Sassounian: Who Should Demand Armenian Territories from Turkey?

I just became aware of an important interview President Serge Sarkisian had given to Turkish journalist Cansu Camlibel of Hurriyet newspaper on April 24, 2015, in Yerevan. The article was buried under the avalanche of media coverage over the commemorations of the Armenian Genocide Centennial.

Sarkisian speaks to Hurriyet correspondent Cansu Camlibel.
Sarkisian speaks to Hurriyet correspondent Cansu Camlibel (Photo: Hurriyet)

Here are key excerpts from Sarkisian’s lengthy interview as published in the Turkish Daily News, the English edition of Hurriyet:

– The president rightly pointed out that “the emotional and non-diplomatic reaction of the Turkish leadership [to Pope Francis’s acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide in the Vatican on April 12] was yet another proof that Turkey continued its policy of evident denial pursued at a state level, thus taking upon it the burden of the responsibility for the crime perpetrated by the authorities of the Ottoman Empire.”

– “As a mighty power and champion of democratic values, the United States has on numerous occasions stated its position regarding the Armenian Genocide. Out of 51 U.S. constituent states 44 recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide. Throughout history various American presidents, such as Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, described the atrocities against the Armenian people as genocide. Even those U.S. presidents, that had not used the word ‘genocide’ during their tenure, had used that term while campaigning. It means that they never questioned the veracity of what had happened, and only due to certain political considerations refrained from uttering the word ‘genocide.’” While Sarkisian correctly characterized U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide, there were a couple of inaccuracies in his answer: The United States has 50, not 51 states; and Gerald Ford acknowledged the Armenian Genocide as a congressman, before becoming president.

– “The Turkish proposal of establishing the so-called commission of historians has only one goal, which is to delay the process of the Armenian Genocide recognition, and divert the attention of [the] international community from that crime. That is not only our view but also the view of the international community that goes on recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide. The protocols contain no clause of establishing any commission on historical studies. The respective paragraph in the protocol envisages a dialogue aimed at restoring mutual confidence between the two nations, which entailed the establishment of a sub-commission. Throughout the negotiations, the Armenian side has stressed on numerous occasions at various levels also to the Turkish side that the veracity of the genocide cannot be questioned under any circumstances.” Armenians who were opposed to the Armenian-Turkish protocols, including this writer, had made similar objections.

– “It is already the sixth year since the protocols have been signed: when is the expedient time? … The years past have demonstrated that Turkey is looking forward not to some convenient moment, but instead is trying to prevent the manifestation of the unambiguous position of the international community on the Armenian Genocide by imitating a process of the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement, claiming that recognitions were something that hindered the reconciliation. The process of the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation was launched upon my initiative, and pursued a very simple goal—to establish diplomatic relations without any preconditions, and unseal the last closed border in Europe, safeguarding peaceful and neighborly coexistence of our nations. Unfortunately, the lack of political will on the part of the Turkish authorities, distortion of the letter and spirit of the protocols, fresh manifestations of denial, and continuously brought-up preconditions intended to feed groundless demands of Azerbaijan thwarted the implementation of the protocols. … After six years of unfulfilled expectations, I have decided to recall the protocols from the parliament. On one occasion, I said the Armenians are not going to wait indefinitely for the Turkish authorities to be able to find a convenient moment to finally ratify those protocols.” In my opinion, the Armenian foreign minister should immediately withdraw his signature from the protocols and declare them obsolete.
– “The Republic of Armenia has never declared any territorial claims either on Turkey or any other country since our independence. There has never been such an issue on the foreign policy agenda of our country, and there is none today. That is a clear-cut position.”

If not read carefully, Sarkisian’s last answer could easily be misunderstood. He is neither saying that Armenia has territorial claims from Turkey nor that it does not! Armenia simply has not raised this issue officially because doing so could have serious national security implications, given its powerful and hostile neighbor on the western front. Political parties, organizations, and individuals like this writer have frequently made territorial claims from Turkey, but it is understandable that Armenia’s head of state has to be much more circumspect in his public pronouncements.

Sarkisian stated several years ago that he leaves the pursuit of Armenian territorial claims to a future generation, which implies that Armenia does indeed have territorial demands from Turkey!

