YEREVAN EXPECTS ANSWER FROM ANKARA OR IT WILL CANCEL PROTOCOLS

Tert.am
13:01 30.03.10

The reason the famous Turkish analyst and Chief Editor of CNNTurk
Mehmet Ali Birand gave priority to Armenia-Turkey Protocols in his
recent visit to Yerevan is that he attaches much importance to them.

"I think there is no other smart way out of this genocide dead
end for the two countries. Especially with April 24 approaching we
don’t know what the US Congress and President Obama will do in the
genocide issue. And besides I think Turkish American relations in the
short and long run and genocide issues threatening Turkey’s image in
the international public and the future of these protocols are far
more vital than some infertile internal issues," Birand writes in
an article.

According to Birand the genocide issue will literally be frozen and
put on a shelf, meaning Armenians will continue with their attitude
in the genocide issue and Turks will continue denying it.

"Now that’s where the beauty of the formula steps in: while the
argument over genocide continues, the relationship will develop.

Meaning diplomatic relations were to be established, borders opened,
trade developed and in a later stage examinations made and a solution
found in the genocide issue. But it didn’t work out," writes Birand.

Furthermore Birand recalls that "Azerbaijan showed reactions never
seen before. Ankara was stunned about these reactions. When Prime
Minister Erdogan all of a sudden went to Baku and made the process
come to a halt by explaining, under Aliyev’s threatening looks, that
the protocols can only be approved when the Karabag issue progresses,
which means a retrieval from at least 1 or 2 of the occupied 7 regions
of the Armenian army. This means that Turkey linked the realization
of the protocols to positive development in Armenian and Azerbaijani
relations. This development caused for some uproar in Armenia."

"According to Armenians there was no Karabag condition. Turkey changed
the rules of the game after the game already started by taking sides
with Azerbaijan ignoring its own signature. But the Turkish part kept
saying that the Armenians implicitly knew that the Karabag issue was
always argued about even if it was not stated in a written form,"
writes Birand, adding that Yerevan expects a written explanation
from Turkey.

Will Ankara apply these protocols without any prerequisite or insist
on the Karabag condition, is not yet known. But according to Birand
a meeting between Sarkisyan US President Barack Obama to be held in
mid April upon a US invitation, as well as Obama’s announcement on
April 24, will influence the protocols.

At the end Birand cites an Armenian Deputy saying that after this
meeting Armenian will decide what to do.

"We can’t have the protocols wait in parliament for too long. Either
Turkey will take a step or we’ll ask for cancellation of the
protocols," Birand cites the source as saying.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress