HOVSEPIAN: TURKEY-ARMENIA ACCORD CANNOT COME AT EXPENSE OF NATIONAL INTERESTS
By Allen Yekikian
pian-turkey-armenia-accord-cannot-come-at-expense- of-national-interests/
April 7, 2009
LITTLE ARMENIA, Calif.-Any agreement between Turkey and Armenia on
normalizing relations cannot come at the expense of future generations
or our collective national interests, said Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (ARF) Bureau member Dr. Viken Hovsepian on April 6, during
a live interview on Horizon 180.
The issue of opening the Armenian-Turkish border is a critical and
complex one, Hovsepian told host Armen Dilanian, explaining that
the ARF has, on numerous occasions, expressed its concerns both in
government circles and through public announcements.
"It is unacceptable for us that any agreement-be that the opening
of the border or normalizing relations-contain concessions that will
impact future generations," said Hovsepian, adding that any document,
for example, that is signed by the governments that casts a shadow
on the veracity of the Armenian Genocide is deemed objectionable by
his party.
The ARF leader said that President Serge Sarkisian will bear all
responsibility for any decision, because he is the one leading the
government and its foreign policy.
He explained that despite the fact the ARF is part of the ruling
coalition, the party’s position is more principled, as it stems from
the national aspirations of the Armenian people as well as concerns
for the national security of Armenia.
Hovsepian emphasized the need for the Armenian state and the Armenian
nation to be pursuing the same interests, because at the very sign
of diverging approaches "we will be on the brink of defeat."
Hovsepian said that the U.S. is pushing for the opening of the
Turkish-Armenian border to weaken Russia’s influence in the region,
as well as to diminish Iran’s.
He emphasized that the US has been prudent-if not cautious-in its
approaches toward Armenia, because the U.S. government often has taken
into consideration the Armenian constituency and the Armenian lobby.
"We have succeeded in emphasizing to successive U.S. administrations
that Turkey cannot be used as an agent-a mediator-because for us the
Turkish government is not an acceptable entity or player vis-a-vis
our issues, given that there still remain unresolved matters such as
the Genocide issue and other historical, legal and political concerns.
We are not willing or ready to accept Turkey’s role as an honest
broker in the region," said Hovsepian.
The ARF leader said that while it is always desirable to have friendly
relations with one’s neighbors, the border opening posed quite a few
complexities among them an opportunity for Turkey to close the border
on a whim.
He explained that any decision that impacts Turkish-Armenia relations
should be well thought out, because the opening of the border would
automatically create situations for dependence, be they economic
or otherwise.
"This will make us all hostage, if we are not properly prepared for
it," added Hovsepian.
In discussing President Obama’s announcements in Ankara on April 6,
Hovsepian explained that one of the reasons the Armenian-American
community supported Obama’s candidacy was his decisive views and
pledges on the recognition of the Genocide.
The circuitous manner in which he addressed the issue in Turkey was
a missed opportunity for Obama to set the record straight, explained
Hovsepian, adding that he was hopeful that the president would issue a
more unequivocal and principled acknowledgement as April 24 approaches.
Hovsepian called on the community to re-double its efforts in pursuing
this issue by calling on the White House and signaling the elevation
of expectations by the Armenian American community on this very
crucial matter.