Hurriyet Daily News , Turkey
Jan 22 2010

Turkey to convey legal assessment to pressure Armenia

Friday, January 22, 2010
ANKARA-Hürriyet Daily News

Ankara is working on a legal assessment to be sent to Yerevan and
third parties to emphasize that Armenia’s Constitutional Court
violated international law by conditionally affirming the two
countries’ protocols.

Foreign ministers Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu and Edward Nalbandian signed
historic protocols in October to establish diplomatic relations and
open land borders between the two countries.

Armenia’s court published a ruling affirming the constitutionality of
the protocol Monday. The text, however, angered Ankara because it
stipulated that the agreements must not violate a part of the Armenian
Declaration of Independence that calls for the recognition of the 1915
deaths of Armenians as `genocide.’

According to the protocol, the sides will form committees to solve
bilateral disputes. Turkey has said a joint committee of historians
should investigate the 1915 killings thoroughly rather than
politically terming the events a `genocide.’

`The wording and spirit of the protocols should be protected. Any
limitation or efforts at partially approving [the document] is against
the essence of the protocols,’ said DavutoÄ?lu on Friday during a joint
conference with his Jordanian counterpart, Nasser Judeh.

DavutoÄ?lu phoned Nalbandian to express his worries and urge him to
display a stronger political will. The minister had earlier discussed
the verdict at a meeting with President Abdullah Gül and Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an.

`We began with a vision of normalizing relations with neighboring
Armenia and worded the protocols in this manner,’ said DavutoÄ?lu. `We
continue to be loyal to the wording and spirit of the protocols and
back it with a strong political will.’

In their telephone conversation, Nalbandian argued the court ruling
had no affect on the protocol’s conditions, according to DavutoÄ?lu,
who said, `We need to hear clearer and stronger remarks.’

The minister said he would make calls Friday to his U.S. and Swiss
counterparts, urging them to pressure Armenia to uphold the basics of
the normalization protocols. `We will convey our legal assessments and
our worries to the related sides.’

He outlined the importance of continuing the process without any legal
failures so as to reach a comprehensive normalization. `But the
existing picture shouldn’t be changed. All aims including the planned
commissions should be approved in total.’

Diplomatic sources said Turkey would soon convey its legal assessments
and suggestions by calling on Armenia not to renege on the agreement
or add stipulations to the protocols.

`You cannot pick and choose. Then what we’ve agreed will be different
then what you’ve approved,’ one anonymous diplomat said.

Turkey’s forthcoming text will cite the protocols, saying they are
binding in their entirety according to international law.

Nalbandian, meanwhile, accused Turkey of giving him ultimatums,
saying: `If Turkey is not ready to ratify the protocols, continues
speaking in ultimatums, setting preconditions and obstructing the
process, then I do not deny that negotiations will break down."