After signing the protocols, Turkey stepped back and reverted to its language of preconditions, particularly, linking the Armenian-Turkish process with the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, RA Ambassador to Russia Oleg Yesayan stated in an interview with the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper.

In regards to the prospects for good neighborly relations with Turkey, Ambassador Yesayan pointed out that Armenian-Turkish relations were in stalemate, when RA President Serzh Sargsyan invited his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul. That initiative, which was welcomed by the Turkish leader, allowed the process to get under way. Intense negotiations resulted in a significant step toward Armenian-Turkish rapprochement. Last year, in Zurich, the sides signed two protocols on establishing diplomatic relations, reopening the border and developing bilateral relations.

“After the protocols were signed, Armenian launched a ratification process in conformity with the procedure in effect. The Constitutional Court returned its verdict a month before the term expired and confirmed the constitutionality of the protocols. Early in February President Serzh Sargsyan stated that the Armenian Parliament, with his party constituting a majority, will ratify the protocols immediately after Turkey dose,” Yesayan said. However, Turkey, with its simpler document enforcement procedures, did not take a single step except for sending the protocols to the Turkish Parliament. In fact it has been preventing ratification for 11 months, Ambassador Yesayan said.

On the other hand, Armenia’s approaches are in full conformity with the international community’s position: the protocols must be ratified and implemented without any preconditions and within a reasonable time frame. “It was the common ground for our initiating and implementing the process and reaching agreements. It is natural the protocols do not contain any preconditions. The main and only reason why the ratification was suspended was Turkey’s repeated attempts to link Armenian-Turkish rapprochement to a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. Not only Armenia, but also the mediator countries, as well as the international community, publicly stated that  a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was not in any way linked to Armenian-Turkish rapprochement,” Ambassador Yesayan said.

He believes the Armenian President made a difficult, brave, but necessary step. Armenia was honest in its path to reconciliation. “If the rapprochement fails, it will be Turkey’s fault,” Yesayan said.