"Domestic political tension in Turkey may affect Turkish-Armenian protocols."
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s latest statement that Turkey could reopen the border even before the protocols are ratified was a gentle hint to the Turkish Government that it should not lay the whole responsibility for the fate of the protocols on the Turkish Parliament, Vice-Speaker of the RA Parliament Samvel Nikoyan, (Republican Party of Armenia, RPA) told.
“By making that statement Serzh Sargsyan could have meant that the Turkish Government can at least be responsible for its own steps even if it is unable to guarantee the Parliament’s decision on the Armenian-Turkish protocols. In this context, nothing prevents the Turkish Government from making a political decision and reopening the borders it itself closed before if, of course, Ankara is really interested in normalizing its relations with Yerevan,” Nikoyan said.
He also stated that, during his talk with the Turkish FM, the Armenian leader reaffirmed Yerevan’s determination to withdraw from the negotiations if Ankara continues delaying the ratification or linking it to the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. “The amendments to the RA Law on International Agreements adopted by the Armenian Parliament are another instrument for Yerevan to realize its plans,” Nikoyan said.
As regards the impact the domestic political tension in Turkey may have on the Armenian-Turkish protocols, Nikoyan said: “Bad.” According to him, the Turkish opposition forces are exploring every avenue to pressure the authorities, which creates problems for the protocols. “But I should note that it is not the domestic political situation in the country, but the factor of Azerbaijan, that plays a more important role in the Turkish Parliament’s delaying the ratification,” Nikoyan said.
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