Armenia to ratify Protocols in case of Turkey's refraining from preconditions

January 12, 2010 - 19:24 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net -
The Constitutional Court's decision on Armenian-Turkish Protocols' conformity to RA Constitution was foreseeable, political scientist Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan finds.

"Armenia can ratify the Protocols only in case Turkey unconditionally accepts all clauses without preconditions. Otherwise, the documents may give rise to new conflicting views between Armenia and Turkey," he told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

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.