Readers' comments

• Expert: Delay in Armenia-Turkey protocols ratification against Yerevan’s interests

Well this Mr. Stepan Grigoryan the expert, and what he has to say and its importance to Armenia can be taken with a lot more than a pinch of salt to be palatable, even if what he has been saying all his “expert” life (probably, since he arrived back from Istanbul “expert” training centre!) can be written on the back of a very tiny stamp. One thing is sure, Mr Grigoryan is very honest a...

Read commented Article

Post a comment

Read all 3 comments

Comments are welcomed and encouraged. However, comments not pertaining to the topic or containing slander or offensive language will be deleted. You have to be registered to be able leave your comment. Sign in or Register now for free.

Enlarge Photo

Expert Grigoryan says no delay should take place over Armenian-Turkish protocols ratification

An Armenian political analyst believes that the delay of the Armenian-Turkish protocols ratification by the parliaments of the two countries is not favorable for Armenia, since it will give a chance to the countries which are against the Armenian-Turkish relations, namely Azerbaijan, to gain time for making pressure upon Turkey concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

Stepan Grigoryan, head of the Analytical Center for Globalization and Regional Collaboration, believes that Armenia must be the first to ratify the protocols, after which, according to his forecasts, the Turkish parliament will ratify it either in mid-December or in early January.

“By means of postponing the process we give time for struggling against us,” the political analyst says.

The Armenian-Turkish protocols were signed on October 10, in Zurich, Switzerland. Under these protocols, Armenia and Turkey agree to establish diplomatic relations, reopen the currently closed border and develop bilateral relations.

“I think that the strong opposition at the Turkish parliament will not manage to hinder the ratification of the protocols, because it is favorable for them,” Grigoryan says.

The expert believes that in this phase, the steps of Turkey depend on the steps of Armenia, because the initiator of this process is Armenia. Besides, according to him, Turkey currently depends more on Armenia than on Azerbaijan.