COUNTERPRODUCTIVE ANNIVERSARY: TWO YEARS AFTER SIGNING, ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS STILL YIELD NO RESULT
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow
10.10.11 | 14:56
Two years after the signing of the Armenian-Turkish protocols, when as
a result of the protocols' suspension no progress towards normalization
has been registered in the relations of the two countries, specialist
in Turkish studies Ruben Melkonyan believes that Armenia benefitted
from this process more than Turkey did.
Melkonyan even though believes that there are no winners and losers
in the Armenian-Turkish relations normalization process, stresses
that unlike Turkey Armenia manage to show to the Great Powers of the
world that it is a constructive and responsible partner.
Seven months after the signing of the protocols (one regarding the
establishment of diplomatic ties and the other on developing bilateral
relations/opening the border) in Zurich, Switzerland, on October 10,
2009, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan suspended their ratification
at the National Assembly of Armenia, effectively accusing Turkey of
not being ready to continue the process without preconditions.
Analyzing the positive and negative influences of the protocols,
Melkonyan said at a press conference on Monday that Turkey's 'Zero
Problem with Neighbors' policy has failed, and that Turkey besides
not settling its relations with Armenia, makes war threats against
Syria and Cyprus. Besides, according to Melkonyan, tension is sensed
in the Turkish-Azeri relations.
"The negative point for Armenia is that as a result of the process
some tension appeared in the Armenia-Diaspora relations, however,
we can say that currently that disagreement has been neutralized,"
Melkonyan says.
He states that the issue of recalling the signatures from the
protocols is constantly on the agenda, because the 'frozen' state
(of the protocols) "cannot last forever."
"The recall of the signatures may happen any time and very
unexpectedly," Melkonyan says, adding that taking into consideration
the current geopolitical situation, when the Armenian-Turkish relations
have no primary role in the world, "it is no time for drastic steps."
Turkologist Artak Shakaryan believes that if Armenia manages to
prove to the international community that the protocols "are dead"
because of Turkey, then the recall of the signatures will be justified,
otherwise it will be quite formal.
From: Baghdasarian
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow
10.10.11 | 14:56
Two years after the signing of the Armenian-Turkish protocols, when as
a result of the protocols' suspension no progress towards normalization
has been registered in the relations of the two countries, specialist
in Turkish studies Ruben Melkonyan believes that Armenia benefitted
from this process more than Turkey did.
Melkonyan even though believes that there are no winners and losers
in the Armenian-Turkish relations normalization process, stresses
that unlike Turkey Armenia manage to show to the Great Powers of the
world that it is a constructive and responsible partner.
Seven months after the signing of the protocols (one regarding the
establishment of diplomatic ties and the other on developing bilateral
relations/opening the border) in Zurich, Switzerland, on October 10,
2009, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan suspended their ratification
at the National Assembly of Armenia, effectively accusing Turkey of
not being ready to continue the process without preconditions.
Analyzing the positive and negative influences of the protocols,
Melkonyan said at a press conference on Monday that Turkey's 'Zero
Problem with Neighbors' policy has failed, and that Turkey besides
not settling its relations with Armenia, makes war threats against
Syria and Cyprus. Besides, according to Melkonyan, tension is sensed
in the Turkish-Azeri relations.
"The negative point for Armenia is that as a result of the process
some tension appeared in the Armenia-Diaspora relations, however,
we can say that currently that disagreement has been neutralized,"
Melkonyan says.
He states that the issue of recalling the signatures from the
protocols is constantly on the agenda, because the 'frozen' state
(of the protocols) "cannot last forever."
"The recall of the signatures may happen any time and very
unexpectedly," Melkonyan says, adding that taking into consideration
the current geopolitical situation, when the Armenian-Turkish relations
have no primary role in the world, "it is no time for drastic steps."
Turkologist Artak Shakaryan believes that if Armenia manages to
prove to the international community that the protocols "are dead"
because of Turkey, then the recall of the signatures will be justified,
otherwise it will be quite formal.
From: Baghdasarian