Key Committee Begins Protocols Discussion

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By Asbarez Staff on Feb 19th, 2010

YEREVAN (Combined Sources) – The foreign relations committee of
Armenia’s National Assembly Friday began discussion of the
Armenia-Turkey protocols, as the parliament parliament’s press office
announced that the protocols were part of the agenda of the
legislature’s new session, which convenes Monday.

Chairman of the parliament’s foreign relations committee Armen
Rustamian, who represents the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, said
he plans to urge parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamian to remove the
protocols discussion from the agenda, until his committee has had a
chance to review and offer recommendations.

During preliminary discussions of the protocols on Friday the key
parliamentary committee dominated by pro-government lawmakers decided
to set up a five-member group to work out, within a week, a procedure
in which the protocols will be discussed by the body, reported RFE/RL.

Prior to the committee meeting, a group representing political forces
opposing to protocols met with parliament members the Republican and
Prosperous Armenia parties, which hold the majority of the seats in
parliament.

The opposition delegation included the ARF, Armenia’s Ramkavar Party,
Armenia’s Democratic Party, the `New Times’ party, as well as `Mayr
Hairenik,’ `Goyamart’ and `Haigandoukht’ parties.

In discussing the parliamentary phase of the Armenia-Turkey protocols,
the discussion participants agreed to reconvene for future
consultations.

The parliamentary press office also announced Friday that draft
amendments to Armenia’s Law `On International Treaties’ have been
placed on the legislative agenda.

Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan was present at the meeting
to put forth the amendments, which concern the suspension or
termination of procedures related to the signing of international
treaties and agreements.

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian spoke about planned changes in the
law last December. He emphasized then that Armenia `will resort to
corresponding steps’ if Turkey, with which it signed diplomatic
agreements last October, attempts to protract their ratification,
reported RFE/RL.

`I want to clarify to avoid creating the impression that the meaning
of the changes is that there is a decision that we should quickly quit
[the process],’ Kocharyan explained in presenting the bill, reported
RFE/RL.

`The Armenian side sincerely seeks to implement the protocols. On the
other hand, we will never tolerate this whole process being used for
advancing preconditions,’ he warned.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress