Positive but Incomplete: Hayk Babukhanyan on Protocol Suspension

Leader of Constitutional Rights Union Party, Hayk Babaukhanyan thinks that the decision by the Armenian authorities to suspend the ratification of the Armenia-Turkey Protocols is a positive step, though an incomplete one.

"What the coalition has done is positive, though it is an incomplete step, and we hope that Armenia will withdraw its signature," Babukhanyan told Tert.am.

He recalled that their party had proposed giving Turkey a chance to ratifying the Protocols before April 23 and to withdraw the signature should there not be any positive progress before the period mentioned.

Babukhanyan thinks that Armenia should speak with pre-conditions with Turkey, such recognition of the Armenian Genocide, elimination of the consequences of the Genocide and de-blocking of the Republic of Armenia.

In his words Armenia should establish relations with Turkey "only after it quits being a centre of pan-Turkism and pan-Islamism, orientates towards Europe and implements the above-mentioned conditions beneficial for Armenia.