An adequate Armenian policy towards Turkey has spurred much debate, especially since the signing of the 2009 Armenia-Turkey protocols in Zurich. The opening of the border was considered one of the cornerstones of the protocols; thus, it is important to understand why the de-facto border was closed in the first place, and what alternatives to the protocols the Republic of Armenia has in mind.
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Aprees Armen for a very well thought-out set of tactical options and a very informative article.
Best wishes of success (in my daughter’s alma mater)
International law is a joke. The old aphorism, might makes right still represents reality. Who is the most egregious applier of economic sanctions? The US of course. Cuba, Iran, and anyone else we disapprove of for some self justified reaSON.
In spite of what Berge says, International law does offer opportunities which, if studied and applied pertinently can make a difference. Having the expertise and the people in the field to use it efficiently is a component of power for any government, albeit not the only one.
Firstly, Turkey is not “blockading”, that is forcibly shutting down all of its airspace or preventing any traffic through all of its land borders. It is however Turkey’s right, and same as with any other state, to control its own borders as it sees fit. Certainly any reference to any international law should begin with what has happened in Karabag first.
Murat,
Typical Turkish foreign ministry duplicated statement, I wonder why international law does not apply to Turkey regards Western Armenia and Armenian Genocide of 1915. In 1920 during first Armenian democratic government “karabag”, Artsakh and Nakhichevan, were part of Armenia, after Bolsheviks occupation, communists gave like a Soviet style gift to Turkic tribes of Axerbaijan, and left Western Armenia for newly independent Turkey, as a gift to Ataturk!
http://www.armenica.org/history/en/overview/republic18-20.html
Denialist Murat:
As to airspace: Turkey is not shutting down its airspace to RoA civilian traffic, because it has no right to.
Turkey is not doing any favours for RoA.
A civilian regularly scheduled aircraft has the absolute right to fly thru another country’s airspace without notification (Chicago Convention, 1944).
As to land routes: Turkey indeed has blockaded any land traffic to and from RoA. There is some commerce between RoA and Turkey, but it only goes through Georgia. Turkey has no obligation to trade with RoA, of course. But blocking commercial traffic going through its territory is technically an act of war.
Turkey has the right to inspect all transiting commercial traffic , but has no right to block commerce between RoA and another country.
As to Artsakh: what about International Law ?
Why don’t you Turks look up what the Law says about invading and occupying 40% of Republic of Cyprus, before you stick your filthy InvadoNomad gray wolf bloody snouts in our backyard.
Get out of our lands: Armenian lands belong to Armenians.
Historic Turkic lands are far, far away – due East.
Go and fight the Chinese in Uyguristan, Denialist Turk Murat: after your Uygur kin murdered 30 unarmed Chinese civilians, with yatağans, Chinese are not going to forget: they will make Uygurs pay a heavy price for that terrorist act.
btw: have a question for you, Denialist; you have argued on many posts previously that your Genocidal ancestors were ‘justified’ in, quote, ‘deporting’ Armenian civilians, because some Armenians had taken up arms.
What do you think: would China be justified in driving – let’s call it ‘deporting’ – the entire Uygur population of Uyguristan into the Gobi desert, for, you know, security reasons ? For ‘their own safety’, away from the coming military operations to suppress those armed Uygurs ?
Just asking.
I thought Armenia didn’t recognize the current border- per the treaty of Sevres/genocide reparations including mass territory transfer?
That is a complicated issue, Armenia has not revealed anything formally I think. Thus they neither recognize the border, nor un-recognize it. That’s why during the protocols, Armenians worldwide became hysterical because they thought that Armenia was going to recognize the (assumed) current border. I think it was all a “test” on all sides.
Yes I recall that the border was a big issue in the protocols. But wouldn’t an open border with free flowing commerce at least imply that the border was seen as legitimate/recognized? Although perhaps not, as Turkey didn’t close the border till 93, and I don’t know the nature of the border from 91 to its closure in 93. Guess we have some much more basic problems than ‘reconciliation’.
