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ARMENIAN EXPERT: IT WOULD BE STRANGE FOR ARMENIA TO SIGN PROTOCOLS, BUT NOT ENDORSE THEM
Today
http://www.today.az/news/interviews/59 753.html
Jan 19 2010
Azerbaijan
Day.Az interview with Armenian political expert, director of the
Caucasus Institute Alexander Iskandaryan.
What is your views on the Armenian Constitutional Court decision
endorsing the Turkey-Armenia protocols?
The decision was expected and logical. It would be strange for Armenia
to sign the protocols, but then not to confirm their legality. Someone
will hardly imagine such a fantastic degree of separation of powers in
the post-Soviet country. As for the political message to the world,
it is also clear: Armenia fulfills its obligations and expects the
same from Turkey.
Do you agree with the assertion that Armenian Constitutional Court
decision on legitimacy of the Armenian-Turkish protocols means
Armenian's recognition of Turkey's borders, rejecting claims to
Turkish land even without the protocols' approval by the parliament
and the president of Armenia?
Not, of course. Declaring the protocols as conforming with the
Constitution means that the parliament is empowered to put to them
to vote and that it does not contradict country's Constitution. The
Constitutional Court is not empowered to do anything else. It cannot
replace the parliament or president.
Will Turkish-Armenian protocols be ratified by the Armenian
parliament? In your opinion, what will Turkey's next step be?
At the moment the Armenian side is awaiting ratification of the
protocols in the Turkish Parliament. If Turkey ratifies the protocols
within a reasonable time, I think, it will not be difficult for the
Armenian parliament to ratify them under current balance of coalition
and the opposition.
In your opinion, will the Turkish-Armenian normalization and settlement
of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict take place as to
two parallel processes?
No, I think that these processes cannot run in parallel as they have
fundamentally different parameters, time perspective, balance and
finally complexity.
Is there any risk that failure of attempts to resolve the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by peaceful means can lead to a new war
between Armenia and Azerbaijan?
No, there is no such risk. The war is beneficial to none of the
opposing sides. Risks associated with war are so much greater than
the hypothetical benefits that no one will start a war. There may
be many claims to the politicians in Yerevan, Baku, but I would not
consider them fools.
Today
http://www.today.az/news/interviews/59 753.html
Jan 19 2010
Azerbaijan
Day.Az interview with Armenian political expert, director of the
Caucasus Institute Alexander Iskandaryan.
What is your views on the Armenian Constitutional Court decision
endorsing the Turkey-Armenia protocols?
The decision was expected and logical. It would be strange for Armenia
to sign the protocols, but then not to confirm their legality. Someone
will hardly imagine such a fantastic degree of separation of powers in
the post-Soviet country. As for the political message to the world,
it is also clear: Armenia fulfills its obligations and expects the
same from Turkey.
Do you agree with the assertion that Armenian Constitutional Court
decision on legitimacy of the Armenian-Turkish protocols means
Armenian's recognition of Turkey's borders, rejecting claims to
Turkish land even without the protocols' approval by the parliament
and the president of Armenia?
Not, of course. Declaring the protocols as conforming with the
Constitution means that the parliament is empowered to put to them
to vote and that it does not contradict country's Constitution. The
Constitutional Court is not empowered to do anything else. It cannot
replace the parliament or president.
Will Turkish-Armenian protocols be ratified by the Armenian
parliament? In your opinion, what will Turkey's next step be?
At the moment the Armenian side is awaiting ratification of the
protocols in the Turkish Parliament. If Turkey ratifies the protocols
within a reasonable time, I think, it will not be difficult for the
Armenian parliament to ratify them under current balance of coalition
and the opposition.
In your opinion, will the Turkish-Armenian normalization and settlement
of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict take place as to
two parallel processes?
No, I think that these processes cannot run in parallel as they have
fundamentally different parameters, time perspective, balance and
finally complexity.
Is there any risk that failure of attempts to resolve the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by peaceful means can lead to a new war
between Armenia and Azerbaijan?
No, there is no such risk. The war is beneficial to none of the
opposing sides. Risks associated with war are so much greater than
the hypothetical benefits that no one will start a war. There may
be many claims to the politicians in Yerevan, Baku, but I would not
consider them fools.