ARF QUITS GOVERNING COALITION
41876_4/28/2009_1
Monday, April 27, 2009
YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–The Armenian Revolutionary Federation on
Monday announced that it is quitting Armenia’s ruling coalition and
cited "insurmountable, fundamental disagreements" over the government’s
approach toward normalizing relations with Turkey
In a written statement presented by ARF Supreme Council of Armenia
chairman Armen Rustamian Monday, the party condemned and called
unacceptable the joint statement issued on April 22–less than two days
before Armenian Genocide commemoration day–by the foreign ministries
of Turkey and Armenia, announcing an agreement on a "roadmap" for
normalizing Turkish-Armenian relations. The party also cited serious
disagreements on some of the issues that are under discussion between
Turkish and Armenian officials.
"Henceforth, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation will work as a
new opposition force in Armenia’s political landscape," said the
statement, underlining that the party will present alternatives to
the current government’s policies, and will aim at "counterbalancing
and restraining" the actions of the authorities.
Rustamian explained that all party members holding senior positions
in the executive and legislative branches will tender their
resignations. The ARF was represented in the cabinet by three minister
and several deputy ministers, two governors, as well as the deputy
speaker post in the National Assembly.
The ARF stressed that it will be dealing with Turkey-Armenia relations
and the Karabakh issue based, exclusively, on national interests.
The decision to pull out of the coalition government followed a
meeting Saturday between President Serzh Sarkisian and two ARF leaders,
Rustamian and ARF Bureau chairman, Hrant Markarian.
Rustamian said Sarkisian briefed them on the essence of the still
unpublicized "roadmap" agreement. "The president’s explanations did
not satisfy us," Rustamian said on Monday.
The ARF strongly condemned the roadmap agreement, which was
announced by the Turkish and Armenian foreign ministries on
April 22 and 23. Earlier last week, Markarian criticized the
Sarkisian-administration’s policies on Turkey, saying that Yerevan
has made major concessions to Ankara while failing to secure the
lifting of the Turkish economic blockade of Armenia.
Rustamian on Monday reiterated the criticism, saying that Armenia has
effectively ended its long-standing insistence on an unconditional
establishment of diplomatic relations and reopening of the border
between the two estranged nations. He said that Ankara continues
to make that conditional on a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict and an end to the campaign for international recognition of
the Armenian Genocide.
"The Turks are now trying to turn those preconditions into conditions
and include them into a package [deal with Armenia]," said Rustamian,
"For them the key thing is to exploit the process of normalization
and they are doing that very well. We must realize that."
Rustamian said that the Turkish-Armenian agreement could deter more
countries from officially recognizing the Armenian genocide.
"We must never allow the replacement of the process of international
recognition by efforts to force Turkey to recognize the Armenian
genocide," he said. "One process should not suspend the other."
"Nobody here doubts that Turkey will do everything to avoid recognizing
the Armenian genocide," added Rustamian.
ARF Bureau member Dr. Viken Hovsepian will discuss this and other
issues during the 8 o’clock hour of Monday’s Horizon 180. Watch live
Below is the full text of the ARF’s statement:
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation announces the cessation of its
participation in the governing coalition.
We deem it necessary to explain this step in view of its political
significance and consequences, and the public’s interest.
First of all, the ARF joined the coalition in order to overcome,
through uniting of forces, the crisis facing the country following
the presidential elections and the threats to the independence and
security of the two Armenian states, and with the aim of making
coordinated reforms.
During this period there were certain achievements, but insurmountable
disagreements on matters of principle emerged with respect to the
direction of the foreign policy.
It has always been our conviction that one of the main directions of
the state’s national security strategy is the universal recognition and
condemnation, especially by Turkey, of the Armenian Genocide. This is
seen not only in the context of the restoration of historical justice,
but also as a way to improve the overall environment of mutual trust
in the region, while also preventing similar crimes in the future. In
this sense, as we have already announced, we find unacceptable and
condemn the agreement by Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to
join the April 22 joint statement with Turkey, on the eve of April 24
and when the leaders of Turkey are making anti-Armenian announcements
and restating preconditions for the normalization of relations.
We also have principled disagreements with the position of the
authorities of Armenia on certain issues being discussed in the
Armenia-Turkey negotiations. We will publicize our positions regarding
those issues when they are discussed in public.
Henceforth, in the political landscape of Armenia the ARF will assume
a new role, that of an opposition force.
Our main priorities will be:
1. To become a full-fledged alternative to the authorities, proposing
our own programs and solutions on all major issues.
2. As opposition to assume the role of effectively counterbalancing
and restraining the authorities.
3. To take the necessary actions to heal and refine the political
landscape, to form civilized relations between the authorities and the
opposition, to establish social justice and to strengthen democracy.
4. To carry on comprehensive programs emanating from electoral
promises, showcasing the ARF’s ideological and political convictions.
5. In the processes of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations
and the resolution of the Karabakh conflict, to be guided exclusively
by our state-national interests and goals.
We appreciate the work carried out jointly with our coalition partners
and we wish them success in their endeavors in the interest of our
state and people.