“The Protocols on establishing diplomatic relations and opening the border between Turkey and Armenia aroused many hopes. This reconciliation process has reached a deadlock today, which I deeply regret, President of France Nicolas Sarkozy said in his interview to Mediamax agency of Armenia, APA reported.
President Sargsyan exhibited wisdom and foresight saying the next day after one of our meetings in Paris that Armenia is ready to ratify the Protocols when Turkey is ready for it. I hope the process will resume soon,” he said.
No other country, but France, can imagine what Nagorno Karabakh means for Armenia
“After the World War II, General de Gaulle and Chancellor Adenauer exhibited courage necessary for reaching peace. Being real statesmen, only several years after the war they managed to persuade their peoples that peace has no alternative and each of the sides should overcome its hatred and continue the path to peace and cooperation. You, Armenians and Azerbaijanis, should choose this path,” he said.
“The time has come for you to make a risky choice for peace, as there is no bigger danger than the preservation of status-quo which gives birth to illusions, provokes revenge and moves off all the prospects for peace. No other country, but France, can imagine what Nagorno Karabakh means for Armenia. However, 17 years after the war, which had caused so many deaths and sufferings, the time has come to resolve the conflict and find the way to reconciliation. I’ll also deliver this message to President Aliyev in Baku, where I am leaving after my visit to Armenia,” he said.
Nicolas Sarkozy also assessed the role of the European Union in the South Caucasus.
“France wants the European Union to establish closer relations with the countries of the region, beginning with Armenia. South Caucasus is a strategic region for the European Union. There exists one format to bolster the efforts of the international community for the settlement of the Karabakh problem - the Minsk Group. Each of three Co-Chair states enjoys the confidence of two sides and is involved in the process of definition of conditions for conflict settlement. But the Armenians and Azerbaijanis themselves should find this path first of all. We can help, escort but we can never establish peace instead of you,” he said.
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