Ahmet Davutoglu hopes for resumption of Armenia-Turkey process

April 24, 2010 - 16:48 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Armenia’s decision to suspend ratification of protocols signed with Turkey last October was a unilateral one, The World Bulletin reported.

"I hope that political atmosphere in Armenia and Turkey will be normalized as soon as possible for the process to resume," he said. “Not only Turkey and Armenia but all countries of the region as well as the international community, especially the United States, Russia and France, would benefit from resumption of the process.”

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan announced on April 22 that Armenia suspends the process of ratification of Protocols on normalization of relations with Turkey.

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.