ANKARA—Turkey’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgiç told reporters Tuesday that Ankara remains committed to the protocols signed between Turkey and Armenia purportedly aiming to normalize bilateral relations, after Yerevan recently withdrew the 2008 protocols from parliament, Hurriyet Daily News reports.
Bilgiç told reporters yesterday that Yerevan has decided to withdraw the Protocol on Establishing of Diplomatic Relations and the Protocol on Developing Relations in order “to create a reason to accuse Turkey” ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
The Armenian government, and a majority of Armenians around the world, regarded the protocols as unfair and a diplomatic ploy by Turkey, due to the myriad conditions and concessions it demands of Armenia.
Meanwhile, the Turkish parliament itself has not ratified either of the agreements.
Bilgiç, however, called Armenians “incoherent and insincere” because of the move, adding that “Turkey will remain loyal to regional normalization process which is the fundamental goal of the protocols.”
On Feb. 16, Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian announced that he has asked the country’s parliamentary speaker to withdraw his signature from the protocols.
Sarkisian said in a statement that Armenia would not ratify the agreement because of the “preconditions” that Turkey is putting in place before it ratifies its side of the deal.
The agreement aimed to restore diplomatic ties between the countries as well as reopen the common border, which Turkey closed in 1993.
Turkey holds off weapons deal for April 24
Authorities said Turkey will postpone the selection a winner for a controversial, multibillion dollar contract for the construction of an anti-missile defense system until after April 24, the Hurriyet Daily News reported, quoting senior officials.
A senior diplomat confirmed that Ankara first wants to see the U.S. and French positions on the Armenian Genocide before awarding a sizeable contract “to a bidder potentially from one of these countries.”
“We have agreed with the government leaders not to rush to a decision any time soon,” one defense procurement official said. “A decision before April 24 is out of the question.”
“How these countries observe the centennial of the events will be an important input for our final decision,” he said.
After Ankara selected a Chinese company in September 2013 to build the air defense architecture and came under heavy pressure from its Western allies for the decision, it also opened parallel negotiations this summer with a European contender in the multibillion dollar competition.
A defense industry source said he expected tough rivalry between French and U.S. contenders in the second half of 2015. “Both of them are surely aware that how their governments tackle the centennial will be critical for success or failure,” he said.
So sorry Mr. Tanju Bilgic, the hell with you and the hell with your commitments to anything there is on this earth.
You can send a sorry card to Davutoglu’s girl friend Hillery Clinton for all these mishapps and goof ups. Sorry you could not fool the Armenians with your lolly pop candies.
And the United States, France nor China need your dirty money to sell you weapons and military hardware.
Keep your money, you will be giving all you have to someone else preety soon to save your neck!
Turkey = Savages
Armenia and Armenian people have lost 6 year valuable time and resources because of this fail protocols
People close to authorities are pressing no stop the President – FOR WHAT?These Protocols were the biggest shame of the current administration.
It is of no worth and value simply recalling these Protocols from the Permanent.
Armenia has to recall its signature and develop as soon as possible another policy biased on our justified demands from Turkey. If Armenian administration is going to wait another 3 months or 3 years (or more) be sure Turkey will approve these protocols whenever Turkey want and in case of any Pan Armenian realistic demands and policy against Turkey, The same Turkey will approve the protocols and force Armenia later to accept the Protocols, even if Armenia would have recalled its signature long ago!
Well, it seems to me that Turkey addressing Mr. Obama’s words, what he will utter on Apr 24, 2015. Rajab Oghloos desperate warning as usual intended to Obama’s administration. Turkey will fall apart by itself they don’t need to cover up Western Armenian land. These lands belong to Armenia and Kurds. Chinese defense architectural system is not as good as Russians and Americans defense system, and Chinese are not fun of
Turkic herds either!.
In a speech on January 21 at the Parliamentary Union of Islamic Countries in Istanbul, Erdogan, sounding like an ISIS leader rather than President of a NATO member state, urged Muslim countries to “unite and defeat the successors of Lawrence of Arabia who seek to disrupt the Middle East.” He went on to accuse the West of plotting against the Islamic world and causing Muslims to kill one another.
Mr.Bilgiç: Armenians have all reasons to believe that it is a ploy by Turkey, they saw nothing positive from Turkey not even a good faith and sincerity gesture from Erdogan, proof of that, to undermine Armenians memmorial celebrations of Genocide on April 24, Mr.Erdogan changed Gallipoli celebration to April 24 (prior years on 25). Turkey’s despotism has NO limits, I’m greatly convinced that under these circumstances a closed borders with Turkey is a blessing.
Armenian Protocol if not killed, it may become Achilles’ heel and cause of division in Armenian society. Mr. President Pring That Protocol Down