news.am, Armenia
Jan 23 2010

U.S. appreciates high RA CC decision: Philip Gordon

12:10 / 01/23/2010U.S. welcomes controversial ruling of RA CC judgment
on the Protocols on January 12, that effectively dismisses Turkey’s
claims that conflicts Turkey-Armenia agreements on relations’
normalization.

`We view the court decision as a positive step forward in the
ratification process of the normalization protocols between Turkey and
Armenia. The court decision permits the protocols, as they were
negotiated and signed, to move forward towards parliamentary
ratification, and does not appear to limit or qualify them in any
way,’ U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon said in written
comments sent to RFE/RL. `We are confident that both Turkey and
Armenia take their commitment to the protocols seriously, and we urge
timely ratification of the protocols by both countries,’ Gordon
outlined.

As NEWS.am reported previously, January 19, Turkish Foreign Ministry
issued a statement criticizing the decision by RA Constitutional Court
on Armenia-Turkey Protocols. `This decision contains preconditions and
restrictive provisions which impair the letter and spirit of the
Protocols. The said decision undermines the very reason for
negotiating these Protocols as well as their fundamental objective,"
the statement reads.

Recently, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to
freeze reconciliation with Armenia if RA Constitutional Court does not
change its decision on the Protocols.

RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian had a phone conversation with
his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu and expressed his bewilderment
on the Turkish Foreign Office’s statement. `I hope Turkish side does
not try to justify its continuous efforts in setting forth
preconditions and veil unnecessary protraction of the Protocols’
ratification,’ Nalbandian noted.

L.A.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress