Wilfried Martens: rapprochement came to standstill through Turkey's fault

May 10, 2011 - 15:06 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Normalization of ties with Armenia would have positively affected the process of Turkey's accession to EU, the European People's Party (EPP) President stated.

As Wilfried Martens told a news conference in Yerevan, not only economic standards but also free movement of citizens within the EU are important criteria for EU accession.

Mr. Martens further expressed his disappointment over the Armenia-Turkey rapprochement process which came to a standstill through Turkey's fault.

PM Tigran Sargsyan receives Wilfried Martens

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.