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THE EUROPEAN UNION ACCEPTED ARMENIAN REQUESTS
TurkishNY
http://www.turkishny.com/omer-engin-lutem/42643-the-european-union-accepted-armenian-requests/
Dec 15 2010
Relations exist between Armenia and the European Union within the
framework of the European Neighborhood Policy Action Plan. Moreover,
negotiations are continuing for Armenia's partnership into the Union.
Last week on December 7, the EU-Armenia Cooperation Council had
convened in Brussels to which Stefan Fule, the European Commissioner
for Enlargement and European Neighborhood attended from the EU, along
with Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan from Armenia. In the press
release related to this meeting, the Turkey-Armenia protocols have
been mentioned and it has been stated that the Union underlines the
importance of the ratification and implementation of the protocols
without preconditions.
As known, ratifying the protocols without preconditions is Armenia's
view and means that these documents should be implemented without
taking into consideration the Karabakh Conflict. Turkey's stance
is the opposite and foresees that the protocols be ratified and
implemented after significant developments taking place for the
Karabakh Conflict. Therefore, the European Union has once again
affirmed that they have accepted Armenia's views regarding this issue.
Shortly before the aforementioned meeting, the EU-Armenia Parliamentary
Cooperation Committee had convened on December 1st and 2nd in
Brussels. In the section on Turkey-Armenia relations in the Final
Statement and Recommendations of the meeting, certain points have
been highlighted which also reflect Armenian views.
Although temporarily, it is the Armenian Government which has
taken the Turkey-Armenia protocols off the agenda of the Armenian
Parliament. By expressing in the final statement that Armenia has
suspended the ratification of the protocols because Turkey has applied
preconditions, Armenia has tried to be cleared of their action.
On the other hand, in response to Turkey's request to resolve the
Karabakh Conflict as soon as possible in order to bring the protocols
into effect, it has been stated that the Turkey-Armenia normalization
process and the OSCE Minsk Group negotiations are separate processes.
This way, they have tried to convey that Turkey's contribution to
the settlement of the Karabakh Conflict is unacceptable or at least
undesirable.
Furthermore, this statement has also called on Turkey to lift the
blockade imposed on Armenia prior to the ratification of the protocols
as a gesture of good will.
Moreover, it has urged Turkey to establish diplomatic and good
neighborly relations with Armenia without preconditions and to open
the closed border at an early date.
Last of all, the statement has recalled the European Parliament's
resolution of 18 June 1987 which has recognized the Armenian genocide
allegations. The most important section of the resolution which is
still valid today is that Turkey's refusal to acknowledge the Armenian
genocide allegations will constitute an obstacle to its accession to
the European Union.
In short, the matters which Armenia has defended all along have been
acknowledged by the EU Cooperation Committee and on the contrary to
the general practice, they have not even bothered to create a balance
between these and the views of the Turkish side.
It is possible to draw two conclusions from this meeting. The first
is that the EU acknowledging the Armenian views shows that this
organization gives support to Armenia, but at the same time, their
unfavorable stance towards Turkey is continuing. The second is that
Armenia, which has easily imposed their views on the EU, will adopt a
much more uncompromising approach in the future, in the normalization
process of their relations with Turkey.
From: A. Papazian
TurkishNY
http://www.turkishny.com/omer-engin-lutem/42643-the-european-union-accepted-armenian-requests/
Dec 15 2010
Relations exist between Armenia and the European Union within the
framework of the European Neighborhood Policy Action Plan. Moreover,
negotiations are continuing for Armenia's partnership into the Union.
Last week on December 7, the EU-Armenia Cooperation Council had
convened in Brussels to which Stefan Fule, the European Commissioner
for Enlargement and European Neighborhood attended from the EU, along
with Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan from Armenia. In the press
release related to this meeting, the Turkey-Armenia protocols have
been mentioned and it has been stated that the Union underlines the
importance of the ratification and implementation of the protocols
without preconditions.
As known, ratifying the protocols without preconditions is Armenia's
view and means that these documents should be implemented without
taking into consideration the Karabakh Conflict. Turkey's stance
is the opposite and foresees that the protocols be ratified and
implemented after significant developments taking place for the
Karabakh Conflict. Therefore, the European Union has once again
affirmed that they have accepted Armenia's views regarding this issue.
Shortly before the aforementioned meeting, the EU-Armenia Parliamentary
Cooperation Committee had convened on December 1st and 2nd in
Brussels. In the section on Turkey-Armenia relations in the Final
Statement and Recommendations of the meeting, certain points have
been highlighted which also reflect Armenian views.
Although temporarily, it is the Armenian Government which has
taken the Turkey-Armenia protocols off the agenda of the Armenian
Parliament. By expressing in the final statement that Armenia has
suspended the ratification of the protocols because Turkey has applied
preconditions, Armenia has tried to be cleared of their action.
On the other hand, in response to Turkey's request to resolve the
Karabakh Conflict as soon as possible in order to bring the protocols
into effect, it has been stated that the Turkey-Armenia normalization
process and the OSCE Minsk Group negotiations are separate processes.
This way, they have tried to convey that Turkey's contribution to
the settlement of the Karabakh Conflict is unacceptable or at least
undesirable.
Furthermore, this statement has also called on Turkey to lift the
blockade imposed on Armenia prior to the ratification of the protocols
as a gesture of good will.
Moreover, it has urged Turkey to establish diplomatic and good
neighborly relations with Armenia without preconditions and to open
the closed border at an early date.
Last of all, the statement has recalled the European Parliament's
resolution of 18 June 1987 which has recognized the Armenian genocide
allegations. The most important section of the resolution which is
still valid today is that Turkey's refusal to acknowledge the Armenian
genocide allegations will constitute an obstacle to its accession to
the European Union.
In short, the matters which Armenia has defended all along have been
acknowledged by the EU Cooperation Committee and on the contrary to
the general practice, they have not even bothered to create a balance
between these and the views of the Turkish side.
It is possible to draw two conclusions from this meeting. The first
is that the EU acknowledging the Armenian views shows that this
organization gives support to Armenia, but at the same time, their
unfavorable stance towards Turkey is continuing. The second is that
Armenia, which has easily imposed their views on the EU, will adopt a
much more uncompromising approach in the future, in the normalization
process of their relations with Turkey.
From: A. Papazian