ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS WILL NOT BE RATIFIED IN THE NEAR FUTURE: RUSSIAN EXPERT

ArmInfo
2009-12-01 12:23:00

ArmInfo. The current negotiations between Armenia and Turkey have
good prospects. The signed protocols have proved the efficiency of
this process, says Vadim Mukhanov, senior researcher of the Center
for Caucasus Studies of the Moscow State Institute of International
Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia

The very fact that Turkey and Armenia have signed an inter-state
agreement is already a success. Turkey’s public declaration that it
is going to open its border with Armenia is a big achievement. The
ratification of the protocols will not be as easy as the signing.

Mukhanov is not sure that the protocols will be ratified in the
near future.

Concerning Ankara’s attempts to link the rapprochement process with
the Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks, Mukhanov says that he believes
that establishment of good neighbor relations can be an independent
process. However, today there are too many problems weighing upon
the signatories to the protocols: the Nagorno-Karabakh and Kurdish
problems, the Armenian Genocide issue and the prospects of Turkey’s
EU membership.

Turkey is receiving quite unfavorable signals from both the Caucasus
and Europe. Azerbaijan is displeased, the Armenian Diaspora refuses to
support the protocols, EU officials are skeptical about the possibility
of Turkey’s admission into the EU. So, Turkey is facing a hard choice
and will have to make it sooner or later.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress