The Turkish leadership is facing serious challenges, including the Protocols on normalization of relations with Armenia and the Kurdish issue, said David Phillips, chairman of the Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission (TARC) in 2001-2004.

“The Turkish Prime Minister’s rating has decreased from 45% to 35%, what’s important in terms of parliamentary elections Turkey will hold next year. It’s gratifying that Turkey undertook to ratify the Protocols but the process of ratification may take a longer time,” Mr. Phillips said in Yerevan on Thursday.

There is a large number of uncertainties which can cast a shadow on Ankara’s willingness to ratify the Protocols, specifically Ankara’s attempt to link the implementation of Protocols to Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, according to him.

“I suppose that the Armenian authorities should demonstrate good will and make certain steps towards ratification, for example submit the Protocols to the National Assembly. And I’m hopeful that Turkish leaders will understand that ratification is in the interests of their country,” Mr. Phillips said.

David L. Phillips was the Chairman of TARC in 2001-2004. The commission failed over Turkey’s refusal to recognize the Armenian Genocide and avoid meddling with the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process.

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.