FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARMENIA EDWARD NALBANDIAN HAD A PHONE CONVERSATION WITH FOREIGN MINISTER OF TURKEY AHMET DAVUTOGLU

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jan 21 2010
Armenia

On Januray 20, by the initiative of the Armenian side Foreign Ministers
of Armenia and Turkey Edward Nalbandian and Ahmet Davutoglu had a
phone conversation.

Edward Nalbandian expressed his astonishment with the statement
of the Foreign Ministry of Turkey released on January 18 on
the decision of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of
Armenia. Minister Nalbandian mentioned that it is at least surprising
to see preconditions and contradiction with the very reason in the
decision of the Constitutional Court which confirmed the Protocols
correspondence to the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia.

Foreign Minister of Armenia expressed his concern that since October
2009 no progress has been fixed in the process of ratification
in Turkey. At the same time the Turkish side is continuously and
obviously trying to put preconditions: it creates an impression
of seeking artificial pretexts and threatens the whole process of
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.

Assessing positively the fact that in MFA statement of January 18 the
Turkish side publicly reaffirmed the danger of putting preconditions,
Armenian Foreign Minister suggested his Turkish counterpart to stay
committed to the letter and spirit of the Protocols and rapidly
go forward.

Minister Nalbandian added that ratification process in Armenia is
passing in accordance to defined procedure and without unreasonable
delays, and the decision of the Constitutional Court of Armenia made
more than one month before the deadline is the evidence of that.

Minister Nalbandian reiterated the necessity to act in accordance to
taken commitments and pursuit immediate ratification and implementation
of protocols, with avoidance of actions, designed to put invented
pretexts aimed at the thwarting the process.