The RA parliamentary committee on foreign affairs held a discussion the Armenian-Turkish Protocols.

According to committee chairman Armen Rustamyan, the Protocols will be included in the agenda of the RA National Assembly’s session, irrespectively of the Committee’s ruling. “However, on behalf of the Committee I'll suggest the RA National Assembly speaker to discuss the Protocols in all standing committees, before the resolution of the committee on foreign affairs is announced. We decided to set up a working group, which would include representatives of all the parliamentary groups and which, by February 22, would advance proposals for a thorough discussion of the Protocols. It’s also necessary to organize another hearing,” Mr. Rustamyan said.

A PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent reported from parliament, Ernest Soghomonyan, a member of the Prosperous Armenian party, believes there is no need to start discussion on the Protocols in the parliament ahead of Turkey. “It's a matter of national dignity. Let them begin the discussion, and later we'll regard our possible actions,” Soghomonyan said.

The Committee has also approved the RA government' amendments in the law “On international agreements,” in the part, where Armenia may withdraw its signature, should an international agreement contradict the country’s national interests. Shavarsh Kocharyan, Deputy RA Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasized that the signature withdrawal is a common international practice, stipulated by Vienna Convention.