Turkish and Armenian reconciliation efforts hit fresh obstacles
Turkish and Armenian efforts to overcome a century of hostility hit fresh obstacles this week, as Ankara protested against a ruling by Armenia's constitutional court on their bilateral agreement to normalize relations, Financial Time reports.
Paragraph 5 of the Armenian Constitutional Court argumentation affirms that the protocols "cannot be interpreted...in a way that would contradict the provisions of the preamble to the Republic of Armenian constitution and the requirements of Paragraph 11 of the [1990] Declaration of Independence of Armenia." Paragraph 11 of the Declaration reads that "the Republic of Armenia stands in support of the task of achieving international recognition of the 1915 genocide in Ottoman Turkey and Western Armenia."
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 decision of the Armenian Constitutional Court, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the decision 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.
Paragraph 5 of the Armenian Constitutional Court argumentation affirms that the protocols "cannot be interpreted...in a way that would contradict the provisions of the preamble to the Republic of Armenian constitution and the requirements of Paragraph 11 of the [1990] Declaration of Independence of Armenia." Paragraph 11 of the Declaration reads that "the Republic of Armenia stands in support of the task of achieving international recognition of the 1915 genocide in Ottoman Turkey and Western Armenia."
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 decision of the Armenian Constitutional Court, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the decision 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.
