Marie Yovanovitch: Armenian-Turkish reconciliation priority for U.S.

March 25, 2010 - 18:20 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Contacts between civil societies in Armenia and Turkey are essential for reconciliation, Director of the Global Political Trends Center (GPoT), Mensur Akgun, said during Armenia-Turkey policy discussions going on in Yerevan on the initiative of Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF) and GPoT and with funding from USAID.

The meeting brought together a number of distinguished opinion makers and media professionals from Turkey and Armenia. The list of participants includes retired Armenian and Turkish diplomats and high-level government officials; as well as renowned Armenian and Turkish media professionals.

U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch said, for her part, that Armenian-Turkish rapprochement is a priority for United States. "The political process between Armenia and Turkey is a challenge but the civil societies in both countries can help the leaders reach reconciliation," she 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.