ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS CAN STILL RETURN TO THE PARLIAMENT AND BE RATIFIED
February 26 2015
“Recall of the Armenia-Turkish Protocols was a right decision. Those
who say freezing, they have no idea of the international relations
and other story tellers,” so responded lawyer, historian, diplomat and
Head of “Modus Vivendi” Center Ara Papyan, today, at the meeting with
the journalist at “Noah’s Ark” press club, in response to the question
of Aravot.am of whether recall of the Armenian-Turkish protocols was a
right move, or there is a risk that this decision will be used against
us, and it would be better to just freeze them. According to him, the
existence of these protocols at the Parliament is already an obstacle,
it means that we cast doubt on the genocide. He reminded the issue of
setting up a subcommittee, which was called to check out complicated
controversial issues of the history based on unbiased facts.
Mr. Papyan mentioned, “In a pretty package, they say to create a
committee that will decide the issue of the genocide. Especially, if
it is mentioned – based on unbiased facts. We also cast doubt on the
work done up to now. The Protocols were wrong from the beginning. It
was an anti-Armenian document. Staying in the Parliament for five
and a half years, they were not ratified, because Turkey’s the third
requirement was for Armenia to handover the Karabakh to Azerbaijan.
But we knew about it.” Mr. Papyan noted that these Protocols have
not become a major topic of discussion within the Foreign Ministry
nor at the concerned ministries. Ara Papyan thinks that no one knows
where these protocols have come from and who the authors are.
To the question that the Document has been recalled, so whether
the signatures are valid, Mr. Papyan said, “The Documents have been
recalled, it means they are still there. The arbitral award is the
document that has entered into force. The Protocols have not entered
into force yet as they become valid after ratification. It can be done
at any moment regardless of whether it is at the parliament or not.
Our official position has been made that after Turkey’s ratification
we will ratify. If Turkey ratifies tomorrow, if the signatures are
not deemed invalid, then they can be signed. It was a political
move rather than legal.” Mr. Papyan noted that the only legal move
prior to recognition of the Armenian Genocide is the adoption of the
Declaration, and expressed his concern, “We are making some badges,
print books, but it is a change in the quantity rather than quality.”
For example, the Turks are going to print a 30-volume collection
about the Armenian-Turkish relations. These documents are selected
one by one, isn’t it clear?”
To our question of therefore Serzh Sargsyan has used signing these
protocols to show the international community that he is a legitimate
president, Mr. Papyan replied, “It could be one of the factors.
Another factor could be the centennial of the Armenian Genocide,
a message addressed the Turkish side. This entire document has been
recalled after three times warning, now, every step is used to exert
pressure on Turkey.” Mr. Papyan mentioned that he has sent an open
letter to Erik Rubin, in which he had formulated his claim. “I was
expecting that political moves would be made, but no. I have clearly
formulated my offer to establish an administration over the Wilson
Armenia under the international control, in which Armenia’s de jure
interests and Turkey’s de facto interests will be compared and we
will have the rights there and local peoples.” Ara Papyan thinks that
we listen only statements on the Armenian Genocide recognition and
compensation and no specific actions.
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
Read more at:
http://en.aravot.am/2015/02/26/169023/