ARMENIAN COURT APPROVES NATION’S DEAL WITH TURKEY
Associated Press Worldstream
January 12, 2010 Tuesday 2:48 PM GMT
Armenia
Armenia’s Constitutional Court ruled Tuesday that an agreement with
Turkey to establish diplomatic relations and thereby end a century
of enmity between the two countries conforms with the constitution.
Judge Gagik Arutiunyan said his court’s decision is final and the
agreement can now be given to Armenia’s parliament for ratification.
The court’s approval and parliamentary ratification at a future date
are seen as formalities in Armenia, where the judiciary and lawmakers
are loyal to President Serge Sarkisian.
The historic reconciliation was signed by the leaders of the two
nations in October, despite stiff opposition in both.
Turkey closed the border in 1993 to protest Armenia’s war with
neighboring Azerbaijan.
Armenia wants Turkey to acknowledge the 1915 massacre of up to 1.5
million Armenians as genocide. Ankara denies genocide.