U.S. needs uninterrupted Armenian-Turkish process till April 24

April 9, 2010 - 16:19 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The U.S. needs an uninterrupted Armenian-Turkish process till April 24, an Armenian expert said.

“To prevent failure of the dialogue, the U.S. exerts pressure on both countries. It’s notable that Azerbaijani President was not invited to the Nuclear Security Summit. This move signals to Armenian political elite on the isolation of Karabakh conflict from Armenian-Turkish relations,” Director of Caucasus Institute Alexander Iskandaryan told a news conference on April 9.

He presumed that Washington will probably ask Ankara for a partial opening of the Armenian-Turkish border but excluded a possibility of ratification of Protocols before April 24.

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.