Progress in Armenian-Turkish relations unlikely

March 31, 2010 - 16:28 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Member of the Armenian National Movement board, RA ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Arzumanian said that if someone expects progress in Armenian-Turkish relations during the visit of RA President Serzh Sargsyan to Washington, these expectations are baseless.

He reiterated that Turkey links the ratification of the Armenian-Turkish Protocols with the Karabakh conflict settlement. “The Washington meeting will hardly end up by any agreement. Sooner, a declaration like the Meindorf one, offering nothing, can be signed. The US can certainly exert pressure on Turkey, but Washington will never sacrifice its national interests,” he 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.