Armenia-Turkey relations discussed at Swiss Foreign Ministry

PanARMENIAN.Net -
Swiss Foreign Ministry hosted a meeting between Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary, Feridun Sinirlioglu and Switzerland's State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Michael Ambul Friday, February 5.



As Swiss Foreign Ministry spokesman Erik Reumann told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, Armenia-Turkey reconciliation was discussed among other issues.



Bilateral meetings between Turkish and Swiss Foreign Ministries carry regular character, Erik Reumann stated.



When asked if Feridun Sinirlioglu voiced Ankara’s concerns over the ruling of Armenian Constitutional Court on Armenia-Turkey rapprochement, the spokesman refused a reply.



As he noted, Switzerland has completed its mission as mediator in Armenia-Turkey rapprochement, having assumed observer’s position.



As was reported earlier, to prevent Armenia-Turkey rapprochement process disruption, Ankara intends to send diplomats to US and Switzerland. Ankara’s concerns over RA Constitutional Court’s ruling on rapprochement Protocols were to be presented, urging US and Swiss authorities to undertake steps to prevent process disruption.



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.



Commenting on the CC ruling, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “the decision contains preconditions and restrictive provisions which impair the letter and spirit of the Protocols.”



”The decision undermines the very reason for negotiating these Protocols as well as their fundamental objective. This approach cannot be accepted on our part. Turkey, in line with its accustomed allegiance to its international commitments, maintains its adherence to the primary provisions of these Protocols. We expect the same allegiance from the Armenian Government,” the Ministry said.