Turkey says Armenian top court ruling undermines protocols

Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday that reasoned decision of the Armenian Constitutional Court, regarding Turkey-Armenia protocols signed on October 10, 2009, contained preconditions and restrictive provisions which impair the letter and spirit of the protocols.

Releasing a statement, the ministry said, "the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia has declared its decision of constitutional conformity on the Protocols between Turkey and Armenia signed on 10 October 2009 with a short statement on 12 January 2010. The Constitutional Court has recently published its grounds of decision. It has been observed that this decision contains preconditions and restrictive provisions which impair the letter and spirit of the Protocols."

"The said decision undermines the very reason for negotiating these Protocols as well as their fundamental objective. This approach cannot be accepted on our part," the statement said.

The statement said, "Turkey, in line with its accustomed allegiance to its international commitments, maintains its adherence to the primary provisions of these Protocols. We expect the same allegiance from the Armenian Government."

/World Bulletin/