Turkish leaders practice demagogy

PanARMENIAN.Net -
In October 2009, Turkish government submitted Armenia-Turkey rapprochement Protocols in the form of draft law, carrying Turkish premier’s signature, to parliamentary committee for foreign affairs.



The draft law confirmed validity of Kars Treaty and stipulated for further discussion of disputable historic issues, Turkolologist Ruben Melkonyan said.



As he told a news conference in Yerevan, Turkish Premier’s statements on making no alterations to Protocols before submitting them to parliamentary committee are untrue.



In reply to Turkey’s statements on RA Constitutional Court’s decision containing “preconditions and restrictive provisions which impair the letter and spirit of the Protocols”, Armenia has to remind it’s Turkey’s steps which run counter to Protocols stipulations.



“Turkish leaders circulate lies through their statements, practicing overt demagogy,” Ruben Melkonyan stressed, pointing out that Turkey’s policy drags out Protocols’ ratification, leading reconciliation process to a standstill.



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 decision of the Armenian Constitutional Court, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “the decision 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.