Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Cemil Cicek has discussed the Armenian issue at the meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone.
APA reports that outgoing Ambassador Ricciardone asked Cicek why Zurich protocols on Turkish- Armenian rapprochement hadn't been included in the agenda of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Cicek said the reason for it was the position of Armenia. "Accusing a country and society of committing genocide is the biggest insult. It undermines the relations. Prime Minister Erdogan's statement on the allegations of genocide issued on April 23 should be considered well. Unfortunately, the U.S. misinterpreted this statement," he said.
The Speaker said that Turkey has taken 3 important steps in this regard: "Though, the President and Foreign Minister visited Armenia, the opposite side didn't take any step. The Armenian-Azerbaijani relations should be normalized to ensure peace in the Caucasus region. However, Armenia is under the mortgage of the Armenian Diaspora. Armenia should take a fairer position to contribute to the solution of the problem."
Armenia and Turkey signed the "Protocol on the establishment of diplomatic relations" and the "Protocol on the development of bilateral relations" in Zurich on October 10. Following Turkey's unwillingness to ratify the protocols and attempts to link ratification with the Karabakh conflict made President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan sign a decree on suspension of the procedure of ratification of the Armenian -Turkish protocols.