Obama administration presses Ankara at the highest level and if Armenia-Turkey Protocols’ ratification fails, it might seriously impact U.S.-Turkey relations, U.S. scholar David Phillips told RFE/RL. “It is also in America’s interests to keep the process moving forward so that U.S.-Turkish cooperation is in effect,” Phillips said.

According to Phillips, who coordinated the work of the U.S.-sponsored Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission (TARC) in 2001-2004, pressure on Ankara will decrease only after Turkey ratifies the Protocols.

“And its efforts to use its leverage should intensify in the near future,” he told RFE/RL. “The U.S. needs to be actively engaged in this process if it is going to work.” Phillips underlined that James Steinberg’s visit to Yerevan is “a clear indication that the Obama administration understands the importance of this matter and the need to raise the profile of its involvement.”

Phillips suggests President Sargsyan to formally submit the protocols to Armenia’s parliament “without necessarily calling for a vote”, thus the onus of responsibility for a potential diplomatic breakdown would rest with Ankara."

The expert reckons that Armenia cannot wait for Turkish ratification for much longer. “I know that for domestic political reasons, this can’t be an open-ended process, and April 24, as the anniversary of the Armenian genocide, has been put forward as a deadline,” Phillips stated. “Whether or not April 24 is a deadline is something for the Armenian government to decide. But there clearly needs to be an end point.”

As to Karabakh conflict settlement, Phillips pointed out that Nagorno-Karabakh is not mentioned in the documents.