Caspian Report - Issue 06 - Winter 2014

Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Russia,
the U.S. and France, Sergey Lavrov,
Hillary Clinton Bernard Kouchner,
who all represent the states that are
co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group on
the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, attended the signing. 16
Despite the importance of this event,
it did not lead to further rapprochement.
Both protocols, to enter into
force, needed to be ratified by the legislatures
of both states in two months
after the signature. However, neither
country’s parliament has done so. As
previously stated by officials, Turkey
argued that the ratification could
be possible if Armenia withdraws
from the occupied districts adjacent
to the Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia
AZERBAIJAN BELIEVES THAT THE PROCESS OF
RAPPROCHEMENT BETWEEN TURKEY AND ARMENIA
SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE RESOLUTION OF THE
NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT.
reacted negatively to Turkey’s demands,
explaining that these requirements
should not be preconditions.
In addition, Armenia believes that the
borders were closed unilaterally and
therefore, Turkey must open them
without additional requirements.
Taking into account Turkey’s demands,
as well as the call of the Political
Council of the parties-members of
the ruling coalition, on April 22, 2010
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
signed a decree suspending the ratification
of the Protocols. 17
95
CASPIAN REPORT, WINTER 2014
16
. Armenia and Turkey normalise ties, 10.10.2009, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8299712.stm
17
. Armenian-Turkish Bilateral Relations, Official Site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, http://www.mfa.
am/en/country-by-country/tr/.