Harut Sassounian: Armenia relieved of the burden of protocols

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia was finally relieved of the burden of the Armenian-Turkish protocols, California Courier Publisher said.

“Turkey has done Armenia a great favor by removing the protocols from its parliament’s agenda,” Harut Sassounian told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. “Now, Armenia can start a new process of normalization of relations on equal terms.”

On August 22, 2011, Turkey’s Grand National Assembly has withdrawn from the agenda 898 bills, including the Armenian-Turkish protocols envisaging normalization of relations with Armenia and opening of the border. The new Turkish parliament considers that the issue of opening of border with Armenia is no longer actual for the country’s political course. Besides, in compliance with the parliament’s regulations, a bill that was rejected by the parliament loses its legal force during six months.

The protocols were signed in 2009 in Zurich by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu. In April 2010, RA President Serzh Sargsyan decreed to suspend the process of ratification of the protocols due to Ankara’s unwillingness to ratify them.