Armen Martirosyan: RA coalition took a year to realize Turkey speaks the language of preconditions

April 22, 2010 - 15:08 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - I consider the step of RA National Assembly's political majority to be positive, although belated, Heritage party chairman Armen Martirosyan stated.

As he told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter: “Armenia has to withdraw its Protocols signature. In future, Armenia should agree to reconsider only in case of Turkey’s willingness to normalize ties without preconditions and open the border. Unfortunately, RA coalition took a whole year to realize Turkey speaks the language of preconditions,” Martirosyan noted. “The important thing is that Armenian authorities came to see the process cannot be continued, or else we’ll be running the risk of adding external problems to internal ones.”

Commenting on the oncoming presidential address to Armenian nation, Martirosyan expressed a hope that President Sargsyan will announce Armenia’s withdrawal from Armenia-Turkey process, otherwise coalition's steps will remain unfinalized.

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.

Heritage

Founded in 2002, Heritage a National Liberal Party, is national by its roots, liberal in its economic principle, and an advocate of the democratic system of governance and due process for its citizens. The party’s objective is the development of Armenia as a democratic, lawful, and rights-based country that anchors its domestic and foreign policies in the nation’s sovereign interest. During the party’s Third Congress on May 30, 2005, Raffi K. Hovannisian was elected chairman. The other eight members of the party board were elected by secret vote. Since 2009, the party chairman is Armen Martirosyan.