators’ high authority.

According to the Swiss Foreign Minister, the process of Armenian-Turkish normalization cannot remain incomplete; active consultations proceed with the two parties at present to create favorable conditions to continue the process.

“Switzerland is resolute in advancing the process,” Mrs. Micheline Calmy-Rey said in conclusion. She highly assessed President Serzh Sargsyan’s step aimed at normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations describing it as political courage.

The interlocutors also touched upon the Nagorno Karabakh settlement attaching importance to peaceful resolution of the problem through negotiations.