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Shukru Elekdagh: â€œThe Zurich protocols can never be ratified in the Turkish parliament after the decision of Armenian Constitutional Courtâ€ â€“ EXCLUSIVE

18 February 2010 10:02 (UTC +04:00)

On the one hand the court says these protocols are in accordance with the constitution, on the other hand, says that some comments should be made on the protocols,â€ member of foreign affairs commission of the Turkish parliament, Turkeyâ€™s former ambassador to Washington, former head of Foreign Ministryâ€™s executive office, MP from CHP Shukru Elekdagh told APA. According to him, the comments reveal the problems that will emerge in the discussions of the Turkish government with Armenia.
â€œWhile reading the decision of the Armenian Constitutional Court, we see that Kars and Moscow treaties are not effective for them. Secondly, Armenia will not give up its activity to â€œproveâ€ the â€œgenocideâ€ against Armenians in 1915. Thirdly, the historical commission envisaged n the protocols have no authority to investigate the events of 1915. For Armenians Turkeyâ€™s eastern provinces are â€œWestern Armeniaâ€. It is claimed that establishment of relations between Turkey and Armenia are not connected with Karabakh problem. The text of the protocols signed between Turkey and Armenia are open for comment,â€ he said.

Shukru Elekdagh said they had met with the U.S. ambassador at the foreign affairs commission of the Turkish parliament.
â€œI asked him how their lawyers assess the decision of Armenian Constitutional Court. The ambassador said the U.S. Department of State does not hesitate over the issue. They do not see any contradiction between the decision of Armenian Constitutional Court and the essence of the protocols. According to article 102 of the Armenian Constitution, the decision of the Constitutional Court is binding and unchangeable. It seems by making the Constitutional Court pass a decision Armenian leaders build a wall for themselves. They chose a way to exert pressure on Turkey. Draft resolution 252 will be discussed in the foreign relations committee of the congress on March 5. Turkey will tell the US to impede it. And they will tell Turkey to ratify the protocols in the parliament. You see, the Turkish negotiators and Foreign Minister Davutoglu drew the issue to deadlock. They should to ask Armenian before signing these agreements: you save these articles in preamble of your constitution and Declaration of Independence. First, Armenia will never leave â€œgenocideâ€ target and will struggle for that and second, it will continue to claim eastern provinces of Turkey. It is amazing that the Turkish negotiators didnâ€™t ask Armenians about that. It was great irresponsibility. The normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations tied with the solution of Nagorno Karabakh problem, particularly with the withdrawal of Armenian forces from the occupied Azerbaijani lands. Every thinking person knows that Armenia is the last stronghold of Russian Federation in the Caucasusâ€.

Shukru Elekdagh said if Armenian-Turkish relations were normalized, Armenia would integrate into the world via Turkey. â€œIt will pull out Armenia from the Russian satellite. Therefore Russia and Armenia donâ€™t want to solve Karabakh problem. I reminded it earlier to foreign minister Papazyan. I reminded it to honorable Davutoglu, but he told me that they were shaking stones and the situation was not so hopelessâ€.

The former ambassador said there were contradictions in Prime Minister Erdoganâ€™s Baku and Washington statements. â€œOn December 7, US President Barack Obama told Turkish Prime Minister in Washington: â€œWe welcomed the agreement you signed with Armenia, but you have to ratify these protocols and to open borders with Armeniaâ€. Obama added that you donâ€™t need to tie ratification of the protocols with the Karabakh problem. The Turkish prime Minister said that it would be decided by the parliament. But he said at the Azerbaijani parliament on May 14 that this is a relation of cause and effect. We closed borders because Armenia occupied Nagorno Karabakh and five nearby regions and therefore we canâ€™t open the borders before ending of Armenian occupation. The Prime Minister said it in Baku, but told them in Washington that they will bring the protocols to the parliament and it will decide to ratify them or not. There are contradictions between these ideas. If the protocols will be out on agenda of the parliament, it will be impossible to ratify them. This question was closed. Therefore you canâ€™t doubt on this issue. The protocols can not be ratified after the decision of Armenian Constitutional Courtâ€.

Shukru Elekdagh didnâ€™t rule out his visit to Washington on the eve of March 5 talks.