ARMENIAN RULING COALITION PROPOSES WITHDRAWAL OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS FROM NATIONAL ASSEMBLY’S AGENDA

/ARKA/
April 22, 2010
YEREVAN

Armenian ruling coalition proposes to cease the process of ratification
of Armenian-Turkish protocols in National Assembly.

Relations between Armenia and Turkey, tense until recently, have
started improving, and on October 10, 2009, Armenian and Turkish
foreign ministers – Edward Nalbandyan and Ahmet Davutoglu – signed
the protocols on establishment of diplomatic ties between the two
countries and development of bilateral relations.

The protocols are waiting for ratification by the two countries’
parliaments.

At their joint statement available on Armenian Parliament’s website,
the governing parties say that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan,
supported by National Assembly’s majority, have taken certain steps
to improve Armenian-Turkish relations without any preconditions.

The United States, Russia, France, Switzerland have contributed a
great deal to this process.

Many countries have welcomed this initiative and stressed its
importance for regional stability.

"The constructive steps taken by Armenia and expectations of the
international community came across inconsistency, maneuvering and the
preconditions put forward by Turkish side. That is why the process of
ratification of Armenian-Turkish protocols has reached a deadlock,"
the ruling parties said in their joint statement.

They also say that the majority at Armenian National Assembly finds
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent statements
unacceptable.

Armenian lawmakers think that these statements make ratification
directly dependent on settlement of Karabakh conflict.

"Turkish side’s refusal to ratify the protocols unconditionally and
in reasonable terms makes their ratification in Armenian National
Assembly senseless," the parties say.

That is why the majority of Armenian legislators finds it necessary
to cease the ratification process in Armenia and withdraw it from
the Parliament’s agenda until Turkey becomes ready for unconditional
continuation of the process.

After 2008 presidential elections a ruling coalition was formed
in Armenia.

The coalition member parties are Republican Party of Armenia, Orinats
Yerkir and Prosperous Armenia.

At its latest session convened on April 6, Armenian National Assembly
put discussion of Armenian-Turkish protocols on the agenda again.

Armenian Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan has said that the
protocols will be put on the National Assembly’s floor, but only
after their ratification by Turkish Parliament.