Harout Sassounian: Ankara will ratify protocols if Armenia compromises over Karabakh

April 6, 2010 - 13:06 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey will sign the protocols on normalization of relations with Armenia immediately if the latter compromises over Karabakh, ceding the security area, said Harout Sassounian, the publisher of The California Courier.

“Turks were never interested in opening of the border and establishment of diplomatic relations. They use the protocols to gain concessions on Karabakh and Genocide issues from Armenia. No step towards ratification was made, with the protocols being in the parliament for over six months,” he told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

As to international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Mr. Sassounian said that the protocols hinder the process. “This year, the Armenian Genocide resolution scraped through the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs due to one extra vote in favor. The same happened in the Swedish parliament. 7 years ago, a similar resolution was passed by the House panel with a vote 40 to 7,” he said.

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.