ALEXANDER ISKANDARYAN: WE CANNOT LIVE TINNED FOREVER

news.am
Dec 24 2009
Armenia

The Turkish Parliament is neither sure nor unlikely to ratify the
Armenian-Turkish protocols next spring, the Armenian political
scientist Alexander Iskandaryan told reporters.

The only factor that might prevent Ankara from ratifying the protocols
is the possibility of the 2011 parliamentary elections being brought
forward to 2010. As regards the Turkish leaders’ statements containing
preconditions or ultimatums, as well as the Armenian side’s statements
on the possibility of its invalidating the protocols, Iskandaryan
considers them means of political pressure. "The Armenian side tried to
show that time limits do exist, and a timeframe is of high importance
here," he said.

According to him, a reopened border means both ample opportunities
and serious challenges for Armenia. Among them is, particularly,
the country’s capability to cope with a possible inflow of migrant
workers and compete with a large market. However, Iskandaryan said,
Armenia must be ready for that, as "we cannot live tinned forever."