Below are comments made by the ARF Bureau political affairs director Giro Manoyan on Oct. 10.
The protocols signed today after a delay of three and a half hours are stillborn.
According to uncontested reports in the international media as well as official Armenian explanation, the delay was because of the Armenian delegation’s concerns regarding the statement to be made by the Turkish foreign minister after the signing of the protocols.
According to uncontested Turkish news reports, the Turkish side wanted to refer to the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict in the statement, something Armenia says has nothing to do with the normalization of ties with Turkey.
According to U.S. official reports, the U.S. delegation led by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton facilitated “the two sides in coming to an agreement on the statements that they’re going to make at the ceremony.” At the end, as a result of this “facilitation,” after the signing of the document none of the foreign ministers made any statements.
Conclusion: Turkey continues to regard the “resolution” of the Karabagh conflict as a precondition for establishing diplomatic relations with Armenia and for lifting the blockade. Not making this statement right after signing the protocols does not mean it has changed its policy; it only means the Armenian authorities, under obvious U.S. pressure, are agreeing to continue to accept Turkey’s precondition in this regard.
And if President Sarkisian’s address today to the Armenian people is to be taken seriously, then these protocols are stillborn.
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