Harut Sassounian

Harut Sassounian

California Courier Editor
Harut Sassounian is the publisher of The California Courier, a weekly newspaper based in Glendale, Calif. He is the president of the Armenia Artsakh Fund, a non-profit organization that has donated to Armenia and Artsakh one billion dollars of humanitarian aid, mostly medicines, since 1989 (including its predecessor, the United Armenian Fund). He has been decorated by the presidents of Armenia and Artsakh and the heads of the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic churches. He is also the recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

11 Comments

  1. I think Mr Sassounian should stick to his standard activities of telling everyone else what they should be saying and thinking. President Sarkisian’s position (which equates to the Republic of Armenia’s position) is completely clear and unequivocal – and has always been completely clear and unequivocal: Armenia has no territorial demands on territory currently inside Turkey. There is nothing that is in the slightest “circumspect” about this position. Mr Sassounian should stop adopting and repeating Turkish genocide-denialist propaganda for his own fantasist irredentist ends.

    • While taking a cheap shot at Mr Sassounian, and what is it about the opinion of “Steve” that is so credible that we Armenians need to give you an applause? You learned a big word, “irredentist” from wikipedia and now want a pat on your back or what?

      Incidentally, you have no problems with an uninvited, foreign race of Genocide perpetrators who steal the lands of indigenous peoples through the act of Genocide, but you have issues with the victims and their surviving offspring for their pursuit of justice, a part of which is the restoration of an unerasable historic homeland? Stop fooling yourself that your “opinion” is valid.

      Mr Sassounian gave a correct interpretation of what Sargsyan said. You are the one with an “opinion” – however irrelevant it is – and you have a right to be wrong – not to mention irrelevant to the Armenian cause.

  2. Այս հարցազրույցը պետք է դառնա որպես դասագիրք ապագա Հայ դիվանագետների պատրաստման համար։ Թե ինչպես կարելի է թշնամու ականապատված հարցադրումներից խուսափել և տալ այս պահի համար ամենաճիշտ դիվանագիտական պատասխանները։
    Ո՞վ է այդ մեզ ներշնչել որ մենք վատ դիվանագետներ ենք։ Մենք դիվանագետներ կարող ենք ունենալ և ունեցել ենք անցյալում, որ Աշխարը չի ունեցել։ Պարզապես պետք է իմանալ և ճանաչել մեր մեծություններին որ եղել են անցյալում և ապրում են այժմ մեր կողքին։ Մենք ականատես ենք լինում Հայկական պետականության դիվանագիտական հաղթանակների մի ամբողջ շարքի, որի դեմ, դիվանագետ կոչված Թուրքիան, չի կարողանում հակաքայլեր ձեռնարկել։ Ես ցանկանում եմ թվարկել, իմ պատկերացմամբ, Հայկական դիվանագիտական հաղթանակների շարքը այս վերջին յոթ տարիների ընթացքում։ Դուք կարող եք ավելացնել։
    ա) Հայ-Թուրքական արձանագրությունների ստորագրումը
    բ) Հայաստանում Ռուսական ռազմաբազայի ներկայության 49 տարվա պայմանագիրը
    գ) Եվրոպայի հետ «և և» քաղաքականության առաջ մղելը
    դ) Եվրասիական Մաքսային Միության միանալը
    ե) «Շերամի Ճանապարհ» տնտեսական գոտուն միանալու հայտը
    զ) Եվրոպայի խաղաղապահ զորքերի մեջ Հայկական գործոնի ներկայությունը, հատկապես Մերձավոր Արևելքում
    է) Հայոց Ցեղասպանության 100 ամյակի միջոցառումների համակարգված կազմակերպումը
    ….Խնդրում եմ ավելացնել, որովհետև ես այդ ասպարեզի մարդ չեմ և շատ բան չգիտեմ։
    Կեցցե՛ Հայոց Անկախ Պետականությունը
    Կեցցե՛ Հայոց Սպարապետը
    Կեցցե՛ Հայոց Արքան
    Կեցցե՛ Հայաստան

    • «Ես ցանկանում եմ թվարկել Հայկական դիվանագիտական հաղթանակների շարքը այս վերջին յոթ տարիների ընթացքում։ Դուք կարող եք ավելացնել։
      ա) Հայ-Թուրքական արձանագրությունների ստորագրումը […]»

      You claim that Armenian-Turkish protocols were a “diplomatic victory” for Armenia.

      Exactly what Armenia has achieved by engaging in the protocol process and in the aftermath of signing the protocols?

