Armenian authorities' changed their position on protocol ratification procedures

PanARMENIAN.Net - RA Constitutional Court's haste to pass positive decision on Armenian-Turkish Protocols testified to the existence of international pressures upon Armenia, according to Heritage parliamentary group member Stepan Safaryan.



"Before the court's decision, Armenian authorities claimed they'd ratify the Protocols only after Turkey," he told a news conference in Yerevan.



At that, he referred to Prescott and Columbier's report posted on PACE official Web site following the nMarch 1, 2008 tragic developments. "International communities' concerns over democracy and human rights situation in Armenia changed authorities' position on Protocols," Armenian MP said.



Founded in 2002, Heritage a National Liberal Party, is national by its roots, liberal in its economic principle, and an advocate of the democratic system of governance and due process for its citizens.  The party's objective is the development of Armenia as a democratic, lawful, and rights-based country that anchors its domestic and foreign policies in the nation's sovereign interest. During the party's Third Congress on May 30, 2005, Raffi K. Hovannisian was elected chairman. The other eight members of the party board were elected by secret vote.



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.



RA Constitutional Court's haste to pass positive decision on Armenian-Turkish Protocols testified to international pressures on Armenian authorities.