The Armenian-Turkish process can be considered a failure, Armen Rustamyan, the Executive Council member, Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), told reporters.

The Turkish Parliament is unlikely to ratify the Armenian-Turkish protocols, he said. “Even if it does, it does not at all mean that the Armenian side must follow the example,” Rustamyan said. He pointed out the documents need revising.

The Armenian Parliament member believes the process is out of Armenia’s control now. “It is neither Armenia nor the international community that is setting terms now. It is Turkey,” he said. The statement made by Vigen Sargsyan, Deputy Head of the RA Presidential Staff, that Armenia with invalidate its signatures if Turkey fails to ratify the protocols by next April should be viewed in this context. “The only way for Armenia is to pull out of this process unless the Armenian authorities agree to a settlement scheme proposed by the ARF,” Rustamyan said. He pointed out that it is a ratification with reservations that is in question.

Rustamyan is sure that Turkey “calculated its success.” “Turkey is now presenting the negotiations to the international community as a concession on her part: it was allegedly in defiance of Azerbaijan’s interests that they agreed to negotiations with the aggressor. Armenia, for its part, has not done anything for the West to realize the fact that, after many years of blockade, Turkey must reopen the border,” Rustamyan said.

T.P.