Alexander Iskandaryan: Armenian-Turkish rapprochement frozen since January

April 23, 2010 - 15:12 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian-Turkish process is not terminated, an expert said.

“Using football diplomacy terms, the ball was just passed to Turkey,” said Alexander Iskandaryan, head of the Caucasus Institute.

The Armenian-Turkish rapprochement has been frozen since January, according to him.

“Ankara is still expected to take action towards normalization. However, the problem is Turkey’s domestic situation. The ruling party has too low rating to take abrupt moves on the threshold of parliamentary election,” Mr. Iskandaryan said.

He also noted that U.S. President Barack Obama will hardly use the term Genocide in his April 24 statement but will use a tougher wording.

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.