Signature withdrawal from protocols with Turkey unnecessary - RPA member

PanARMENIAN.Net - A member of ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) commented on Turkish MP Mustafa Boskir’s statement, suggesting the protocols on normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia will not be put on Turkish parliament’s agenda.

“Turkey’s non-fulfillment of protocol-stipulated obligations is more of an issue to world powers who acted as guarantors,” Hovhannes Sahakyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

“Armenia, however, did not violate the agreement, only suspending rapprochement once it became clear Turkey won’t ratify protocols without preconditions, with international community supporting official Yerevan’s position,” he stated.

Dwelling on opposition demands to withdraw Armenia’s signature from protocols, the MP characterized them as pre-election PR move. “Suspension of protocols in itself is a clear indication that the document won’t be signed for as long as Turkey insists on preconditions,” Sahakyan said.

The protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of the common 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.

In August 2011, the protocols were removed from the agenda but later were brought back again.