Turkey's Erdogan instructs to open border with Armenia?

July 4, 2014 - 14:17 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is readying another move to normalize ties with Armenia, Taraf opposition paper suggests.

The presidential candidate, who earlier extended condolences to the descendants of the Armenian Genocide victims ahead of the April 24 commemoration day, allegedly instructed to open the border with Armenia.

The official is said to have ordered preparatory works to launch Alijan checkpoint scheduled to start services in September. The step is expected to promote rapprochement with Armenia and help normalize relations with the U.S., the paper said.

АПА: МИД Турции: Слухи об открытии в сентябре границы с Арменией безосновательны

The Armenian-Turkish Protocols

The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks held through Swiss mediation.

On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country’s Organic Law.

Commenting on the CC ruling, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “it contains preconditions and restrictive provisions which impair the letter and spirit of the Protocols.” ”The decision undermines the very reason for negotiating these Protocols as well as their fundamental objective. This approach cannot be accepted on our part. Turkey, in line with its accustomed allegiance to its international commitments, maintains its adherence to the primary provisions of these Protocols. We expect the same allegiance from the Armenian government,” the Ministry said.