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ARMEN MARTIROSYAN: ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SHOULD WITHDRAW THE PROTOCOLS FROM PARLIAMENT
Armen Martirosyan
ArmInfo
2010-04-21 15:38:00
Interview of Armen Martirosyan, Chairman of the opposition Heritage
Party Board, in an interview with ArmInfo news agency
Mr. Martirosyan, before leaving for Washington Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan said that Armenia has its own variant of normalization
of the Armenian-Turkish relations. Which variant is admitted by the
current political expediency?
Actually, the anti-state and anti-national Armenian-Turkish Protocols
were doomed to failure from the very beginning. They must become
history once and forever and the president must withdraw them from
parliament. In addition, political expediency currently indicates the
necessity to find domestic political solutions to Armenia's problems,
since foreign policy always reflects the domestic one. Everyone is
aware of the domestic political situation in Armenia, which is a
chain of processes shattering Armenia as a state. In this context, we
consider implementation of domestic reforms in Armenia as a priority.
Otherwise, if nothing changes, new extra election will be held with
all the concurrent processes. I even do not rule out the display of
civil disobedience.
Is the Armenian president trying to improve the domestic situation
via conducting a successful foreign policy?
This is impossible as there is other explanation of such an
"initiative policy". Lacking internal legitimacy, the president
and his entourage have tried to fill this gap by obtaining external
legitimacy, in prejudice of the state interests of Armenia. In fact,
we have found ourselves on the verge of losing our Diaspora. Armenians
abroad are still deeply insulted by the signing of the Protocols
despite the "unity" of Armenia and Diaspora demonstrated by the
government-controlled mass media. This factor is enough for saying that
the Armenian-Turkish relations "progress" in prejudice of Armenia's
national interests. Needless to say about the Armenian authorities'
intention to discuss the fact of the Armenian Genocide in a joint
commission with Turks, to recognize the borders of modern Turkey,
as well as the Armenian president's careless statement addressed to
Abdullah Gul, in which he offered Turkey to mediate in the Karabakh
settlement. Later Sargsyan gave up this idea, having realized
his mistake. So, Armenia has gained nothing essential from the
Armenian-Turkish process so far. On the contrary, the process of
recognition of the Armenian Genocide was suspended in some countries
just because of their authorities' reluctance to "interfere with the
process between Armenia and Turkey". This process in favor of Turkey
started even on 23 April 2009, when to the prejudice of the Armenian
Genocide recognition process, Armenia established a "Roadmap" with
Turkey, which caused tender emotions in our country. Only a year
has passed, and the situation has radically changed, but the same
authorities, who stated a year ago that the border would be opened
any day now and the Turks are not "those" Turks, currently speak
of their slyness and craftiness, and Armenia's reluctance to ratify
the Protocols with Turkey's preconditions. This is not my opinion -
this is the reality.
You have pointed out the incompliance of the Protocols with Armenia's
state interests. Don't we need an open border with Turkey?
Certainly, we do. We have repeatedly said that it was not Armenia that
blocked the border, whereas the Protocols provide for "mutual opening
of the borders". Lifting the blockade of Armenia by Turkey is possible
without preconditions and via exchange of notes by the diplomatic
missions of the two countries. Armenia must make no concessions in
this issue. Turkey is interested in existence of the process and not
in reopening of the border, whereas Armenia does not need the process.
All the issues could be discussed with Turkey after it deblockades
Armenia.
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan declared in Washington that the domestic
political situation in Turkey hampers ratification of the Protocols
with Armenia in the near future. Wouldn't it be reasonable for Armenia
to freeze the process and wait for changes in the domestic political
situation in Turkey after the parliamentary election in 2011?
Election will be held not only in Turkey. The next election in Armenia
are scheduled for 2012 though there are all the political and social
prerequisites for extraordinary election in the country. I believe that
normalization of relations with Turkey is possible only if the Armenian
authorities refuse concessions to Ankara and Turkey lifts the blockade
of Armenia without preconditions. I think Erdogan had an opportunity
to settle the problem of the Armenian-Turkish relations last year,
but failed to, for it was not within the interests of Turkey. Moreover,
the Turkish government is experiencing serious domestic problems being
at the crossroad of Ataturk's anti-democratic course and the Islamic
Neo-Ottomanism. In addition, Turkey has also other problems to solve,
specifically, the Kurdish and the Cyprian problems, establishment
of Turkey as a regional super power, and other ambitions. Therefore,
I do not think that change of the political course will allow Turkey
to make any tangible progress in the relations with Armenia.
Has the Armenian-Turkish process directly affected the Karabakh
peace process?
The Armenian-Turkish process has directly affected the Karabakh
peace process. It is no mere chance that Turkish politicians stated
their refusal to open the borders with Armenia without progress in
the Karabakh process in their understanding. The active attempts of
Turkey to mediate in the Karabakh settlement, the OSCE Minsk Group's
unprecedented activity, as well as last year's statements by the
presidents of Russia, the United States and France in L'Aquila prove
that the Karabakh process has passed the stage of activation.
Azerbaijan has apparently agreed to the updated principles, unlike
Armenia, which constantly refers to the previous version of the Madrid
principles. In any case, the Armenian party strives to make a step
back in Karabakh settlement and freeze the process. Time will show
how much possible it will be and whether the Armenian authorities
will have enough levers for that.
