US and Russia exert pressure on Turkey

February 15, 2010 - 15:23 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net -
Former speaker of the Armenian parliament, MP Tigran Torosyan believes Turkey is being pressured in the process of normalizing ties with Armenia.

“Moscow and Washington’s urging Erdogan not to link Karabakh conflict settlement to Armenia-Turkey rapprochement is a major slap on the face of Turkish Prime Minister. Simple logic tells that US and Russia won’t allow Turkey to interfere in Karabakh conflict settlement process to retain the leverage of pressure on Azerbaijan,” Mr. Torosyan told a news conference in Yerevan.

“There’s more to lose than to gain for Armenia in the opening of border with Turkey. We’ve already made our share of concessions by agreeing to Protocol provisions on mutual recognition of borders and historic subcommittee formation. Moreover, we’ve made no progress in the issue of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Almost all countries are convinced that recognition of Armenian Genocide can harm RA-Turkey reconciliation,” he concluded.

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.