ARMENIAN PRESIDENT WILL SUBMIT ARMENIA-TURKEY PROTOCOLS TO RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
PanARMENIAN.Net
10.02.2010 19:39 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During the last year, Armenia has made significant
progress towards the normalization of relations with Turkey without
any preconditions. We regard the Armenia-Turkey relationship in a much
broader regional and international context. I am confident that the
time of closed borders and ultimatums has passed, Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan said in his speech at Chatham House, Royal Institute
of International Affairs.
"The palette of the modern world is much more diverse than just black
and white. We all must realize it and create possibilities for natural
relations, cooperation, and dialogue. It must be done not only because
Armenia and Turkey will benefit from it, but also because it will do
good for the whole region, and therefore, Europe.
We have indeed approached a milestone at which we can achieve a
breakthrough. It is the path of cooperation without preconditions,
without making bilateral relations contingent upon issues related
to third party states. At this time, we have the signed protocols
on the establishment of diplomatic relations and the development of
bilateral relations between Armenia and Turkey, which are awaiting
ratification by the parliaments of our two states.
In Armenia, the ratification process is progressing in accordance
with the regular procedure, without any undue delays, as proven by
the decision of the Constitutional Court of Armenia issued over a
month before the statutory deadline for its adoption. I would like
to draw your attention to the fact that the Constitutional Court made
the decision unanimously, without any dissenting opinions: this fact
in itself is telling. The Constitutional Court of Armenia found that
the Protocols do not contain any provision that could be interpreted
as contravening the requirements of the Armenian Constitution. The
decision is now in the Office of the President, and the whole package
of documents is ready for submission to the Parliament. Immediately
after today’s meeting here at the Chatham House, I am going to instruct
my staff to submit the Armenia-Turkey protocols to the Armenian
National Assembly for the ratification process to be initiated.
Speaking at this esteemed institution today, I reiterate the commitment
of the Republic of Armenia to this process. As the political leader
of the political majority of the Armenian Parliament, I reiterate
that I rule out any possibility of the Armenian Parliament failing
to ratify the protocols in case Turkey ratifies the protocols without
preconditions, as agreed.
Senior Turkish officials repeatedly assert the political independence
of their parliament and the unpredictability of its decision.
Moreover, they try to obtain non-partisan ratification by securing
the potential support of opposition parties, as well. It is
understandable. However, they ought to remember that in case of
Armenia they deal with a country, which persevered throughout the
process and did not stop even in spite of losing a key ally in the
ruling coalition. I am confident that President Gul and Prime Minister
Erdogan will, subject to the demonstration of political will, find
sufficient support within their party that holds the majority of
seats in the Turkish Parliament.
We are confident that the normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations
can become the greatest input of the recent decades in achieving peace
and stability in the South Caucasus. With this vision, we have agreed
to move forward without any preconditions, not making our relations
contingent upon Turkey’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
However, if, as many suspect, it is proven that Turkey’s goal is
to protract, rather than to normalize relations, we will have to
discontinue the process," the speech said.
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.