DAVID PHILLIPS: NO LINKAGE BETWEEN ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS AND THE KARABAKH ISSUE

Armradio.am
03.02.2010 11:21

"The Protocols represent a bilateral agreement between Turkey and
Armenia. There is no linkage to Nagorno Karabakh. This was expressed
by Prime Minister Erdogan to President Obama when they met last April.

It was widely perceived last year that Turkey was heralding its signing
of the protocols to effect international recognition of the Armenian
genocide. I don’t think anyone will be interested in that happening
again, David Phillips, scholar of Columbia University, told Today.az.

Asked to comment on the decision of the Armenian Constitutional
Court, David Phillips said: "Only opponents of the Protocols have
identified differences between the Constitutional Court’s decision
and the text, as far as I am aware. Even those perceived differences
are not significant overall. The United States joined with others in
hailing the Court’s decision as a necessary and positive step toward
ratification. Inaction has already been damaging and will ultimately
undermine the historic opportunity represented by the Protocols."

Touching upon the meetings between the Presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan, the scholar said "it is important that both sides continue
to meet at a high level and work sincerely towards resolution."

Asked about the "unwillingness" of the Armenian government to
do something to resolve the Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan,
David Phillips stated: "This perception is incorrect. The Armenian
government has stated both publicly and privately that they are willing
and able to solve the problem. Since the status quo isn’t in their
interest, there’s no reason to think otherwise. The United States is
highly motivated to make progress. It is working through the Minsk
Group and bilaterally with concerned government to resolve issues
concerning Nagorno-Karabakh. The Obama Administration has made clear
its commitment to multilateralism. The cooperation of other countries,
especially Russia, is essential."