In an interview with RFE/RL on Thursday Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharian did not conceal that “the Armenian side could have expectations” that Turkey will be the first to ratify the protocols that envisage the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey and reopening of their border.
Kocharian, however, stopped short of saying that either party is delaying the process at this stage because, as he reminded, ratification is the only action the timeframe for which is not mentioned in the documents.
“And that was natural to do, because parliaments are sovereign bodies and it was impossible to limit parliaments either in Armenia or Turkey to certain dates,” explained Kocharian. “On the other hand, there is an obvious reasonable timeframe for all… This timeframe is called “reasonable” because it is not counted by days but rather by numerous circumstances and everyone has the opportunity to interpret that timeframe.”
Kocharian added that the international community, which is keen to see Armenia-Turkish relations normalized, also “has a clear idea of the reasonable timeframe.”
The deputy minister also warned that Turkey’s linking the ratification of the protocols with progress in the Karabakh settlement might hamper both processes.
“In fact, these two processes are not interlinked,” stressed Kocharian.
Kocharian, however, stopped short of saying that either party is delaying the process at this stage because, as he reminded, ratification is the only action the timeframe for which is not mentioned in the documents.
“And that was natural to do, because parliaments are sovereign bodies and it was impossible to limit parliaments either in Armenia or Turkey to certain dates,” explained Kocharian. “On the other hand, there is an obvious reasonable timeframe for all… This timeframe is called “reasonable” because it is not counted by days but rather by numerous circumstances and everyone has the opportunity to interpret that timeframe.”
Kocharian added that the international community, which is keen to see Armenia-Turkish relations normalized, also “has a clear idea of the reasonable timeframe.”
The deputy minister also warned that Turkey’s linking the ratification of the protocols with progress in the Karabakh settlement might hamper both processes.
“In fact, these two processes are not interlinked,” stressed Kocharian.