Azerbaijani expert: Armenia tries to ratify protocols in a version different from the one Turkey signed in Zurich

"Armenia faces deep internal political and economic crisis. So, there is no doubt that it is interested in ratifying the protocols and opening border with Turkey. Thus, Yerevan wants to find a way out of impasse,” the expert said.

“As for the protocols, it should be noted that they have undergone significant changes after Armenian Constitutional Court adopted them with reservations. Thus, Yerevan smoothed discontent of the Armenian diaspora and some parties about the Protocols. On the other hand, Armenia is not going to abandon its claims for international recognition of "Armenian Genocide" although the Zurich agreements clearly state historians of both countries as well as other international experts will deal with interpretation of this issue.”

“Indeed, Armenia has neglected all the principles and spirit of the protocols, and plans to ratify the version of these accords which Turkey has not signed. This reveals essence of Armenia’s policies. I believe that the Armenian parliament’s ratifying the protocols in this form will not have legal consequences for Turkey since Armenia itself disavowed the agreements signed by President and Foreign Minister with the same reservations,” the political expert added.

As to possible impact of ratification of the Turkey-Armenia protocols by the Armenian Parliament, Sadigov said "discussions over the Zurich protocols in the Armenian parliament in advance of the “Armenian genocide" debates in the U.S. Congress are not accidental.”

"Circumstances for Armenia have developed fairly well in this respect. Unfortunately, fact of ratification of the Zurich protocols is more important for the Western countries than in what form they will be adopted. Therefore, Turkey must move from rhetoric to making it clear for the foreign partners that the document which they want Armenia to endorse, in fact, is not the one signed in Zurich.”

“By ratifying the Zurich protocols with reservations Armenia wants to show its good intentions and its "peaceful" policies. This reflects all the deceit inherent in Armenia’s diplomacy. But I think that this policy will not bring dividends, since these accords must also be approved by Turkey so that they will take force. Thus, the Armenian-Turkish protocols will remain mere scraps of paper,” the expert noted.

Z. Ahmadov