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  • Vienna: Armenian Minister Blames Turkey For Tense Ties In Interview

    ARMENIAN MINISTER BLAMES TURKEY FOR TENSE TIES IN INTERVIEW

    Der Standard
    Feb 28 2012
    Austria

    [Translated from German]

    Interview with Armenia's Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian by
    Josef Kirchengast; place and date not given: "'The Turkish Side is
    Preventing Normalization'"

    [Kirchengast] The French Parliament recently approved a law that
    punishes denial of genocide, including the massacre of Armenians in
    the Ottoman Empire. Does Armenia consider this law a model that other
    countries, like Austria, should also follow?

    [Nalbandian] Whether or not it is a model, I am certain that other
    countries will also adopt such decisions so long as it is Turkish
    government policy to deny the genocide of the Armenians. This genocide
    is a crime against humanity that has been recognized as such by several
    countries and international organizations. The denial of the genocide
    triggers corresponding counter reactions. The French law reflects
    the feelings and opinion of the French people. I know that from my
    time as ambassador to France.

    [Kirchengast] Critics believe the law also has something to do with
    the French presidential election and point to the large Armenian
    community in France.

    [Nalbandian] No, that is not correct. The law enjoys the full support
    of the French president, the government, and all relevant political
    forces, both left and right. It was adopted by the National Assembly
    and the Senate. The adoption of the law therefore expresses the
    opinion of the entire French people. That was also the case in 2001
    with the adoption of the French law on recognition of the genocide
    of the Armenians.

    [Kirchengast] But a group of senators and deputies afterwards appealed
    to the Constitutional Council, which must now decide whether the
    law is compatible with the French Constitution. This was against the
    background of the deterioration in relations threatened by Turkey. But
    is not the law also counterproductive for Armenia itself in its
    efforts to establish normal relations with Turkey?

    [Nalbandian] The law can only be helpful to the Armenian-Turkish
    normalization. If there is something preventing the normalization of
    Armenian-Turkish relations it is the action on the Turkish side.

    Following the signing of the protocols in Zurich in October 2009,
    Turkey took a step backward by refusing to implement the agreements.

    (Editor's note: in April 2010 Armenia's President Sarkisian suspended
    the ratification of the Zurich protocols on the establishment of
    diplomatic relations between the two countries and the opening
    of borders, on the grounds that Turkey rejects ratification and
    implementation and states prior conditions.) The international
    community believes the ball is now in Turkey's court.

    [Kirchengast] But the appeal to the Constitutional Council in France
    shows that the genocide law is not uncontroversial.

    [Nalbandian] I do not believe it is proper for someone to interfere in
    the decision-making process of the French Constitutional Council, as
    many Turkish representatives are trying to do. They have congratulated
    themselves on their successful lobbying with the French senators
    who have appealed to the Constitutional Council. They also welcome
    Azerbaijan's efforts in this direction. The senators who signed
    the appeal to the Constitutional Council were even honoured with an
    invitation to Baku. I do not believe such an action could be greeted
    in a European country.

    [Kirchengast] The Armenian-Turkish relationship was already somewhat
    better if you think, for example, of the meeting of the two presidents
    Sarkisian and Gul at the WC soccer games in October 2009 in Yerevan
    and Bursa. Why has the bilateral commission of historians that Turkey
    is urging so strongly not come about?

    [Nalbandian] Even before the statement of the Armenian president, the
    Armenian-Turkish relationship was at a dead end. We tried to lead it
    out of this dead end but the Turkish side does everything possible to
    prevent this. There is the agreement to create a bilateral commission
    after the opening of the borders and the establishment of diplomatic
    relations. Under this commission there will also be subcommittees,
    including one on the historical dimension, but not one of historians.

    It has the goal of restoring trust between the two nations but not
    discussing whether or not there was genocide of the Armenians as
    the Turkish side imagines. Under no circumstances is the fact of
    the genocide subject to debate. Could you imagine inviting Jewish
    representatives to a discussion of whether or not there was the
    Holocaust?

    [Kirchengast] The dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region is one
    of the "frozen" conflicts: nothing is moving. The main barrier to
    a solution is that Armenia still occupies a considerable portion of
    Azerbaijanian territory.

    [Nalbandian] To guarantee physical security to the population of
    Karabakh, it self-defence forces were forced to create a buffer
    zone around the region after Azerbaijan's aggression. The return
    of territories is an element of an overall package as produced
    in the Minsk Group (editor's note: co-chaired by the USA, France,
    and Russia). But if Azerbaijan says that it is only about a return
    of territory and all other aspects of the agreement are ignored or
    deliberately circumvented, then this agreement cannot come about. This
    is why US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated on behalf of
    the three co-chairs in Astana that all principles and elements of
    a solution were worked out as an integral whole. Separating them or
    preferring one principle or another is completely unacceptable.


    From: Baghdasarian
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