My Turn
Sassounian: 10 Major Concerns Regarding Armenia-Turkey Protocols
In earlier columns, I had described the major negative aspects of the already initialed Armenia-Turkey protocols made public on Aug. 31. The concerns I had expressed dealt with two unacceptable preconditions—recognizing the territorial integrity of Turkey and establishing a joint committee of experts to study historical archives, a not so-veiled reference to re-examining the Armenian Genocide. Below is a more comprehensive evaluation, providing 10 reasons why the Armenian government should not
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As usual Harut, we can count on you not to mince words. Are your columns translated and published in Yerevan adn Turkey? Perhpas Agos or another publication prints your columns as an international feature item..
In any event they should be.
GOD help us.
The one unintended outcome of this heated controversy is the coming together of diverse Armenian organizations to take a common stand against these protocols.
If that is the case. Why doesn’t the Armenian Weekly report about demonstrations being organized by some of these other organizations. Reading the Weekly you would think the only organization that is against the protocols is the ARF.
Excellent analysis. Why open the border at all and give Turkey the leverage of shutting it down whenever it suits its interests? The border should not be opened before vital security issues are settled and Turkey has acknowledged the Genocide, not only as a moral imperative but mostly as a critical security condition. We need that border shut completely. Our history demonstrates that the best way Armenians have had of dealing with Turkey has been not dealing with Turkey at all.
Although, I am still computing the details using 0-information theory to find out why such Protocol and border issue is being introduced now by the west (or Turkey) after more than 16 years of neglect of Turkish blockade, it would not surprise me if we eventually found out very late in the game that indeed the current government in Armenia are, bluntly put, lacking basic experience and have not done any strategic analysis whatsoever. I think Mr Sassounian’s point here introduces a method on how to overcome the situation, assuming that the West has taken the Armenian government as hostage under a pointed gun. For example, Mr. Nalbadyan being under pointed gun is saying “Guys, listen to me, these Protocols cannot be changed, because if we change, the Turks will change too, and the process will go on for several years”. This reminds me of the “Outbreak” movie situation where the chief commander has ordered the bombing of the outbreak scene area, and the second in command restates foolishly this same command, while giving further information why the helicopter should not disturb the airforce planes path, thereby leaking a method to intervene the bombing planes mission.
I would not consider Nalbadyan wise enough to be an analogy here, but indeed he leaked some vital information which can be a key to getting out of this situation. The same information was also leaked in Mr Oskanian’s speech. Here is the piece of information:
“…these Protocols cannot be changed, because if we change, the Turks will change too, and the process will go on for several years…”
The key is therefore to demand a change in the khaydarag Protocols with the purpose of stalling its signature indefinitely for as much as we find necessary in our benefit. And since this will be going on for several years, we continue all aspects of our other processes as we always have done them and with new improvements.
Here is therefore my advise, when Mr Sarkisyan visits the Diaspora, we should have either of these options for him: Either denounce the Protocols, or if this is not acceptable to his judgement (due to some classified strategic fact that he cannot tell us), then we should demand changes to the Protocol statements including removal and/or ammendments with the main goal of stalling indefinitely its signing.
While I admire Mr. Sasoonian’s analysis, I think he should have pointed out the followings:
The Declaration of Independence of Republic of Armenia decalres
“The Republic of Armenia stands in support of the task of achieving international recognition of the 1915 Genocide in Ottoman Turkey and Western Armenia.”
Article 6 of The Constitution of Republic of Armenia declares
“The international treaties not complying with the Constitution can not be ratified.”
Therefore, the ratification of thr so called protocols would be unconstitutional. No one has power to violate the Constitution of Republic of Armenia.
It is significant to point out that the text of the Constitution refers the location of genoicdal act in “Ottoman Turkey and Western Armenia.” This clause implies that Armenian Constitution separates Western Armenia from Ottoman Turkey.
The current protocols overrides this significant distinction. Be ware Mr. President! At least we are!
Long Live Armenia! Long Live Artsakh! Long Live Diaspora!
Mr. Root,
You say, “If that is the case. Why doesn’t the Armenian Weekly report about demonstrations being organized by some of these other organizations. Reading the Weekly you would think the only organization that is against the protocols is the ARF.”
Do you even read this paper? Because there have been several reports, references, and comments about the other demonstrations in the past week. Below is the link to one. Just do your homework and find the rest and read them:
http://armenianweekly.com/2009/09/23/garbis-armenian-politics-stagnate-while-threat-to-statehood-looms/