Armenian-Turkish border may open in early 2010
Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent statement that the Turkish parliament is an independent body and has to decide the fate of the Protocols is a kind of blackmail addressed to Armenia, according to expert Ruben Melkonyan.
"Turkish parliament may drag out the process of ratification of Protocols and lay down conditions," he said.
Melkonyan also reminded that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told an Azeri delegation Monday that the parliament will not ratify the Protocols unless the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is resolved.
"Turkey may open the border in early 2010 if the leadership takes a political decision. Otherwise the process may be protracted till the middle of the year. In this case, the border will be opened as result of international pressure, with a culmination on April 24," he said.
"Turkish parliament may drag out the process of ratification of Protocols and lay down conditions," he said.
Melkonyan also reminded that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told an Azeri delegation Monday that the parliament will not ratify the Protocols unless the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is resolved.
"Turkey may open the border in early 2010 if the leadership takes a political decision. Otherwise the process may be protracted till the middle of the year. In this case, the border will be opened as result of international pressure, with a culmination on April 24," he said.
