Turkey made a historic move signing the Protocols with Armenia in Zurich, on Oct. 10, 2009. “The protocols envisage the establishment of diplomatic relations as well as the development of relations between Ankara and Yerevan. Turkish-Armenian reconciliation reached a stalemate following the Armenian Constitutional Court’s mention of the recognition of Armenian genocide claims and Yerevan’s territorial claims on Turkey,” Zaman daily reports.

“The Armenian Constitutional Court sought to satisfy its domestic audience as well as the Armenian diaspora. In this sense, it is correct for us to say that Armenian hard-liners sought to sabotage the normalization of ties with Turkey. According to several retired Turkish ambassadors, the Armenian court’s decision reflects the attitude of an amateurish and second-class court,” the source reads.

As NEWS.am reported previously, January 12, RA Constitutional Court ruled Armenia-Turkey Protocols constitutional. January 19, Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement criticizing the decision of RA Constitutional Court on Armenia-Turkey Protocols. According to the statement, it has been observed that this decision contains preconditions and restrictive provisions which impair the letter and spirit of the Protocols. The said decision undermines the very reason for negotiating these Protocols as well as their fundamental objective.

L.A.