DECISION OF CONSTITUTIONAL COURT OF ARMENIA REGARDING ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS IS NOT DUE TO DISCUSSION WITH TURKEY

ARKA
Jan 20, 2010

YEREVAN, January 20. /ARKA/. "Decision of Constitutional Court of
Armenia regarding Armenian-Turkish protocols is not due to discussion
with Turkey", said Galust Sahakyan, Head of Parliament fraction of
Republican Party of Armenia during the press-conference on Wednesday.

Announcement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey
about incompliance of the decision of Constitutional Court of
Armenia regarding Armenian-Turkish protocols, pre-conditions and
limitation of regulations is the result of Turkish policy based on
intrigues. After signing the protocols on October 10, 2009 in Zurich
Turkish authorities tried to show new approaches in this issue related
to Karabakh and Genocide of Armenians. "Nobody forced Turkey to sign
the protocols. All talks around it are for trying to create necessary
atmosphere for Turkey.

Such announcements from Turkish side are not accepted from the point
of view of international cooperation", said Sahakyan. Any time in
future Turkey will ratify the protocols. Non-ratification will mean
defeat of Turkey and not Armenia. Armenian-Turkish border was closed
since 1993 by the official initiative of Ankara. Diplomatic relations
are lacking between Armenia and Turkey. Ministers of Foreign Affairs
of Armenia and Turkey Edward Nalbandyan and Ahmed Davutoghlu signed
"Protocol on establishment of diplomatic relations" and "Protocol on
development of mutual relations" on October 10, Saturday, in Zurich.

Then these documents should be approved by the parliaments of both
countries. Complicated relations between two countries were due to the
fact that Ankara supported Azerbaijan in Karabakh problem and also an
acute reaction of Turkey on the process of international recognition
of Armenian Genocide of 1915 in Ottoman Empire. On January 12, 2010
Constitutional Court of Armenia recognized the responsibilities of
the protocols which are in accordance with the Constitution of Armenia.

Gagik Harutyunyan, Head of Constitutional Court of Armenia read the
decision, analyzed the norms of Armenian-Turkish protocols stating
that the responsibilities of the protocols have mutual and inter-state
character and cannot be spread over the third country.

Members of Constitutional Court of Armenia stated that priority
regulation of the protocols is the opening of Armenian-Turkish border
and other responsibilities bear legal character only in case of its
opening. Constitutional Court of Armenia defined in its decision
that responsibilities of the protocols are based on the principles of
international law and practice. Interpretation and application of the
protocols cannot oppose to the preamble of Armenian Constitution.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress