TURKEY’S FM ADVISER TO DISCUSS IN BERN ARMENIAN COURT’S DECISION

Aysor
Feb 4 2010
Armenia

Armenian Constitutional Court’s decision on Armenia-Turkey protocols
still causes concerns for Turkey. On this occasion, Turkey’s Foreign
Ministry Adviser Feridun Sinirlioglu is paying today a visit to
Switzerland to voice Turkey’s position over Court’s decision.

On January 12, Armenia’s Constitutional Court began hearings on the
Armenian-Turkish protocols, which were signed in Zurich on October 10
2009 by Edward Nalbandian of Armenia and Ahmet Davutoglu of Turkey,
to rule whether they conform to the Armenian Constitution, and said
the protocols do conform. On January 18, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry
released a statement that Court’s decision contains preconditions
which are contrary to protocols’ fundamental goals.

Feridun Sinirlioglu is reported to meet in Bern with his counterpart,
Swiss State Secretary Michael Ambuhl. The agenda for the meeting is
to declare the following saying: "If Armenia doesn’t go with its
obligations, process of normalisation relations may be brought to
a stop."

A spokesperson for Swiss Foreign Ministry, Eric Royman, confirmed
that Feridun Sinirlioglu and Michael Ambuhl are to meet on February
5 in Bern.

The Court’s decision was welcomed by U.S. State Department. "The court
decision permits the protocols, as they were negotiated and signed,
to move towards parliamentary ratification. Court’s decision does not
appear to limit or qualify protocols in any way," said U.S. Assistant
Secretary of State Philip Gordon in his interview.

At the current stage of negotiations between Armenia and Turkey,
Armenia-Turkey protocols are to be ratified by Turkish and Armenian
Parliaments.