Richard Giragosian: Turkey uncertain as to its Armenia-related plans

April 21, 2010 - 16:04 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia-Turkey rapprochement has always been perceived as the beginning of a longer process. No one expected it to be fast and simple, director of Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) Richard Giragosian stated.

However, he noted, significant progress was observed in Armenia-Turkey relations over the last year. “This year, for the first time in Istanbul history, Turkish intellectual elite will commemorate Armenian Genocide victims. This fact means that intellectual borders have been opened, altering Turkish people's views on their own history.”

As the expert stated, there's no need to commend Turkey for agreeing to rapprochement, normalization of ties with a neighbor being the duty of any civilized country.

“The rapprochement impaired Turkey –Azerbaijan relations, rendering One nation – Two states motto inviable. Both US and Russia announced Armenia-Turkey relations to be unrelated to Karabakh issue. Ankara has chosen its course, the one hard to deviate from,” Armenian expert noted, adding that Turkey is still uncertain as to its Armenia-related plans.

“Protocols failure to stipulate for any sanctions in case of agreement violation is an obvious drawback. There's nothing to prevent Turkey from re-closing the border even after it has been opened,” Giragosian said.

Also, he didn't preclude Azerbaijan's resumption of hostilities to hamper Armenia-Turkey reconciliation.

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.