Tweet
HAD WE NOT HOLD PROTEST MARCHES THEY WOULD NEVER UNDERSTAND US
Gevorg Harutyunyan
Hayots Ashkhar Daily
11 Sep 2008
Armenia
Interview with NA Deputy Speaker, member of ARFD Supreme Body Hrayr
Karapetyan
"Mr. Karapetyan in the first week of September Dashnaktsutyun held
two massive events: the demonstration on September 2 and the protest
march against the visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gyul to Yerevan
on September 6. Did these events show any good results?"
"As we have already announced the meeting of September 2 was devoted
to the 17th anniversary of Artsakh's independence. That day over again
we reconfirmed our demands regarding Artsakh. We particularly took
into consideration the developments that took place in the region,
the de facto recognition of Abkhazia's and South Osatia's independence.
It was during that rally that we touched upon Gyul's visit and called
our people to reconfirm our historic demands.
On September 6 ARFD Armenian Supreme Body organized protest marches on
the occasion of Gyul's visit to Yerevan. Over again I must underscore
that we don't have anything against establishing diplomatic relations
with Turkey. But the relations with Turkey shouldn't harm our
state-national interests.
We should have used the chance of this visit to voice our problems,
because unlike the civilized world Turkey refutes the fact of Armenian
Genocide. Beside that they condition the establishment of diplomatic
relations with Armenia and the lifting of the blockade with our
relations with Azerbaijan. It is an unacceptable approach contradicting
all the international norms."
"Today some speculate an issue saying that the statements heard during
the demonstration contradict the demands of the coalition agreement
and are against the ruling power."
"All our demands derive from the interests of our national security.
These clauses are also enshrined in the coalition agreement. The
Republic of Armenia officially confirms that the world must recognize
NKR's independence and confirms that Artsakh can't be in Azerbaijan. As
for the issue of the world's recognition of Armenian Genocide,
this issue has always been the priority of our foreign policy. All
the ridiculous statements saying that Dashnaktsutyun shouldn't have
voiced those issues are illogical. All our steps derive from our
national interests.
In this respect the initiatives of the radical opposition are more
ridiculous. We really understand their attitude towards Dashnaktsutyun
and towards Turkey. It has not changed. We have already tasted their
anti-Dashnaktsutyun and pro-Turkish policy during the years of power
of Armenian Pan National movement.
But today it is really ridiculous that the activists of Armenian Pan
National movement didn't attend the memorial of Genocide on April 24,
instead they continued their rallies against the ruling power. But on
the occasion of Gyul's visit they postponed all the protest functions.
Had we not hold protest marches against Gyul's visit, the world, even
our allies, and those civilized countries that have already recognized
the Genocide and even Gyul wouldn't have understood us, because they
know that the Genocide has really happened. Even the Turks attended
the memorial of the Genocide and put flowers there. They went to the
museum of Genocide and were shocked by the terrible facts."
"What conclusions can we draw or what can we expect from Gyul's visit
to Yerevan?"
"God willing this visit has good impact on Armenian Turkish relations.
But we accept that each similar meeting is a result of coulisses
negotiations. I'm very far from the idea that the two Presidents
discussed only the football match. I think there is a much more
profound diplomacy under it. I'm also sure our President conditioned
all his steps by our national interests.
Today our task is, not to allow Turkey to use this visit as a fact of
their being very civilized, in case when they haven't yet recognized
Armenian Genocide. Until they do that they can't consider themselves
the friend of Armenia, especially because they haven't changed their
attitude towards Artsakh issue.
Gevorg Harutyunyan
Hayots Ashkhar Daily
11 Sep 2008
Armenia
Interview with NA Deputy Speaker, member of ARFD Supreme Body Hrayr
Karapetyan
"Mr. Karapetyan in the first week of September Dashnaktsutyun held
two massive events: the demonstration on September 2 and the protest
march against the visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gyul to Yerevan
on September 6. Did these events show any good results?"
"As we have already announced the meeting of September 2 was devoted
to the 17th anniversary of Artsakh's independence. That day over again
we reconfirmed our demands regarding Artsakh. We particularly took
into consideration the developments that took place in the region,
the de facto recognition of Abkhazia's and South Osatia's independence.
It was during that rally that we touched upon Gyul's visit and called
our people to reconfirm our historic demands.
On September 6 ARFD Armenian Supreme Body organized protest marches on
the occasion of Gyul's visit to Yerevan. Over again I must underscore
that we don't have anything against establishing diplomatic relations
with Turkey. But the relations with Turkey shouldn't harm our
state-national interests.
We should have used the chance of this visit to voice our problems,
because unlike the civilized world Turkey refutes the fact of Armenian
Genocide. Beside that they condition the establishment of diplomatic
relations with Armenia and the lifting of the blockade with our
relations with Azerbaijan. It is an unacceptable approach contradicting
all the international norms."
"Today some speculate an issue saying that the statements heard during
the demonstration contradict the demands of the coalition agreement
and are against the ruling power."
"All our demands derive from the interests of our national security.
These clauses are also enshrined in the coalition agreement. The
Republic of Armenia officially confirms that the world must recognize
NKR's independence and confirms that Artsakh can't be in Azerbaijan. As
for the issue of the world's recognition of Armenian Genocide,
this issue has always been the priority of our foreign policy. All
the ridiculous statements saying that Dashnaktsutyun shouldn't have
voiced those issues are illogical. All our steps derive from our
national interests.
In this respect the initiatives of the radical opposition are more
ridiculous. We really understand their attitude towards Dashnaktsutyun
and towards Turkey. It has not changed. We have already tasted their
anti-Dashnaktsutyun and pro-Turkish policy during the years of power
of Armenian Pan National movement.
But today it is really ridiculous that the activists of Armenian Pan
National movement didn't attend the memorial of Genocide on April 24,
instead they continued their rallies against the ruling power. But on
the occasion of Gyul's visit they postponed all the protest functions.
Had we not hold protest marches against Gyul's visit, the world, even
our allies, and those civilized countries that have already recognized
the Genocide and even Gyul wouldn't have understood us, because they
know that the Genocide has really happened. Even the Turks attended
the memorial of the Genocide and put flowers there. They went to the
museum of Genocide and were shocked by the terrible facts."
"What conclusions can we draw or what can we expect from Gyul's visit
to Yerevan?"
"God willing this visit has good impact on Armenian Turkish relations.
But we accept that each similar meeting is a result of coulisses
negotiations. I'm very far from the idea that the two Presidents
discussed only the football match. I think there is a much more
profound diplomacy under it. I'm also sure our President conditioned
all his steps by our national interests.
Today our task is, not to allow Turkey to use this visit as a fact of
their being very civilized, in case when they haven't yet recognized
Armenian Genocide. Until they do that they can't consider themselves
the friend of Armenia, especially because they haven't changed their
attitude towards Artsakh issue.