January 11, 2010 - 20:48 AMT
ARFD urges Constitutional Court to declare RA-Turkish Protocols unconstitutional


During a rally held Monday near Armenia's Constitutional Court, member of ARFD Supreme Body Hrayr Karapetyan handed a letter to CC Chairman on behalf of all protesters.

The letter, according to ARFD parliamentary group member Armen Roustamyan, contains legally substantiated conclusions on Protocols' imposing preconditions on, and posing national security threats to Armenia.

The Armenian-Turkish Protocols are inconsistent with Armenia's Constitutions, as their elaboration and signing procedures did not comply with the norms prescribed by RA Law on International Treaties, Mr. Roustamyan said.

"If bilateral recognition of borders is not the main issue regulated by Protocols, Armenia should introduce a relevant clause to the document," he said, adding that authorities refrain taking such step for now.

According to ARFD parliamentarian, the letter urges Constitutional Court to declare the Protocols unconstitutional or partially constitutional, to enable authorities to introduce relevant clauses therein. "Only thereafter can Armenia start talks with Turkey," Mr. Roustamyan noted.