April 20, 2011 - 09:43 AMT
Unratified Armenian-Turkish protocols damage Turkey’s image

The unratified Armenian-Turkish protocols damage Turkey’s international image, an expert said.

“Although Turkish Foreign Ministry pledges a policy of zero problems with neighbors, a question arouses: why Turkey refused to normalize relations with Armenia and ratify the protocols,” Ruben Melkonyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Assessing the whole process between Armenia and Turkey, he said the roadmap announced in April 2009 has appeared as the most serious document in the history of independent Armenia.

“Reconciliation was ‘blessed’ by world powers. Armenia has undertaken commitments and observed them while Turkey started shirking immediately after the signing ceremony,” he said.

Asked to comment about Turkish Prime Minister’s statement that Armenia “doesn’t exert enough efforts to normalize relations with his country”, Melkonyan said, “Erdogan’s statement causes laughter but it is in line with the election campaign of his party.”