TURKEY’S FM RELEASED STATEMENT OVER THE SUSPENDING OF PROTOCOLS BY ARMENIAN COALITION

Panorama.am
22/04/2010

The Foreign Ministry of Turkey released official statement over
Armenia’s decision to suspend the protocols on Armenian-Turkish ties.

"CNNTurk" writes, Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglu who is paying visit to
Estonia, had a telephone conversation with Erdogan to report about the
breaking news. Speaker of Turkish Foreign Ministry Buraq Ozurgergin
released official statement which reads: "Currently we’re discussing
that issue. We’re studying the content of that statement and we should
define our further steps."

CNNTurk expert on diplomatic issues Yalim Eralp commented on the
event. First he pointed that Armenian President declared a decision
about the protocols was made which was supposed to be released in the
future. Erdogan stated in Washington that Ankara is responsible for its
signature. The Armenians have adopted a law on suspending the protocols
earlier and then added: "This case is special. They (Armenians)
don’t suspend their signatures. They suspend the ratification
process. Turkey has also suspended the ratification process. Hence,
Armenia’s decision is in balance with Turkey’s. When Turkey resumed
the process, Armenians will also do it. This is how I’m thinking."

It’s worth reminding that the political boards of the parties
represented in the political coalition of the National Assembly –
Armenian Republican Party, Prosperous Armenia Party, Orinats Yerkir –
came forth with a joint statement today on suspending the ratification
of Armenian-Turkish protocols: The statement reads: "Over the past
two years the President of the Republic of Armenia, supported by the
political majority of the National Assembly, has taken consistent steps
towards establishment and development of Armenian-Turkish relations
without preconditions. The United States, the Russian Federation,
France and Switzerland have greatly backed the process.

Many countries worldwide have positively assessed the initiative,
emphasizing its exceptional importance for the establishment of
stability in the region and solution of the existing conflicts through
civilized dialogue.

The constructive efforts of the Armenian side and the expectations
of the international community faced Turkey’s inconsistent policy of
evasion and preconditions, which brought the process of ratification
of the Armenian-Turkish protocols, signed in Zurich, October 10,
2009, within a reasonable timeframe into a deadlock.

The political majority of the National Assembly considers unacceptable
the statements of the Turkish side, namely Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, trying to link the ratification of the protocols by Turkey
to the settlement of the Karabakh issue.

At the same time, taking into consideration the refusal of the Turkish
side from its commitment to ratify the protocols without preconditions
and within a reasonable timeframe makes the continuation of the
process over their ratification in the Armenian National Assembly
pointless at this stage, the coalition considers it proper to suspend
the process and withdraw the issue from the agenda of the four-day
sittings until the Turkish side is ready to continue the process
without preconditions."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress