ArmInfo.Moscow is willing to support the Yerevan-Ankara talks on normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says in an interview with Regional Post - Caucasus.
The minister thinks that his country played an important role in the unfreezing and normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations in 2007-2009. He stressed the need for the sides' capability to come to an agreement and to take serious and responsible decisions. He expresses confidence that Armenia and Turkey are able to resolve the current problems. Much depends on Armenia and Turkey themselves, Lavrov says, noting that the quality of politicians is determined not only by the depth of realistic analysis of the intrinsic difficulties, but also by the ability to fulfill the hopes of their own citizens. When Yerevan and Ankara sit at the table of negotiations, Russia will be ready to provide most active support to them, he says.
Lavrov notes that the entire region will benefit from the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border. Russia would only welcome the opening of the Armenian-Turkish section of the EEU external border for free movement of people, goods and services, he stresses.
To remind, the protocols on establishment of diplomatic relations and development of relations between Armenia and Turkey were signed on 10 October 2009 in Zurich. Later, the documents were withdrawn from the Armenian Parliament because Turkey's denial policy and attempts to rewrite the history received a fresh impetus on the threshold of the Armenian Genocide centennial. In addition, the "reasonable time" of ratification of the documents by both parliaments had lasted too long - the protocols had been on the both parliaments' agenda for over 5 years.