ARF Bureau Issues Announcement on Protocols
The text of the announcement follows.
On Aug. 31, protocols on the establishment and development of relations between the republics of Armenia and Turkey were officially announced.
Armenia and Armenians entered a new phase, which is encumbered with numerous threats and danger.
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) warned about these concerns from the onset of the political process by intermittently expressing the following positions:
—As neighboring states, Armenia and Turkey are bound to take steps to normalize relations. However, good neighborly relations can be established between the two countries only when Turkey recognizes the Armenian Genocide and reestablishes the rights of the Armenian people. The establishment of relations without preconditions and the lifting of the blockade are merely first steps.
—The proposal by Armenia to establish relations without preconditions can be deemed a serious concession.
—It is unacceptable to establish relations with Turkey at the expense of our government’s sovereignty and viability, as well as the national rights of our future generations.
Based on these principles, the ARF on several occasions cautioned that Turkey was leveraging the process to benefit its own interests—impeding the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, advancing a pro-Azeri resolution to the Nargorno-Karabagh conflict) and was communicating with Armenia through both obvious and veiled preconditions.
Published documents contain the well-known preconditions of the Turkish side, that is, to call into question the veracity of the Armenian Genocide and to invalidate the unwavering rights of the Armenian people. Furthermore, immediately following the release of the protocols, Turkey, through official statements, reiterated its third precondition: It will not undertake any steps that would contradict Azerbaijan’s interests. This means that Turkey will continue to use the Karabagh issue as a precondition.
The ARF continues to insist that Armenia’s foreign policy has veered from its national doctrine and predictable developments will have irreversible consequences.
With these considerations, during this domestic deliberation stage, the ARF will utilize all means available to expose the existing dangers within the protocols in an effort to neutralize them.
We call on the Armenian people and the political forces in Armenia to properly assess the Armenia-Turkey relations process with its negative consequences and, in the most unified manner, deter the possible irreversible losses.
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Sept. 1, 2009
Yerevan, Armenia
The ARF has rightly called for the resignation of Foreign Minister Nalbandian over the “roadmap” that was announced a few months ago. And various writers in the Armenian Weekly have rightly condemned that “roadmap.”
But it is now clear that the many pro-Turkish pre-conditions imposed on Armenia by the “protocols” announced this week are much worse than the “roadmap.”
Therefore, why hasn’t the ARF also called for the man who is most responsible for the “protocols,” namely President Sargsian, to resign? It has long been clear that Sargsian is in office only because the elections were rigged. This is even more reason for Sargsian to step down, is it not?
What is the ARF waiting for? I respectfully ask that the ARF answer this question.
Hye David, I agree with your ‘COMMENTS’, of course. Would a Der Petrossian be next? His presidency was not outstanding for fledgling Armenia which was worthy of honesty and security of our first leader (as our patriots in 1918-1920) And, when you ask what the ARF is waiting for – does this apply to the ARF in Armenia – or ARF in the diaspora – IN THE ARENA… Today, in following the Sibel Edmonds Brad interview, this thought occurred to me: for all the years that the U.S. State Department and US administrations and Congress had generously offered monies to a Turkey… monies that shall have been from the pockets of American taxpayers. For a Turkey which claims to be the ‘best ally’ of the United States of America. Evidently, this ‘best ally’ of USA has been, for years, a leader amongst nations that excel at stealing U.S. government secrets… Well, with such deceit and ‘friends’ like this who needs enemies? Also, since WWI (and probably before) Turkey has a history, (were it examined) of signing agreements… knowing full well that they shall not abide these agreements (still their Ottoman thinking). Today, one hundred (100) years since a Turkey shall have become a ‘democracy’ – yet abuses of Turkish citizens still prevails. Before the world, the bully leaderships of Turkey continue to distort truths, distort alliances, distort whenever, and even whomever… even with a Turkey’s ‘best ally’ – United States of America. What’s next?? Manooshag
Shame on Pres. Serz Sarkisian, his Foreign Minister, & his Parliament for allowing these protocols to be signed with the Genocidal Turks. Demonstrations for his removal must be instituted and a rejection on these illegal protocols that the Armenians worldwide demonstated against. Turkey has done Genocides & Massacres not only against Armenians but Greeks, Assyrians, Bulgarians, Kurds, etc. since they conquered Asia Minor, European countries, Nothern Africa, the Middle East from 1064 A.D. to the present. Millions have moslemized or driven out of their historic homelands. The World Nations along with the United Nations must wake up to reality. The European Union does not want Turkey in that union because of its past Genocidal attrocities & human rights violations. Armenians in the Diaspora must put pressure on the Armenian Government now before it is too late, if it isn’t too late already. Stephen T. Dulgarian