The Armenian-Turkish protocols approved by the RA Constitutional Court on January 12 have been submitted to RA President Serzh Sargsyan.

After being approved by the President, the documents are to be submitted to the Armenian Parliament. The RA Parliament will open its winter session on February 1, 2010, and the protocols are most likely to be put on the agenda. Of course, the Armenian Parliament might hold a special sitting to ratify the documents, but experts do not consider such a scenario to be likely.

The Armenian leader earlier stated he expected the Turkish Parliament to ratify the protocols within a reasonable timeframe. He stressed then that the Armenian side would exercise its right under international law if the Turkish side delayed the process.

Talking to NEWS.am, the political analyst Armen Gevorgyan said that the Armenian-Turkish protocols have now “transformed their legal aspect into a political one.” “We have every reason to think that the President will quickly endorse the documents and send them to Parliament. Then Yerevan will be keeping track of the Turkish side’s actions. As the Armenian MPs stated, the Armenian Parliament will ratify the protocols only after the Turkish Parliament has done it. On the other hand, under certain circumstances, Yerevan may speed up the process and approve the document before Ankara does. In any case, we have a chance to estimate the alignment of forces in the Armenian Parliament. For the first time the Armenian Parliament will consider such historic documents. It is great responsibility. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) and the Heritage Party are trying to cause the parliamentary forces to unite round them. Of course, this task is doomed to failure though its success depends on how strong is the ruling party’s position and that of President Serzh Sargsyan. The situation is becoming really intriguing,” Gevorgyan said.

T.P.