DAVID PHILLIPS: RATIFICATION OF PROTOCOLS IN THE INTERESTS OF TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.02.2010 10:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Turkish leadership is facing serious challenges,
including the Protocols on normalization of relations with Armenia
and the Kurdish issue, said David Phillips, chairman of the
Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission (TARC) in 2001-2004.

"The Turkish Prime Minister’s rating has decreased from 45% to 35%,
what’s important in terms of parliamentary elections Turkey will
hold next year. It’s gratifying that Turkey undertook to ratify the
Protocols but the process of ratification may take a longer time," Mr.

Phillips said in Yerevan on Thursday.

There is a large number of uncertainties which can cast a shadow on
Ankara’s willingness to ratify the Protocols, specifically Ankara’s
attempt to link the implementation of Protocols to Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement, according to him.

"I suppose that the Armenian authorities should demonstrate good will
and make certain steps towards ratification, for example submit the
Protocols to the National Assembly. And I’m hopeful that Turkish
leaders will understand that ratification is in the interests of
their country," Mr. Phillips said.

David L. Phillips was the Chairman of TARC in 2001-2004. The commission
failed over Turkey’s refusal to recognize the Armenian Genocide and
avoid meddling with the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process.

The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of
the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet
Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks
held through Swiss mediation.

On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of
Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country’s Organic Law.