VK's chief editor answering readers' questions

Alexei Vlasov on Armenia's withdrawal from the process of protocol ratification with Turkey and possible ways of resuming the process
Andrei (Moscow). What was the cause for the Armenian president's
decision in practice to withdraw from the process of protocol
ratification with Turkey?

Alexei Vlasov: This issue was the focus of the internal contradictions of the Armenian political establishment, because the acknowledgment of genocide by Turkey has been a basic prerequisite for the normalization of bilateral relations for many years. So the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh and the geopolitics of the Southern Caucasus were not
the only issues involved. When it became clear that Ankara had certain prerequisites for Yerevan concerning support for the position of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, Sargsyan found himself in a difficult situation.

He had to decide whether to give in and in practice make a compromise, which would have been dictated to a large extent from outside, due to the fact that Washington was a major moderator of Armenian-Turkish relations, or he could yield to pressure from the Diaspora, for which the memory of genocide is the major ideological instrument linking
Armenians all over the world. The complicated and contradictory situation in which Serzh Sargsyan found himself incited him to take a tougher stance and in practice suspend the process of settling Armenian-Turkish relations at the last minute. One other factor
influencing such a move by the Armenian authorities was the acknowledgement by a number of European countries of the Armenian genocide being perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire,.

Turkey's position has become weaker in some ways, and Armenia's position has become stronger. Apparently, people in Sargsyan's circle considered that making a compromise like this (which has already become not particularly advantageous for the USA) in such a situation is unreasonable.

If a total freezing of the negotiation process between Ankara and Yerevan occurs it will be the greatest defeat for American diplomacy in the South Caucasus, so now the final word rests with Washington.

Therefore the U.S. will now exert pressure both on Armenia and Turkey.

Natalia (Rostov): Is there now a chance for achieving a compromise between Armenia and Turkey?

Alexei Vlasov: The position of the President of Armenia depends on two factors - the Diaspora and acknowledgement of the Armenian genocide .  Since a number of European countries have recognized the genocide in recent months, and this has provoked a broad response in Armenia, Yerevan is now trying to proceed from the minimum program achieved in the course of the negotiations with Ankara to the maximum program and go on the offensive, defining its attitudes more distinctly. An open border between the two countries would undoubtedly bestow advantages
on the Armenian economy. However, the genocide is the link that still unites Armenians throughout the world, so the situation is equivocal.

However, I think that a compromise is still achievable. This was what the Armenian leader meant when he said: We'll return to this issue if we see that there is a suitable atmosphere in Turkey and when we see that Ankara has equal willingness to settle our relationship. However, the Armenian side considers the current stage of the dialogue
complete. Let us watch the reaction of foreign players.