Aram Karapetyan doesn't rule out for RA Constitutional Court to suspend Protocol's discussion

January 11, 2010 - 18:16 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net -
Today's meeting will not affect the decision of RA Constitutional Court, but will surely have an influence on the general process of Protocols' ratification, New Times party leader Aram Karapetyan said.

As he told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter at the joint rally with ARF Dashnaktsutyun in Yerevan, Protocol's discussion suspension is a possibility in case Turkish Premier manages to advance a number of Turkey's preconditions.

On January 12, Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will visit Moscow at the invitation of his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Among issues to be covered during bilateral discussion is Karabakh problem settlement, set as a precondition for RA-Turkey rapprochement.

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.