RA NA panel to debate Armenian-Turkish Protocols Feb.19

February 18, 2010 - 12:34 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net -
The Armenian-Turkish Protocols will be debated in the committee on external relations of the RA National Assembly on February 19.

“We offered the parliament speaker to develop a procedure of preliminary discussions,” Armen Rustamyan, chairman of the committee, said.

He emphasized that the discussions will be maximally transparent. “According to the NA charter, international agreements are included in the agenda and then debated during the parliamentary session,” he said.

Mr. Rustamyan added that ARF-Dashnaktsutyun can support ratification of Protocols only in case certain reservations are introduced in them.

The Armenian-Turkish Protocols

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 “it 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.