IN OPINION OF TURKOLOGIST RUBEN MELKONIAN, CC GAVE LEGALLY COMPETENT RESPONSE TO SPECULATIONS REGARDING ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS

Noyan Tapan
Jan 15, 2010

YEREVAN, JANUARY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The Constitutional Court gave a
legally competent response to various speculations and interpretations
regarding the Armenian-Turkish protocols in Turkey’s political and
legal system. Turkologist Ruben Melkonian expressed such an opinion
at a January 15 press conference. In his words, the Armenian-Turkish
protocols launched certain processes in both countries.

According to his evaluation, Turkey’s ruling party is guided by the
notion of controllable chaos. That is, causing a chaotic situation in
Turkey’s home political life they bring a number of problematic issues
on the political agenda and try to control that chaos. "Arranging
the Armenian and Kurdish problems back and forward thet try to find
a field for manoeuvring. That controllable chaos also gives Turkey a
possibility to delay ratification of the Armenian-Turkish protocols,"
the Turkologist said.

He also mentioned that there is a wrong opinion in Armenia that the
Commission of Foreign Relations of Turkey’s parliament was to have
discussed the issue of ratification of the protocols within 45 days.

"If we look at the history we will see that the Commission of Foreign
Relations of Majlis never kept that 45-day term due to some legal
and political circumstances," R. Melkonian emphasized. Therefore
it is unpredictable when the Turkish parliament will ratify the
Armenian-Turkish protocols. As a proof of his words the Turkologist
mentioned that the Commission of Foreign Relations of Turkish
parliament has not examined so far some documents remaining from
the 80-s. According to him, Turkey ratified the protocols signed
with Syria only 3 years after signing. R. Melkonian mentioned that
Turkey can ratify the protocols only in case Armenia makes certain
concessions in the issue of Nagorno Karabakh.

According to the Turkologist, the provision of the protocols on a
historic subcommittee caused difference of opinions between Armenian
and Turkish sides. The Turkish side asserts that it should be an
instance to discuss the issue of Genocide and the Armenian side
considers that the Genocide cannot be a subject of discussion.