Ruben Melkonyan: Armenian-Turkish dialogue takes pause

May 4, 2010 - 14:31 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian-Turkish dialogue takes pause, according to Turkologist Ruben Melkonyan.

“The process on normalization of relations has hit a deadlock, mostly because of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Turkey,” Melkonyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

As to ratification of Protocols, he noted that these have not been removed from the agenda, as neither Armenia nor Turkey withdraw signatures. “Should both countries demonstrate political will, the Protocols can give a start to a new process. It’s not ruled out that they will be amended,” Melkonyan said.

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.