Few if any realize that the protocols was a trap a trick to get the Armenians agreed to kiss and make up with the Genocide State, without latter´s FULL REPENTANCE, officially acknowledge that her previous Govt.s committed the horrible act and what´s more as proof any one knows two countries that do not have diplomatic relations CANNOT HAVE OPEN BORDERS.Thus, if said protocols were put in place and borders opened,it would be requried to HAVE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS.Which indeed then would be best proof for great Turkey to overstep the Genocide issue and say.Here, we have diplomatic relations borders are WIDE OPEN and forget about what you imagine in your minds that 1.5 million were put to death.Like they always repeat. some things happened ,both sides suffered and Then some….
Thanks fiorst to French armenians that onm his tour to feel the pulse of the Diaspora Brethren,pres.serge Sargsyan was añlerted in Paris that even if he went along with the ñprotocols the Diaspora would acceedd to it-Same things happened in Los Angeles,when pres-.Serge arrived there.Mr. Sassounian politely but clearly explaine dto him that the N.American Armenian diiaspora would not accept the protocols either….
As to borders that have been closed for 22 yrs. Firstly Armenia thanks to its good neighbour IRAN mainly , has had that border open. Same with Georgia up North .Neither great Turkey nor little brother Azerbeijan have succeeded to bring Armenia to knees.
What´s more Armenia has had good Air traffic ,plus road to Russia Northward.So all the fuss about these turkbeijani(as Avery dubs them) closed has not been a major issue.
Indeed a major one as rgds prestige loosing of latter.But then they have never thought of prestige and or JUSTICE.To surmise,please do not worry about that issue.yet another enticement Lokum to get our paremids trapped. We await Genocide acknowledgement by Ottoman and Kemalist Turkey heirs …to decide what is good for them,very patiently.
Addendum,
I have clearly and plainly outlined how Artsakh issue can most probably resolved by us,the Armenian side.By declaring it as PRINCIPALITY LIKE ANDORRA(which also was a bone of contention between France and Spain fro 4 centuries ) then solved and agreed upon to declare it as a Principality with a formality of pres.of France a s co president of same together with Archbishop of Seo DÚrge,neighbouring Spanish-Catalan State—thus all has gone smoothly since then,it has thrived since it was also declared A FREE TRADE ZOMNE,where not only above two bring their fare without tax or very small one customs duties levied on their fare,plus from far away japan ,U.s. ,etc., etc., etcd., and a Haven for toruism.Nagornyi Karagh as a Principality and -Free Trade zone would also gratify great turkey that Armenians did not succeed in keeping it as a Republic(to be joined with RA later).
Whereas we Diasporans know better than that.We have waited long enough for our main issue to be resolved with great Turkey.Yes damn it great Turkey ..made so by some…but they will also repent why they helped her become great . One of these days…things may change,say Iran becoming a stronger state than she has been so far… etc.,. etc., etc.
WE are super patient,shall wait to see some mountain Turks now declaring themselves KURDS rise up!!!!and /or some other factor setting in,in that tumultuous Middle East.Let´s wait and see.But I do think a good idea that of NK not being a bone of contention any more-Thus also paving the way for the powers to be to freely work it out with Azerbeijan their deals….
And who knows maybe latter may somehow change a bit -after all the Stalin´s Russification there must have changed them a bit..and now the NEW Russia´s—-have said enough-Just wait and see like the Brits say.
From now on I am to ¨suggest¨ that our priority in regard to our Cause/Case and related restitutions /compensations from great Turkey should be centered around ONLY ¨B L O O D M O N E Y ¨.
Thence be it known to all that our most important objective around the corner of 100th Anniversary of our Genocide by genocide state should be exactly that.As rgds Land , property and other materiel confiscated from us by them Turks and Kurds should NEVER be forgottne or put at the back burner…not at all.But FIRST THINGS FIRST.Most importantly bllod money has precedent and an ENORMOUS ONE.that of the Jews from Germany inheritor of Nazi Germany. Thence ,I do request you all to think of this as our CENTENIIAL MAIN OBJECTIVE!!!! for the sake of our Martyrs!!!!and what we lost. what we would have nOW HAD THEY LIVED and MULTIPLIED a thousand fold or more…..