Hovik Abrahamyan: Turkish authorities can’t be taken seriously

March 15, 2010 - 13:11 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish authorities, signing a document and making statements contradicting the latter, can’t be taken seriously, according to parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamyan.

As he told a news conference in Yerevan, Turkish authorities seem to disrespect either themselves or the agreements reached. “As to ratification of Protocols, we discussed the issue with the coalition partners and adhere to the position already announced: Armenian parliament will take no further steps until Turkey ratifies Protocols,” Mr. Abrahamyan emphasized.

Prosperous Armenia party leader Gagik Tsarukyan, for his part, noted that Turkey was the one to close the border, so it’s for Turkey to open it. “We showed our goodwill, it’s now Turkey’s turn,” PanARMENIAN.Net parliamentary correspondent cited Mr. Tsarukyan as saying.

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.