The protocol on the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey “confirms the mutual recognition of the existing border between the two countries as defined by the relevant treaties of international law.”
Over years of non-dialogue, it has been assumed that the Yerevan administration refused to recognize the Gümrü and Kars Agreements that established the Turkish-Armenian border in 1920 and 1921, respectively.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, speaking in an interview with the NTV news channel on Tuesday, underlined that the recognition of the borders was an important element of the recent development.
The second protocol, the protocol on the development of relations between Armenia and Turkey, says that the two countries have agreed to “implement a dialogue on the historical dimension with the aim to restore mutual confidence between the two nations, including an impartial scientific examination of historical records and archives to define existing problems and formulate recommendations.”
The second protocol says that Armenia and Turkey have agreed on the establishment of an intergovernmental bilateral commission which shall form separate sub-commissions for the prompt implementation of the commitments mentioned in the operational paragraph 2, mentioned above, in the same protocol. The aforementioned paragraph highlights “Considering the perspective of developing their bilateral relations, based on confidence and respect to their mutual interests.”
“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 two months after the day following the entry into force of this protocol. Within three months after the entry into force of this protocol, these modalities shall be approved at the ministerial level. The intergovernmental commission shall meet for the first time immediately after the adoption of the said modalities. The sub-commission shall start their work at the latest one 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 second protocol says.
