Friday, April 26 2019 12:54

ArmInfo. Unfortunately, in the current situation, there is no hope that any progress can be achieved in normalizing relations between Armenia and Turkey. The head of the  Armenian Foreign Ministry Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said this in an  interview with the First Information Channel, referring to relations  with Turkey.

The head of the Armenian diplomacy recalled that Armenia made a  serious contribution to the Zurich Protocols of 2009, which were  rejected by Turkey. "The politician who was the actor of the  rejection of these protocols today governs this country, and the  statements we have heard from Turkey over the years are not  encouraging. I would even say that the comments and statements made  from there are condemnable," Mnatsakanyan stressed.

When asked to express his attitude towards the Zurich Protocol, the  Armenian Foreign Minister stated that it was a very laborious  process, with comprehensive discussions and coordination of documents  that were subject to pan-Armenian discussions. "Naturally, this was a  very sensitive and difficult issue, and I believe that there was a  process and a result," the minister noted, while assuring that it was  difficult to give any assessment to the whole process, as the  opportunity was missed and was missed because for Turkey.  According  to him, this gives more reason to assess the current situation and  what we can do. "Now I have no reason for optimism that we can build  something," the head of the Armenian Foreign Ministry added.  He also  found it difficult to say whether Turkey was then seeking to  normalize relations or not. According to him, it is difficult for him  to assess, because he did not participate in the process.  Mnatsakanyan recalled that the normalization process was launched  under the Turkish president Gulen, and then the actors changed. "We  are judging by today's results, which in fact does not exist," said  Mnatsakanyan.

Touching upon the criticism of Ankara in connection with the  statement of the US President on the occasion of April 24, the  Armenian Foreign Minister stressed that, in general, the reaction  sounding from Turkey to Armenia is unacceptable. "This reaction again  demonstrates limited perception, limited ability to face its own  history. And Ankara's April 24 reaction is condemnable. This is  unacceptable and offensive, it's not just a denial, but also an  excuse for genocide. . And the most glaring thing is that while  justifying the genocide, it actually admits that it was an organized  function on the part of the incumbent authorities.  Calling  Armenians, our martyrs, victims of genocide in an unacceptable way  and justifying what was done by the then authorities of the Ottoman  Empire - all this simply is out of all proportion, " Mnatsakanyan  concluded.