ArmInfo. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke about the background of the 6-word note that he gave to his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian in Zurich before the signing of the Armenian-Turkish protocols on the normalization of relations.
So, on September 3, at the "New Knowledge" educational marathon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, when asked what was behind the note, which contained only six words:"Edward, agree to the ceremony without statements", that he gave to his Armenian counterpart before the signing of the Armenian-Turkish protocols in 2009, in particular, noted that it is necessary to outline the context so that everything becomes clear.
"And the context was that somewhere in 2008, our Armenian friends told us that the Turks offered to agree on documents on the restoration of diplomatic relations, on the normalization of relations and cooperation, and the implementation of joint projects. We said that very well, are there any preconditions? They said that without preconditions," Lavrov said, adding that later, when it came to signing, which was planned in Zurich and attended by the ministers of Armenia and Turkey, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the EU representative and he personally, it turned out that there are preconditions.
We should have witnessed this serious step. But, just before the signing, it turned out that the Turkish side was talking about its readiness to sign all the documents, but with a reservation on Nagorno-Karabakh. The text of the clause was at variance with the position of the Armenian side. I then told my Armenian counterpart that I had warned him, because it was hard to believe that there would be no preconditions. However, everything has become deadlocked," Lavrov said. He added that then the Turkish minister agreed to withdraw the statement, but already the Armenian side insisted on its statement.
According to the Russian minister, they were sitting watching football, and the two ministers were arguing and in the end he then suggested that the Armenian side should not insist on statements. <As a result, the agreements were signed without any statements, but they were not implemented all for the same reason - the parties saw differently the process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. But now, when the war is over, the foundations for the political process, unblocking of all transport and economic ties have been formed, it seems to me quite logical if our Armenian and Turkish counterparts resume efforts to normalize relations. We are ready to help this in the most active way," the Russian Foreign Minister summed up.