What’s “Zurich-2”? ‘New round’ of Armenia-Turkey rapprochement, says Aram Karapetyan

Armenia has started a new round of talks with Turkey, head of Nor Jamanakner Party (New Times) Aram Karapetyan told a press conference today.

According to him that’s why Chairman of Armenia’s National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan is paying a visit to Switzerland to start the new round of the talks what Mr Karapetyan called “Zurich-2” plan.

“Then they [Armenia’s authorities] will bring it to the parliament, and we will accept it as it is,” said he, adding that this new plan, which includes new details and with some changes related to the economy, is similar to what he called the “Zurich-1” plan – the Armenia-Turkey rapprochement.

Turkey and Armenia launched the normalization process last year but Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan suspended the ratification of the Armenia-Turkey Protocols this spring after Turkey linked their ratification in its parliament with the return of territories around Karabakh to Azerbaijan.

“They [Turks] say, well, will you return the regions [around Karabakh], if so, the border will open, but we will give [you] also money for that,” explained he.