Armenia should declare failure of normalization process with Turkey

February 12, 2010 - 13:45 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net -
Armenia should immediately declare the failure of normalization process with Turkey, according to Kiro Manoyan, director of ARF Bureau's Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office.

“The longer the process lasts the more likely Turkey is to impose its conditions on Armenia,” he told a news conference in Yerevan on Friday.

As to Armenian President’s speech at Chatham House, Mr. Manoyan said that Serzh Sargsyan had to set terms for ratification of the Protocols by the Turkish parliament. He ruled out that the RA National Assembly can ratify the documents ahead of Turkey.

Dwelling on Karabakh conflict resolution, Mr. Manoyan said no breakthrough is expected in the near future.

Asked about the possibility of adoption of the Armenian Genocide resolution by the U.S. Congress, he said “it’s strong enough.”

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.

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.