Turkish daily Zaman’s reporter Celil Sagir, who arrived in Armenia’s capital Yerevan on the eve of the country’s National Assembly (NA) elections this past Sunday, noted it is very unlikely that any progress will be achieved in the Armenian-Turkish protocols—which were signed in 2009—following these elections.     

The Turkish journalist wrote that Armenia’s politicians blame Turkey for suspending the protocols, as it posits the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as a precondition for ratifying these documents. 

Zaman’s reporter quotes Armenian National Assembly Speaker Samvel Nikoyan, who stressed that preconditions obstruct the process, and the arrangement reached toward ratifying the protocols without preconditions must be honored.    

The Turkish journalist also cites the ruling Republican Party of Armenia’s NA Faction leader Galust Sahakyan, according to whom the Armenian Genocide’s recognition and the Karabakh issue are more important than normalizing relations with Turkey.

And reflecting on his meeting with opposition Heritage Party leader Raffi Hovannisian, Celil Sagir noted that Hovannisian is against the protocols, but he favors establishing relations with Turkey without preconditions.   

To note, the Central Electoral Commission of Armenia has issued the preliminary results of Sunday’s National Assembly elections.

The figures are as follows:

Republican Party of Armenia – 44.05% (663,066 votes), Prosperous Armenia Party – 30.20% (454,684 votes), Armenian National Congress – 7.10% (106,910 votes), Heritage Party – 5.79% (87,095 votes), ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party – 5.73% (86, 296 votes), Orinats Yerkir Party – 5.49% (82,690 votes), Communist Party of Armenia – 1.06% (15,933 votes), Democratic Party of Armenia – 0.37% (5,633 votes), United Armenians Party – 0.20% (3, 080 votes).

For entering the 131-seat National Assembly (Parliament), the parties must poll over 5% of votes, while blocs - over 7%.