Armenia Is Coming Out from the Zurich Process with an Important Achievement

Armenia has withdrawn its signature from the Armenian-Turkish protocols signed in Switzerland in 2009. In fact, the initiative of President Serzh Sargsyan, which was once called "football diplomacy" aimed at the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, reached its logical end.
In 2008, speaking on this initiative, the Armenian side pursued several goals,
- to achieve normalization of relations and opening of the border closed by Turkey,
- breaking "the stereotype of a country with problems with all neighbors", which was actively used by Ankara and Baku,
- to show the international community that Armenia is not the obstacle in the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations,
- raise the country's international reputation.
As the process showed, the Armenian side's initiative was more than well-considered from the perspective of possible risks and developments. At the same time it was a completely new word in the Armenian diplomacy, which justified itself. The international community also assessed the Armenian initiative as worthy one, which is expressed in various EU, RF and US high-level statements.
The Turkish side, which at the time adopted the thesis of regulating all the problems with the neighbors, could not essentially reject the Armenian side's proposal, as a result of which the Zurich Protocols were signed. However, as for their ratification, the Turkish authorities were unable to demonstrate sufficient political will and we witnessed Ankara's preconditions, which contradicted the spirit and logic of the settlement process.
Finally, making sure that the Turkish side does not have enough political will, the Armenian authorities have gone through the cancellation of the protocols. In this process, which lasted several years, official Yerevan has also used its legal instruments, freezing the process of ratification of the protocols by the RA NA, their recalling from the parliament and now their final withdrawal. In addition, before each step, in the UN, PACE and other influential international institutions clear messages were sent to the international community and the official Ankara. In fact, Armenia was guided by rather transparent, step-by-step moves in the initiation and subsequent stages of the Armenian-Turkish normalization process. Due to this kind of behavior, it became clear for the international community that the side, which broke the process is Turkey, and Armenia is a reliable partner that is loyal to its commitments.
To summarize, Armenia's ''football diplomacy'' is a good manifestation of pragmatic policy, but at the same time a missed opportunity for both Turkey and the whole region. Regardless of the outcome, the Armenian side, with its very important achievement, was involved in this process 10 years ago, and both for the international community and the power centers it is already obvious that Armenia is not an obstacle to the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations.
Other materials on this subject
- Blinken and Cavusoglu Discuss Normalization of Armenian-Turkish Relations According to the State Department, the interlocutors discussed the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations and additional steps the US could take to support these efforts.
- Flyone Armenia to Launch Yerevan-Istanbul Flights on February 2 The Turkish Pegasus airline will also operate the route, again three times per week.
- EU Fully Supports Normalization Process of Armenia-Turkey Relations - Toivo Klaar "Normalization of relations and opening of communications is an important objective that the European Union fully supports", he said on Twitte
- Russia Supports Armenia and Turkey in Establishing Direct Dialogue – FM Lavrov Armenia and Turkey have appointed their special representatives.
- Special Envoys of Armenia and Turkey Arrive in Moscow Armenia’s special envoy for the dialogue process with Turkey is Ruben Rubinyan, and Turkey’s representative is former ambassador to US Serdar Kilic.
-
16:03
Nikol Pashinyan Receives French Ambassador to Armenia Anne Louyot
-
15:47
West Has Declared Total War On Russian World: Lavrov
-
15:01
PM Pashinyan Receives Russian Ambassador to Armenia
-
14:07
Iranian Envoy Says New Gas Swap Agreement Likely with Armenia Soon
-
13:45
Finance Minister Holds Meeting with Asian Development Bank Armenia Country Director
-
13:32
Opening Iranian Consulate in Kapan, Syunik Expected to Boost Cooperation, Trade – Says Ambassador
-
12:58
Alen Simonyan Receives Delegation Led by President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović
-
12:13
Paris Mayor Arrives in Armenia on Official Visit
-
11:15
The Prime Minister Sends Congratulatory Message to the President of Uruguay
-
10:01
Roads are Mainly Passable in Armenia
-
01:31
Italian Prime Minister Called Putin to Ask to Unblock Grain Cargo in Ukraine
-
00:02
Armenia, Kazakhstan, Central Asian Countries Have US Biolabs
-
23:27
Medvedev Says Zelensky’s Conditions for Truce Aren’t Feasible
-
20:46
Putin Suggests Creating Eurasian Export Center, Trading Houses
-
20:26
Technologies are an Opportunity for Economic Breakthrough, this Sphere is of Strategic Importance for Armenia: Pashinyan
-
18:51
Parliament to Convene Emergency Session on June 3 as Requested by Opposition
-
18:38
Minister of Foreign Affairs to Lilit Minasyan: The Visit to the U.S. Was Within the Framework of Strategic Dialogue
-
18:09
Iran Offers to Organize Negotiations Between Russia and Ukraine
-
17:54
President of Montenegro visits Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan
-
17:40
TV presenter killed in militant attack in Kashmir
day
week
month
-
13:21
Artsakh Can Never Be a Part of Azerbaijan, State Minister Reiterates
-
14:25
Lazar Serebryakov, Russian Admiral of Armenian Descent, One of the Founders of Novorossiysk
-
19:12
Arayik Harutyunyan Received Members of the Artsakh Football Federation
-
18:07
Artsakh Republic President Arayik Harutyunyan Chaired a Security Council Sitting
-
09:03
Turkey Not Positive Concerning Sweden’s, Finland’s Possible Joining NATO: Erdogan
-
15:43
5-Day Weather Forecast in Armenia
-
14:18
5-Day Weather Forecast in Armenia
-
16:08
Finland Sees No Direct Military Threats from Russia: Permanent Representative to NATO
-
12:42
Armwrestling: Artsakh Athlete, Who Lost Both Legs in 2020 War, Beats Turkish Rival to Win European Gold
-
18:56
The Prime Minister Received the Minister of Sport of the Russian Federation Oleg Matytsin
Humidity: 18%
Wind: 1.54 km/h