      Exactly how can the protocols be considered a “victory”, when the RoA government from start to finish was acting contrary to fierce opposition of the overwhelming majority of the country’s citizens and their compatriots in the Diasporan communities?

  3. It is difficult to guess the purpose of such an article by Mr. Sassounian. This topic is old news, and it was discussed for days and weeks a few months ago on this forum. It is surprising that Mr. Sassounian does not read the AW regularly.

    As to the President’s words, they were unfortunate, but could not be more “clear-cut”. It is black on white, and we do not need Mr. Sassounian’s analysis to understand what the President meant or could have meant and so on. This President still beats the drums for the protocols; it is an absolute shame and a very sorry situation.

  4. Mr. Sassounian. The world its seems is corrupt and complicit. Why does the FACT OF THE ARMENIAN genocide take this long to be recognized and condemned? Especially look the USA, the supposed ‘beacon of justice’ its is the first to deny the AG for its own benefits. Look at the inept and basically complicit ECHR ruling on denying the AG. They deemed the Holocaust as the only genocide that you cant deny because “its been established”? You cant make this stuff up. Something right out of the Turkish denial book. What nonsense. So, how is rightful and just territorial claims against the evil empire that is Turkey going to get ANY COURT to convict these perpetrators? Its not. Not until the Armenians themselves become potent and powerful. Unfortunately the ‘leaders of Armenia’ are concerned about beating opposition and stealing more for their own pockets.

  5. “President Serge Sarkisian: ‘Out of 51 U.S. constituent states 44 recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide.’”

    51 U.S. states? And this clown is representing Armenians on the world stage? Isn’t there any literate person around this guy who can correct his mistakes, before he embarrasses himself and his country? Or there is no money left after years of stealing the national wealth and wasting it on corruption and gambling?

    • I’m sure the “educated” Sultan of ISIS and the “educated” dynastic buffoon representing Turks and Azeris respectively have all 50 States of the USA with their capitals memorized and can recite them immediately on request.

    • [“I’m sure the “educated” Sultan of ISIS and the “educated” dynastic buffoon representing Turks and Azeris respectively have all 50 States of the USA with their capitals memorized and can recite them immediately on request.”]

      ISIS is ruled by a Caliph, not a Sultan. And not sure what it has to do with Armenia’s president embarrassing his country (while talking to a Turkish journalist!).

    • The clown is your BarevaLeader, who is shuffling around Yerevan like the homeless man, giving “fiery” speeches to his permanent audience of 50 pensioners.
      While President Sargsian is received by world leaders with great respect.
      Nice.

      And you repeating the lies of your Heritage Party BarevaLosers shows the impotent desperation of the Barevacadres.

      btw: could you, like, obtain from your Turkish sources what President Sargsian actually said to Cansu Camlibel in _Armenian_ ?
      You know, like, we don’t trust Hurriyet.

  6. Well said Hagop.

    Supposedly professional diplomat buffoon representing Uyguroğlar Turks, Davutoğlu, can’t even get basic facts about his country straight.
    But, according to an English transcript produced by Turkish Hurriyet, President Sargsian is supposed to have said “51 states”.
    Wow ! time for another mass demonstration in Yerevan or in front Glendale RoA Consulate by the half dozen malcontents still smarting from the massive electoral defeat of their BarevaLeader.

    And of course, Turkish news sites, particularly Hurriyet, notorious for misquoting Armenians and manufacturing quotes, could not possibly have deliberately misquoted Armenia’s President.

    Here is some entertainment from a representative of Turks.

    [Davutoğlu’s blunders fuel speculation of deliberately bad advice]
    http://www.todayszaman.com/national_davutoglus-blunders-fuel-speculation-of-deliberately-bad-advice_401772.html
    {A succession of political blunders by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu have caused many observers to question whether he is being deliberately misled by his political advisers, given the popular backlash they have created against his government}

    [Turkish PM’s ‘360 Degree Difference From ISIL’ Blunder Sparks Viral Outcry]
    http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20151015/1028557744/turkey-davutolu-islam-difference.html
    {In an attempt to explain to a Turkish journalist the difference between the Islam that is being defended by Turkey and the one advocated by the ISIL, Prime Minister Davutoglu proclaimed that “there is not a 180 degree, but a 360 degree difference”; the apparent gaffe instantly sparked mockery online, with many recalling that he is a professor.}

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