POLITICAL SCIENTISTS COMMENT ON ARMENIAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT’S DECISION – OPINION POLL

APA
Jan 12 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku. Elnur Mammadli – APA. "The processes around the opening
of Turkish-Armenian borders are conducted under the US influence
therefore the United States is making all efforts to ratify the
protocols at the parliaments of both countries and to restore the
relations", political scientist Vafa Guluzadeh told APA. He said he
thought at the very beginning that the protocols would be signed and
ratified. "They will search different ways that Turkey explains its
actions. Turkey intends that Moscow makes concession and at least
occupied territories of Azerbaijan are liberated. But I don’t believe
that Moscow will agree with that because the occupation was built
by Russia, and if one stone of that "building" is pulled out it will
collapse. Therefore Turkey cannot hope that it can liberate at least
one region and then open borders with Armenia. They will force Turkey
to open the borders. I said at the very beginning that the opening
of borders didn’t concern Karabakh problem because the United States
knew that Russia would never allow liberation of Nagorno Karabakh and
surrounding regions". Guluzadeh called protests of Armenian opposition
and Diaspora against the Constitutional Court’s decision a show.

Political scientist Rasim Musabeyov thinks that the Constitutional
Court’s decision will have positive results for Armenia. "Serzh
Sargsyan’s government needs in that. Otherwise foreign minister and
Sargsyan should explain why they sign anti-Constitutional document".

Musabeyov said if there was no such decision, Armenia would be with
mask off before the international community. "Ratification of the
protocols at the parliament could be prolonged. Armenia will try to
make it in parallel with Turkey. There could be protest actions by
Armenian opposition and Diaspora. In any case, the Armenians intend
to demonstrate that "we make great concessions so difficult for us".

Political scientist Ilgar Mammadov said that the Constitutional
Court’s decision was an important half-step by Armenia toward peace
and stability in the South Caucasus. "It was not exceptional that
Armenia made this step. There is ratification of the document by the
parliament ahead. It needs in political will and then the borders
will be opened legally". Regarding the protests against the protocols,
Mammadov said Armenian Diaspora and opposition should understand that
the country is very bad economic and social situation. "Any government
should search way out from such situation as Sargsyan does that.

Armenia’s GDP fell 18 % and worsened the situation. Armenia needs
at least in 3-5 billion additional income a year and opposition or
Diaspora couldn’t solve this problem. Therefore Sargsyan’s government
was forced to do that and it was caused by Armenia’s worsening
economic situation".