RA MFA: signing of Armenian-Turkish Protocols in line with law

February 24, 2010 - 15:14 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net -
According to the RA Law on International Agreements, conclusion of agreements should proceed in compliance with the provisions 12, 14 or 18, if any other procedure is not set beforehand, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said.

“Signing of Armenian-Turkish Protocols was in line with the law,” he said.

Asked to elaborate why the Armenian public was not informed about the negotiated Protocols, the Minister said, “Talks on initialing and signing of agreements are held confidentially. The initialed Protocols on normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey were published within 6 weeks, which is unprecedented in international practice.

As to the parliament’s rights to insert reservations in international agreements, he remarked that the relevant bill has been already submitted to the government for further submission to the National Assembly.

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.