Hilda Tchoboian: Armenia must understand reasons behind Protocols failure and draw conclusions

May 7, 2010 - 19:06 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia-Turkey rapprochement is not yet finalized. The process is suspended and can be reopened any time, EAFJD chairman Hilda Tchoboian said.

As she told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, enmity between both countries can’t be continued forever, nor can the border remain eternally closed.

“Normalisation of Armenia-Turkey ties is in superpowers’ interests, so the process will last for as long as the superpowers stay interested,” Hilda Tchoboian stated.

“Armenia must understand reasons behind protocols failure and draw conclusions,” she stressed.

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.