Armen Martirosyan
ArmInfo
2010-04-21 15:38:00
Interview of Armen Martirosyan, Chairman of the opposition Heritage
Party Board, in an interview with ArmInfo news agency
Mr. Martirosyan, before leaving for Washington Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan said that Armenia has its own variant of normalization
of the Armenian-Turkish relations. Which variant is admitted by the
current political expediency?
Actually, the anti-state and anti-national Armenian-Turkish Protocols
were doomed to failure from the very beginning. They must become
history once and forever and the president must withdraw them from
parliament. In addition, political expediency currently indicates the
necessity to find domestic political solutions to Armenia's problems,
since foreign policy always reflects the domestic one. Everyone is
aware of the domestic political situation in Armenia, which is a
chain of processes shattering Armenia as a state. In this context, we
consider implementation of domestic reforms in Armenia as a priority.
Otherwise, if nothing changes, new extra election will be held with
all the concurrent processes. I even do not rule out the display of
civil disobedience.
Is the Armenian president trying to improve the domestic situation
via conducting a successful foreign policy?
This is impossible as there is other explanation of such an
"initiative policy". Lacking internal legitimacy, the president
and his entourage have tried to fill this gap by obtaining external
legitimacy, in prejudice of the state interests of Armenia. In fact,
we have found ourselves on the verge of losing our Diaspora. Armenians
abroad are still deeply insulted by the signing of the Protocols
despite the "unity" of Armenia and Diaspora demonstrated by the
government-controlled mass media. This factor is enough for saying that
the Armenian-Turkish relations "progress" in prejudice of Armenia's
national interests. Needless to say about the Armenian authorities'
intention to discuss the fact of the Armenian Genocide in a joint
commission with Turks, to recognize the borders of modern Turkey,
as well as the Armenian president's careless statement addressed to
Abdullah Gul, in which he offered Turkey to mediate in the Karabakh
settlement. Later Sargsyan gave up this idea, having realized
his mistake. So, Armenia has gained nothing essential from the
Armenian-Turkish process so far. On the contrary, the process of
recognition of the Armenian Genocide was suspended in some countries
just because of their authorities' reluctance to "interfere with the
process between Armenia and Turkey". This process in favor of Turkey
started even on 23 April 2009, when to the prejudice of the Armenian
Genocide recognition process, Armenia established a "Roadmap" with
Turkey, which caused tender emotions in our country. Only a year
has passed, and the situation has radically changed, but the same
authorities, who stated a year ago that the border would be opened
any day now and the Turks are not "those" Turks, currently speak
of their slyness and craftiness, and Armenia's reluctance to ratify
the Protocols with Turkey's preconditions. This is not my opinion -
this is the reality.
You have pointed out the incompliance of the Protocols with Armenia's
state interests. Don't we need an open border with Turkey?
Certainly, we do. We have repeatedly said that it was not Armenia that
blocked the border, whereas the Protocols provide for "mutual opening
of the borders". Lifting the blockade of Armenia by Turkey is possible
without preconditions and via exchange of notes by the diplomatic
missions of the two countries. Armenia must make no concessions in
this issue. Turkey is interested in existence of the process and not
in reopening of the border, whereas Armenia does not need the process.
All the issues could be discussed with Turkey after it deblockades
Armenia.
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan declared in Washington that the domestic
political situation in Turkey hampers ratification of the Protocols
with Armenia in the near future. Wouldn't it be reasonable for Armenia
to freeze the process and wait for changes in the domestic political
situation in Turkey after the parliamentary election in 2011?
Election will be held not only in Turkey. The next election in Armenia
are scheduled for 2012 though there are all the political and social
prerequisites for extraordinary election in the country. I believe that
normalization of relations with Turkey is possible only if the Armenian
authorities refuse concessions to Ankara and Turkey lifts the blockade
of Armenia without preconditions. I think Erdogan had an opportunity
to settle the problem of the Armenian-Turkish relations last year,
but failed to, for it was not within the interests of Turkey. Moreover,
the Turkish government is experiencing serious domestic problems being
at the crossroad of Ataturk's anti-democratic course and the Islamic
Neo-Ottomanism. In addition, Turkey has also other problems to solve,
specifically, the Kurdish and the Cyprian problems, establishment
of Turkey as a regional super power, and other ambitions. Therefore,
I do not think that change of the political course will allow Turkey
to make any tangible progress in the relations with Armenia.
Has the Armenian-Turkish process directly affected the Karabakh
peace process?
The Armenian-Turkish process has directly affected the Karabakh
peace process. It is no mere chance that Turkish politicians stated
their refusal to open the borders with Armenia without progress in
the Karabakh process in their understanding. The active attempts of
Turkey to mediate in the Karabakh settlement, the OSCE Minsk Group's
unprecedented activity, as well as last year's statements by the
presidents of Russia, the United States and France in L'Aquila prove
that the Karabakh process has passed the stage of activation.
Azerbaijan has apparently agreed to the updated principles, unlike
Armenia, which constantly refers to the previous version of the Madrid
principles. In any case, the Armenian party strives to make a step
back in Karabakh settlement and freeze the process. Time will show
how much possible it will be and whether the Armenian authorities
will have enough levers for that.