“We predicted inefficiency of these protocols at the very beginning because Armenia is under the Russian influence, but not US. If you want to solve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict you have to coordinate it with Russia. Russian foreign minister also attended the signing ceremony of Zurich protocols. But the signing and implementation of these protocols are different jobs. Russia activated its policy in the region after the signing of the protocols”, former chairman of the Turkish Historic Council, professor of Ankara Gazi University Yusuf Halacoglu, who dedicate his life to struggle against the Armenian falsehoods, told APA.
Director of EU Research Center of Istanbul Bahcesehir University Cengiz Aktar said the Zurich protocols have already been forgotten. “No one can tell you anything about the Zurich protocols now because Turkey forgot these protocols long ago. Even those people, who read newspapers, take interest in the world developments and know that Turkish-Armenian relations are not good, don’t remind those protocols. We saw it in that time, but the government was against our opinion. Turkey will return to this issue after the parliamentary elections in June, 2011. The protocols got much hurts. The first blow on them came from Prime Minister Erdogan during his speech at the Azerbaijani parliament. Erdogan buried antenatal baby. But it is not important. Turks and Armenians are continuing a dialogue, joint projects, statements and visits. Diaspora Armenians began to visit Turkey frequently and to do more business here. If the governments can catch up the train, it will be better. If they can not catch up the train no one will concern about it. The governments can not make brave steps. Therefore sensitiveness of the communities is more important. I think if Turkey can normalize its relations with Armenia it will positively effect on the solution of Karabakh problem”.
Head of the Eurasian Analytical Center, retired ambassador Omer Lutem considers that the situation was not changed in a year. “A year ago when the protocols were signed, Sargsyan addressed the Armenian nation and said that the protocols had no relations to “genocide” and they wouldn’t accept any term made by Turkey. So he stopped the activity of protocols at the very beginning. On January 12, the Armenian Constitutional Court made some amendments to the protocols, which wholly changed spirit of the protocols. Differences between the expectation of Turkey and the decision of the Armenian Constitutional Court prevented the protocols to come to force. Armenians try to use the statements by Turkish president, prime minister and foreign minister that “implementation of these protocols must not hurt Azerbaijan” against Turkey. Now newspapers report that Switzerland is going to mediate in implementation of the protocols. Recently Nalbandian stated that they don’t conduct secret or open negotiations with Turkey. The situation remains same before and after the signing of protocols. I don’t believe that any initiative on Turkish-Armenian relations will be put on agenda until the parliamentary elections next year because Turkey keeps strong position demanding withdrawal of Armenian troops from Karabakh. There is no progress toward the liberation of Karabakh from the occupation. The Minsk Group tries to create positive atmosphere, but there is no result. Turkey stated many times that the borders will not be opened without any progress in Karabakh. Therefore I don’t see a reason to be optimist about the fate of the protocols. There will not be a question about peace and cooperation in the region without ending of Armenian military aggression in the South Caucasus. I don’t see it”.
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