Development of Relations Between The Republic of Turkey and The Republic of Armenia

WE THE UNDERSIGNED herby ask the Governments, The Presidiums and the Parliaments of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey to continue the dialogue and to formally ratify the Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between The Republic of Turkey and The Republic of Armenia and the Protocol on Development of Relations Between The Republic of Turkey and The Republic of Armenia.
You can find both protocols are below!

Turkey and Armenia set for ties (BBC)

Turkey and its neighbour Armenia have moved closer to establishing diplomatic ties after decades of bitter mistrust on both sides.
They are to hold six weeks of domestic consultations on the move after which their parliaments will vote on it, their foreign ministries announced.
Negotiations on the mending of ties have been brokered by Switzerland.
The two countries remain deeply divided over the fate Armenians suffered under Turkish Ottoman rule.
Turkey has resisted widespread calls for it to recognise the mass killing of Armenians during World War I as an act of genocide.
Anticipation of a diplomatic breakthrough has been growing ahead of a planned visit by Armenian President Serge Sarkisian to Turkey on 14 October.
He is due to attend the return leg of a World Cup qualifying football match between the two countries.

'Border to open'
A roadmap for the normalisation of the relationship between the two countries was agreed in April.
The foreign ministries said the two countries had agreed to start internal discussions on two protocols: one establishing diplomatic relations and the other developing bilateral ties.
"The political consultations will be completed within six weeks, following which the two protocols will be signed and submitted to the respective parliaments for ratification," their joint statement said.
Armenian President Serge Sarkisian told the BBC that Turkish recognition of the killing of Armenians would be an important step for justice, for overcoming the barrier between Turks and Armenians, and for preventing "further genocides".
But, he added: "The recognition of the genocide itself is not viewed as a precondition for normalising our relations with Turkey."
The Turkish-Armenian border - closed by Turkey in 1993 - would be re-opened within two months of the protocols coming into force.
In a statement, the US said it welcomed the move and was ready to work with both governments to support the normalisation of ties.

'Historical troubles'
Dr Taner Akcam, a professor of History at Maryland's Clark University in the US, said the "historic breakthrough" was due to increased democratisation in Turkey, the reduced influence of the military in the political sphere, as well as increased international attention on the Caucasus, particularly on the issue of opening borders for trade.
After first establishing normal relations, he added, the two countries would then be able to discuss historical troubles.
Dr Akcam said Turkey had seen a shift in attitudes since the start of an investigation into an alleged ultra-nationalist plot to bring down Turkey's government.
Such killings as the 2007 assassination of the prominent Turkish Armenian journalist Hrant Dink - who been given a six-month suspended sentence in 2005 for writing about the Armenian "genocide" - had also prompted a change in Turkish attitudes, he added.
Modern Armenia, which took shape as a Soviet republic in 1920, has only had diplomatic relations with Turkey as part of the USSR.
Since declaring independence in 1991, it has pressed for recognition of what it says was genocide.
Relations have also been complicated by Turkish support for Azerbaijan in its armed conflict with Armenia over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.



PROTOCOL ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA



The Republic od security for ensuring the democratic and sustainable development of the region,

Reiterating their commitment to the peaceful settlement of regional and international disputes and conflicts on the basis of the norms and principles of international law,

Reaffirming their readiness to actively support the actions of the international community in
addressing common security threats to the region and world security and stability, such as terrorism, transnational organised crimes, illicit trafficking of drugs and arms,

1. Agree to open the common border within 2 months after the entry into force of this Protocol,

2. Agree to

conduct regular political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries;

implement a dialogue on the historical dimension with the aim to restore mutual confidence between the two nations, including an impartial scientific examination of the historical records and archives to define existing problems and formulate recommendations;

make the best possible use of existing transport, communications and energy infrastructure and
networks between the two countries, and to undertake measures in this regard;

develop the bilateral legal framework in order to foster cooperation between the two countries;

cooperate in the fields of science and education by encouraging relations between the appropriate
institutions as well as promoting the exchange of specialists and students, and act with the aim of
preserving the cultural heritage of both sides and launching common cultural projects;

establish consular cooperation in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963 in order to provide necessary assistance and protection to the citizens of the two countries;

take concrete measures in order to develop trade, tourism and economic cooperation between the two countries; engage in a dialogue and reinforce their cooperation on environmental issues.

3. Agree on the establishment of an intergovernmental bilateral commission which shall comprise separate sub-commissions for the prompt implementation of the commitments mentioned in operational paragraph 2 above in this Protocol. To prepare the working modalities of the intergovernmental commission and its sub-commissions, a working group headed by the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs shall be created 2 months after the day following the entry into force of this Protocol. Within 3 months after the entry into force of this Protocol, these modalities shall be approved at ministerial level. The intergovernmental commission shall meet for the first time immediately after the adoption of the said modalities. The sub-commissions shall start their work at the latest 1 month thereafter and they shall work continuously until the completion of their mandates.
Where appropriate, international experts shall take part in the sub-commissions.
The timetable and elements agreed by both sides for the implementation of this Protocol are
mentioned in the annexed document, which is an integral part of this Protocol.

This Protocol and the Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Armenia shall enter into force on the same day, i.e. on the first day of the first month following the exchange of instruments of ratification.

Signed in (date, place) in Turkish, Armenian and English authentic copies in duplicate. In case of
divergence of interpretation, the English text shall prevail


FOR THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY FOR THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

Annexed document: Timetable and elements for the implementation of the Protocol on development of relations between the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Armenia



Timetable and elements for the implementation of the Protocol on development of relations between the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Armenia

Steps to be undertaken Timing
1. to open the common border within 2 months after the entry into force of the Protocol on the development of relations between the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Armenia
2. to establish a working group headed by the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs to prepare the working modalities of the intergovernmental commission and its sub-commissions 2 months after the day following the entry into force of the Protocol on the development of relations between the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Armenia
3. to approve the working modalities of the intergovernmental commission and its sub-commissions at ministerial level within 3 months after the entry into force of the Protocol on the development of relations between the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Armenia
4. to organize the first meeting of the intergovernmental commission immediately after the adoption of the working modalities of the intergovernmental commission and its sub-commissions at ministerial level
5. to operate the following sub-commissions:

- the sub-commission on political consultations;
- the sub-commission on transport, communications and energy infrastructure and networks;
- the sub-commission on legal matters;
- the sub-commission on science and education;
- the sub-commission on trade, tourism and economic cooperation;
- the sub-commission on environmental issues; and
- the sub-commission on the historical dimension to implement a dialogue with the aim to restore mutual confidence between the two nations, including an impartial scientific examination of the historical records and archives to define existing problems and formulate recommendations, in which Turkish, Armenian as well as Swiss and other international experts shall take part. at the latest 1 month after the first meeting of the intergovernmental commission
FOR THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY

FOR THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA