Russia & CIS General Newswire
January 11, 2008 Friday 6:07 PM MSK
Ter-Petrosian speaks on relations with Russia, Turkey
YEREVAN Jan 11
Former Armenian president Levon Ter- Petrosian, who is running for
re-election, promised on Friday he would seek closer relations with
Russia if he won the February 19 presidential election.
"I have no doubt that, if I come to power, the tradition of honest
and mutually beneficial relations between Armenia and Russia will not
only be sustained but will also be built up," Ter-Petrosian told what
was his first news conference in 10 years.
During his presidency in 1991-98, Armenia and Russia built "relations
of partnership" that "were based on mutual respect and confidence and
were not a relationship between a vassal and suzerain," he said.
On Armenian-Turkish relations, Ter-Petrosian said "the Turkish border
will remain closed for Armenia" until the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
is settled and that "it is senseless to expect any developments
before then."
If Nagorno-Karabakh talks bring "a serious breakthrough, Turkey will
open its border, making its contribution to the solution of the
problem," he said.
Ter-Petrosian is one of nine candidates for the office of President.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
