Sinirlioglu visits Armenia to discuss upcoming meeting between Sargsyan and Erdogan

April 7, 2010 - 17:52 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Commenting on the visit of Turkish Prime Minister's Special Envoy Feridun Sinirlioglu to Armenia, Armenian Turkologist Artak Shakaryan said that during his visit Sinirlioglu will discuss the upcoming meeting of the Armenian President and Turkish Prime Minister in Washington. Shakaryan also noted that Sinirlioglu is the first high-ranking official of Turkey, who visited Armenia after the signing of the Armenian-Turkish Protocols in Zurich on October 10, 2009.

The Armenian expert stressed that Sinirlioglu was in the US at the beginning of this week. “Probably, he wanted to clarify the stance of Washington with respect to the Armenian-Turkish process,” Shakaryan said. Reference: Protocols

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.