IN OPINION OF RUBEN MELKONIAN, ARMENIA-TURKEY NORMALIZATION PROCESS REACHES DEADLOCK BY EFFORTS OF TURKEY

Noyan Tapan
Jan 29, 2010

YEREVAN, JANUARY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenia-Turkey normalization
process has reached a deadlock by efforts of Turkey, and this could be
foreseen as the Turkish policy is based on preconditions. Expressing
this opinion at the January 29 press conference, Ruben Melkonian,
a Turkologist, said that if it continues the same way, the situation
will not change.

In his words, in addition to remaining faithful to the national
and state interests, the RA Constitutional Court’s decision on the
Armenia-Turkey protocols contained a legal answer. In this connection
the Turkologist pointed out a circumstance which has not produced
much response in political circles and the press. According to him,
after the protocol signing, the Turkish side also took a legal step:
the government of Turkey sent a bill, which was annexed to the
protocols and contained the preconditions of the protocols, to the
Great National Assembly. By this bill, in particular the circumstance
of the Kars Treaty coming into force is re-recognized, the sides agree
to discuss various historic problems, "to bring reality to light",
and so on. According to R. Melkonian, thus by the bill, the concealed
preconditions get legal force.