PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Assembly of America
December 11, 2009
Contact: Press Department
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY PARTICIPATES IN PANEL ON PROTOCOLS
REITERATES POSITION IN JOINT STATEMENT
Los Angeles, CA – Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) Board of
Trustees Member, Peter Kezirian and Assembly Western Region Director
Yeghig Keshishian participated in a panel discussion hosted by the
Armenian Law Student Association (ALSA) of Southwestern Law School in
conjunction with the Law School’s Diversity Affairs Office regarding the
recently signed protocols to establish normal relations without
preconditions between the Republics of Armenia and Turkey. The panel
also included Steve Dadaian and Vicken Sonentz Papazian representing the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
Following the opening remarks by Stella Pogosyan, President of the
Armenian Law Student Association at Southwestern, the Assembly and ANCA
each discussed the protocols. Keshishian opened his discussion looking
at the geopolitical situation in the South Caucasus, noting that the
Republic of Armenia, since its independence in 1991, has sought formal
diplomatic relations with Turkey without preconditions. Turkey meanwhile
has insisted on preconditions such as concessions on Nagorno Karabakh
and demands that Armenia renounce international affirmation of the
Armenian Genocide. Turkey’s 15-year plus blockade of Armenia also
reflects part of Turkey’s strategy to attempt to isolate and marginalize
Armenia.
Armenia has withstood Turkey’s hostile actions and for the first time,
Turkey has publicly committed to normalize relations with Armenia and
lift its blockade. Despite Turkey’s continued counterproductive
statements, Turkish demands for concessions on Nagorno Karabakh are not
contained within the protocols.
Referring to the actual text of the protocols, Keshishian noted that
they do not threaten the veracity of the Armenian Genocide, nor do they
require Armenia to abdicate its treaty rights on territorial issues or
require concessions on Nagorno Karabakh as many have speculated.
Steve Dadaian, speaking on behalf of the ANCA, attempted to use legal
arguments to argue that the Protocols undercut particular interests of
the Armenian Republic and accused the current government of not having
the position or moral authority to deal with these concerns. The
analysis, however, requires Protocol opponents to read into the document
a number of arguments that have been explicitly rejected by the two
countries. Dadaian also discussed the notion of bringing a legal claim
under the auspices of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to settle
claims regarding the Armenian Genocide. While the United States filed a
document in 1951 before the ICJ affirming the Armenian Genocide, Dadaian
omitted that Turkey cannot be compelled to submit to ICJ jurisdiction.
During the question and answer period, the Southwestern Law students
raised a number of insightful issues on both the strategic and legal
elements of the Armenian-Turkish relationship. Kezirian, drawing upon
his international legal experience, addressed issues tied to treaty
interpretation, Armenian national interests and the benefits generated
by lifting the Turkish blockade and formal diplomatic recognition. In
essence, with normalized relations, Armenia will be in control of its
own economic as well as political destiny.
Papazian and Dadaian argued that the Protocols are poorly drafted and
will help Turkey’s accession to the European Union, which require open
borders. However, Turkey has been in this process for more than three
decades and the rapprochement process allows Armenia to take control of
its own future, rather than simply rely on the good wishes of others.
Open borders is and has already been an important strategic objective
for the Republic; Turkey has tried to leverage this need to force
Armenian concessions on Karabakh and the Genocide. The Armenian people
and its governments have withstood this pressure and are now poised to
achieve a major objective without any concessions.
"The Armenian-Turkish Protocols Speaker Event successfully achieved its
goal by presenting students an objective analysis of the issues, and
allowed them to formulate their own opinions," stated ALSA President
Stella Pogosyan. "Only through such open, honest and balanced talks can
we achieve progress and results. We thank each of our four speakers for
their participation: Yeghig Keshishian, Peter Kezirian, Steve Dadaian,
and Viken Sonentz Papazian," Pogosyan added.
"It was one of the most important and beneficial events the Southwestern
Armenian Law Student Association and the Southwestern Law School’s
Diversity Affairs Office held this academic year," concluded Pogosyan.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3)
tax-exempt membership organization.