Turkish Parliament’s Foreign Affairs commission will arrive at favorable conclusion on Armenia-Turkey Protocols, however legislative body will protract the ratification till February-March, 2010 to link it with April 24-Genocde commemoration day. Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) Director Richard Giragosian said at Dec. 3 press conference.

“No-one knows when Turkey will ratify the Protocols, however if it happens in February-March, I do not think U.S. will recognize the Genocide. They will say it’s a sensitive moment for discussion of the matter,” he underlined. Commenting on Erdogan-Obama Dec. 7 meeting, the expert maintained that U.S. President will pressurize Turkey both on the Protocols’ ratification and border opening.

Giragosian voiced concern that Protocols do not contain sanctions in case of provisions’ infraction, as Turkey can open the border, then close it and nobody will be able to punish Ankara. However, in this case Turkey will have an image of instable country. This is a test for Turkey and U.S. will do its utmost to have Ankara meeting commitments. Giragosian added, that another threat is a fact that prospects of Armenian-Turkish relations will depend on Turkey’s domestic policy, which seems to have a significant impact.