Taken Question: Turkey/Armenia: Protocol Ratification Process

Question: Can we confirm reports that U.S. Assistant Secretary Philip Gordon made remarks that the U.S. considers the decision of the Armenian Constitutional Court as a positive step in the ratification process of the normalization protocols between Turkey and Armenia? If so, what were A/S Gordon’s actual remarks?

Answer:

Assistant Secretary Gordon is on the record with the following information:

• We view the court decision as a positive step forward in the ratification process of the normalization protocols between Turkey and Armenia. The court decision permits the protocols, as they were negotiated and signed, to move forward towards parliamentary ratification, and does not appear to limit or qualify them in any way.
• We are confident that both Turkey and Armenia take their commitment to the protocols seriously, and we urge timely ratification of the protocols by both countries.
• Our position remains the same. We support the normalization process, which we believe contributes to peace and stability in the Caucasus. What is critical is to keep the parties focused on the vital importance of moving ahead.