H.Res.252 passage may draw forth new processes in Caucasus

March 3, 2010 - 13:00 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Adoption of the Armenian Genocide resolution by the U.S. Congress will damage Ankara-Washington relations, former NKR Foreign Minister said.

“Adoption of the resolution may draw forth new processes in Caucasus. It may promote consolidation of Russian-Turkish ties and also hamper Karabakh talks,” Arman Melikyan told a news conference in Yerevan on Wednesday.

He also noted that Washington’s current policy is alienating Ankara.

Member of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia Rafik Petrosyan said, for his part, that if Ankara doesn’t ratify the Protocols on normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations until April 24, Yerevan can withdraw its signature and freeze the reconciliation process.

The Armenian Genocide resolution

The resolution affirming the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide (H.Res.252) was formally introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Adam Schiff (D.-CA), George Radanovich (R.-CA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D.-NJ), and Mark Kirk (R.-Ill). On March 4, 2010 it was adopted with a 22-21 vote by the House Committee on Foreign Relations. A similar resolution was introduced in the Senate.

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.