Ankara’s reasons for non-ratification of Protocols won’t be taken normally

March 11, 2010 - 13:56 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia-Turkey rapprochement started as an open process and must be completed in the same manner, lest it should remind a farce, OSCE PA Special Representative on Nagorno-Karabakh and Georgia, President Emeritus Goran Lennmarker said.

At 73rd NATO PA Rose-Roth seminar in Yerevan, Goran Lennmarker urged Armenia and Turkey to expedite Protocols ratification. “We understand there are many impediments on the way to ratification, but the process is still very important. I’ve repeatedly told the Turkish side that one can always find reasons for non- ratification, still they won’t be taken normally,” Goran Lennmarker stressed.

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.