Armenia speaker warns against Turkey’s ‘delaying’ approval of deal
Armenian Parliament
Speaker Ovik Abramian has claimed that if Turkey delays
parliamentary approval of the protocols on mending ties with his
country, it will face an adequate response from Yerevan.
The statement was made in a meeting with the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Peter Semneby, Novosti Armenii news agency said.
After decades of hostility, Turkey, Azerbaijan’s ally, and Armenia, with whom Azerbaijan faces a long-standing conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh, signed protocols to establish diplomatic relations and reopen their borders in Zurich on October 10. However, the documents require ratification in both countries’ parliaments, and Turkish officials have ruled out their approval in the Grand National Assembly before progress is made in the Upper Garabagh conflict.
According to Abramian, by signing the protocols, Armenia did not assume any unilateral obligations and took the step merely to create the needed basis for mending ties with Turkey.
Murat Mercan, chairman of the Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs commission visiting Baku, reminded that there are a number of agreements which have been awaiting approval in the legislature since 2000, saying there is no time limit on ratifying the protocols on mending ties with Armenia in the Grand National Assembly.
Halil Akinci, Turkey’s Ambassador to Russia, has told Russian Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspaper that, while ratifying the protocols, the Turkish parliament will demand a normalization in Armenia-Azerbaijan relations. Akinci said Turkey’s parliament does not always obey the government’s queries.
He noted that the government’s policy aims to establish good relations with the country’s neighbors.
"The signing of the protocols in Zurich indicates not only the willingness to normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia but also those between Armenia and Azerbaijan," Akinci added.*
The statement was made in a meeting with the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Peter Semneby, Novosti Armenii news agency said.
After decades of hostility, Turkey, Azerbaijan’s ally, and Armenia, with whom Azerbaijan faces a long-standing conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh, signed protocols to establish diplomatic relations and reopen their borders in Zurich on October 10. However, the documents require ratification in both countries’ parliaments, and Turkish officials have ruled out their approval in the Grand National Assembly before progress is made in the Upper Garabagh conflict.
According to Abramian, by signing the protocols, Armenia did not assume any unilateral obligations and took the step merely to create the needed basis for mending ties with Turkey.
Murat Mercan, chairman of the Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs commission visiting Baku, reminded that there are a number of agreements which have been awaiting approval in the legislature since 2000, saying there is no time limit on ratifying the protocols on mending ties with Armenia in the Grand National Assembly.
Halil Akinci, Turkey’s Ambassador to Russia, has told Russian Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspaper that, while ratifying the protocols, the Turkish parliament will demand a normalization in Armenia-Azerbaijan relations. Akinci said Turkey’s parliament does not always obey the government’s queries.
He noted that the government’s policy aims to establish good relations with the country’s neighbors.
"The signing of the protocols in Zurich indicates not only the willingness to normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia but also those between Armenia and Azerbaijan," Akinci added.*
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