The Armenian-Turkish protocols may
shortly be removed from the Armenian Parliament's agenda, Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan said at the 5th Armenia-Diaspora Forum on Saturday.
"We are removing them not because they have not
benefited the Armenian people and not because they have caused damage to
Armenia's interests but just because they have fulfilled and continue to fulfill
their purpose," the Armenian President said.
To remind, the Armenian and Turkish Foreign Ministers
signed the Armenian-Turkish Protocols in Zurich on October 10, 2009. The
protocols were to be ratified by the two countries' parliaments. However, on 7 Dec 2009 Turkey laid down a
number of preconditions, connecting the Armenian-Turkish normalization process
with the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. On 22 April 2010, Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan suspended the ratification process but did not remove the
protocols from the Armenian Parliament's agenda. A number of high-ranking
international officials have blamed Turkey for having wrecked the rapprochement
process.