U.S. WILL BE DISAPPOINTED IF ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS RATIFICATION FAILS

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.02.2010 13:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ If Ankara does not step towards ratification
of Armenian-Turkish Protocols by late March, the process will
gradually become more complicated, David Phillips, chairman of the
Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission (TARC) in 2001-2004 said in
Yerevan, when commenting on the possibility of ratifying the Protocols
by April 24 (the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day).

As the expert noted, although no terms were set for ratification
of the protocols, there is actually a deadline, after which the
goodwill disappears. "Everybody understands that the current process of
Armenian-Turkish reconciliation and the ratification of the Protocols
can not last forever," he said.

According to Mr. Phillips, no linkage should be seen between
ratification of the Armenian-Turkish Protocols and recognition of
the Armenian Genocide.

"I think the United States will be disappointed if ratification fails.

The U.S. had a key role in this dialogue and the Obama administration
will urge Ankara to ratify the Protocols. Although Turks like saying
that they never do anything under pressure, but based on my experience
with the Turks, I can state the opposite," he 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.