IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME BEFORE PROTOCOLS APPROVED: ZAMAN

news.am
Oct 27 2009
Armenia

Despite the Protocols were signed October 10 in Zurich it is still
uncertain when they will reach the Turkish Parliament, Turkish Zaman
daily reads.

According to the daily, the documents had to be discussed October 21,
however it did not happen "due to an increase in tensions between
Turkey and Azerbaijan."

"The tension between the two countries has resulted in the delay of the
Turkish Parliament discussing the protocols. As a result of the delay
in Turkey, Armenia has started to act slowly on ratifying the protocols
as well. The current situation suggests it will take some time before
the protocols are approved in Parliament. Even if the protocols are
referred to Parliament next month, it seems unlikely that they will be
approved quickly unless the government exerts extraordinary effort to
ensure that they are passed. It is for this reason that the submission
and ratification of the protocols will take a long time. Once the
protocols reach Parliament, the speaker will send them to the Foreign
Affairs Commission. Whether the commission will be able to immediately
evaluate the protocols and agreements depends on the determination
of the government, which holds the majority of seats on the commission.

Examination of previous work schedules reveals that there are no
examples of a protocol or agreement being sent to the commission
within a month or two after reaching Parliament. Once the protocols
are approved by the Foreign Affairs Commission, they will be discussed
by the General Assembly. Protocols that are approved by the General
Assembly go into effect upon being published in the Official Gazette.

A closer look at the Foreign Affairs Commission’s agenda reveals that
there are bilateral agreements and protocols that have been waiting
for approval for 26 years," the daily says.

According to the newspaper, there are agreements with Iraq, Sweden,
Latvia, Argentina and many other countries that are not ratified yet:
"Azerbaijan and Syria top the list of countries with which Turkey has
signed the most agreements. The Foreign Affairs Commission has yet
to address more than 20 agreements signed with these two countries."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress