ALEXANDER ISKANDARYAN ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS
news.am
Oct 27 2009
Armenia
"The prospects for ratification of the Armenian-Turkish protocols
are neither at the zero nor at the 100 per cent level," Alexander
Iskandaryan, Director of the Institute of Caucasus, told reporters.
He pointed out that the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations
will bring stability and changes to the region and said that
such developments are not to Georgia’s advantage. The reason is,
Iskandaryan said, that it will cause a 30-40 decrease in the cargo
transit through that country. Azerbaijan will not benefit either:
its influence over the region will diminish.
On the other hand, Iskandaryan said, the Armenian-Iranian relations
will develop.
As to when the Turkish Parliament will ratify the Armenian-Turkish
protocols, Iskandaryan advanced a number of arguments. The issue is
most likely to be "shelved" by the Turkish Parliament for a long time.
Also, the ratification may be delayed until next April.
"In any case, the Armenian side’s position is to ratify the protocols
after the Turkish parliament has ratified them. The right decision,
but it is interesting to see what would happen if we did it before
Turkey thereby driving Turkey into a corner," Iskandaryan said.