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YEREVAN. – Armenia has not set preconditions in relations with third parties, and will not let anyone use the practice of preconditions, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said during the meeting of the National Security Council on Thursday.

A key item on the agenda was the discussion of the Armenian-Turkish protocols signed in Zurich in October 2009, which was reported on by Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

In his brief opening remarks, President Sargsyan touched upon the process of settling Armenia-Turkey relations, initiated by the President of Armenia based on his vision of fostering a safe and harmonious future in the region without any preconditions, and the developments that followed.

Sargsyan specifically presented Armenia’s efforts to promote the process of interstate relations after the signing of the Zurich protocols, and instead, Turkey’s non-constructive stance, namely the lack of positive developments in the implementation of those commitments assumed before the international community.

Serzh Sargsyan reminded that Armenia had repeatedly stated that if Turkey did not give up its destructive policy, the Zurich protocols would be declared null and void before the spring of 2018.

"When I initiated the process of normalizing relations between Armenia and Turkey without preconditions, I was guided by a vision of building a safer and harmonious future in the region. Armenia did its best in order not to leave the burden of settling Armenia-Turkey interstate relations to future generations. We wanted to complete the process and save them the trouble of shouldering that burden, " President said.

He said Armenia had more reasons to set preconditions to Turkey, but it opted for the prospect of having a peaceful and stable region with its neighbors.

As a result of the discussion, the Security Council endorsed the decision to terminate the process of ratifying the protocols "On Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey" and "On Development of Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey, " which were signed on October 10, 2009

Summing up the meeting, the President once again stressed that Turkey violated the internationally recognized practice and the commitments that States assume before the international community by overtly refusing to ratify the protocols and setting preconditions that had nothing to do with the protocols themselves.

"I want to repeat once again that we have not set preconditions in our relations with third parties, and will not let anyone use the practice of preconditions.

We are a small country, we do not have a powerful military or economic potential, but we are an independent nation and will only act for the sake of our State and our people.

Taking into account the opinion of the National Security Council, I will sign today a decree on terminating the procedure of ratification of the above-mentioned protocols.

I ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs to notify the Turkish side of our decision. After that, the Republic of Armenia will no longer have any legal obligation arising from the signing of those protocols, " President Serzh Sargsyan declared, noting that with a letter stating Armenia’s position on this issue he had notified all parties present at the signing ceremony, in particular, the Presidents of Russia, France, the USA and the Swiss Confederation, the President of the Council of the European Union and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, expressing profound gratitude to them and all those international organizations that have supported us in this initiative."