ANKARA’S ATTEMPTS TO PUT THE BLAME FOR FRUSTRATING RECONCILIATION PROCESS ON YEREVAN WON’T GAIN UNDERSTANDING

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.01.2010 15:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian slammed
Turkey’s statement that "the RA CC decision contains preconditions
and restrictive provisions which impair the letter and spirit of the
Protocols" as absurd.

"Willing to proceed towards ratification of the Protocols,
Armenia is hopeful that Turkey will show respect to the agreements
achieved earlier," he told a news conference on Friday. "Turkey puts
artificial obstacles to avoid ratification. However, attempts to put
the blame for frustrating reconciliation process on Yerevan won’t
gain understanding."

The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of
the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet
Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks
held through Swiss mediation.

On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of
Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country’s Organic Law.

Commenting on the decision of the Armenian Constitutional Court, the
Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that "the decision contains
preconditions and restrictive provisions which impair the letter and
spirit of the Protocols."

"The decision undermines the very reason for negotiating these
Protocols as well as their fundamental objective. This approach
cannot be accepted on our part. Turkey, in line with its accustomed
allegiance to its international commitments, maintains its adherence
to the primary provisions of these Protocols. We expect the same
allegiance from the Armenian Government," the Ministry said.