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Nalbandian Faces Barage of Criticism At Columbia University

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  • Nalbandian Faces Barage of Criticism At Columbia University

    Nalbandian Faces Barage of Criticism At Columbia University


    http://stoptheprotocols.com/2009/10/0 2/nalbandian-faces-barage-of-criticism-at-columbia -university/
    Posted on 02 October 2009.


    NEW YORK, NY ` Confronted with a barrage of questions from a skeptical
    audience, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian on Tuesday
    attempted to salvage the prospects of a controversial accord between
    Turkey and Armenia. The accord, outlined in a series of protocols, has
    set off considerable opposition among Diasporan Armenians.

    Nalbandian's appearance was organized by Columbia University's School
    of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) and co-hosted by the
    Columbia University Armenian Center. The program began with a clearly
    uncomfortable Nalbandian delivering remarks entitled `Armenian Foreign
    Policy: Challenges in the Region of the Caucasus' then responded to
    repeated questions about the secretly negotiated protocols, unveiled on
    August 31st and set to be signed ` with no opportunity for amendment `
    on October 10th.

    In the face of considerable opposition, Nalbandian is joining Armenian
    President Serge Sargisian in a whirlwind tour of Armenian communities
    around the world, starting with meetings in New York and Los Angeles
    scheduled later this week. Attendees asked a broad array of questions
    focusing on the language, implications, and concessions the proposed
    protocols would set forth, as well as Armenia's decision to exclude
    Diasporan organizations and civil society from input in the preparation
    of the documents.

    Inquiries were met with a series of heavily scripted and oftentimes
    incredulous responses, leaving participants frustrated and distrustful.
    In response to concerns that the establishment of a commission `on the
    historical dimension,' to `define existing problems' between Turkey and
    Armenia would cast doubt on the historical truth of the Armenian
    Genocide, Nalbandian repeated. `In the protocols there is nothing
    saying we're putting under question the Armenian Genocide reality or
    recognition.'

    Nalbandian deflected follow-up questions about the specific focus of
    the historical commission citing a laundry list of sub-commissions and
    the timetable of negotiations `¦two months after opening the border we
    are going to create sub-commissions in the framework of the
    intergovernmental Commission dealing with different questions ` energy,
    transport, communication, I don't know, cultural, education, different
    things, but also a subcommission to restore mutual confidence not
    between two countries but two nations¦'

    Confronted with questions about the secrecy of the Turkey-Armenia
    negotiations, Nalbandian first claimed that Diasporan groups had been
    consulted ` with no specifics of organizations approached ` then cited
    the upcoming Armenian Presidential visits with the community as an
    oppo
    rtunity for dialogue. `But we couldn't ignore also the opinion of
    our Diaspora and that is why the Foreign Minister met in many countries
    over the world with Diaspora communities and our president, yes, it was
    announced that he will be in countries where we have major Armenian
    communities to hear and to know their opinion,' said Nalbandian.

    Asked about the timing of the April 22nd announcement of a so-called
    `roadmap' for dialogue between the two countries, Nalbandian stunned
    audience members, responding that `it was just a joint statement¦just
    two days before April 24, commemoration of the Armenian genocide, or
    one month before, this is the same.' That move, of course, has been
    widely seen as an attempt by Turkey to derail U.S. affirmation of the
    Armenian Genocide on April 24th.
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