Erdogan: Turkey and Armenia appear to have got off to unhealthy start

PanARMENIAN.Net -
We appear to have got off to an unhealthy start, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in an interview to Euronews TV channel.



“Well, we appear to have got off to an unhealthy start. What are we negotiating about? What are we going to do? Armenia should once again take this into consideration, because we fulfilled our protocol commitments,” he stressed.



Yet, despite the above, the Premier emphasized Turkey’s readiness to continue with the process. “Both sides have road maps. The process will continue. We are fully prepared and sincere, and will proceed in the same way as we have so far,” he concluded.



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.