Turkey’s parliament holds close-door discussions over protocols

Panorama.am
18:59 22/01/2010

According to the Turkish Vatan daily, Foreign Relations Committee of
Turkey’s Parliament had a hot debate over the Armenian-Turkish
protocols. Though the discussions were close-door, it was revealed
that two parliamentary opposition forces – `Democrat Republican’ and
`National Movement’ – urged to return the protocols submitted for
ratification, in response to the Armenian Constitutional Court’s
decision.

The Chairman of the Committee Murat Mercan responded that the issue is
up to the government to decide and highlighted that practically, it
makes no difference as to whether the protocols will be suspended in
the parliament or be returned to the government.

Mercan urged his opposition colleagues not to hurry since quick
actions may put Ankara in even a harsher condition.

Opposition members expressed discontent over Erdogan’s response made
in Saudi Arabia. According to them, it demonstrated Ankara’s waiting
position, whereas the documents should be returned to the government.