AZG Armenian Daily #102, 04/06/2005

Interview

CHAIRMAN OF WAC ARA ABRAHAMIAN SHARING WITH HIS THOUGHTS ON RUSSIA,
DEMOCRACY AND ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

(beginning in previous issue)

– Is that possible that an “orange” revolution will take place
in Armenia?

– I think today’s situation in Armenia is hardly favorable for such
a revolution. It usually comes with elections. There is still much
time for parliamentary and presidential elections in Armenia. It is
important for an “orange” revolution that there is a united opposition
with one leader. It also requires involvement of external powers and
weak and disunited authorities. Many elements that go hand in hand
with “orange” revolution are absent in Armenia. Besides, Armenia’s
political elite understands that there is the Nagorno Karabakh issue
which may suffer in case of political crises. Thus, the opposition
does not neglect Karabakh issue while defining its stance against
the authorities. But, as President Bush said in his speech at the
International Republican, USA will perhaps back suchlike revolutions
and regime changes in the South Caucasus and Central Asia. I want to
believe that he meant Georgia and Azerbaijan but not Armenia. I think
neither the US nor Russia are interested to see revolution in Armenia.

– How do you see Nagorno Karabakh conflict resolution?

– The resolution is obvious for us, Armenians. We certainly would
like to set right the historic injustice, when ancient Armenian region
was deliberately handed over to Azerbaijan by the Party’s decision —
a decision that no one had right to take. For us it is obvious that
Nagorno Karabakh is part of Armenia. By making concession, I think it
would be possible to recognize Karabakh a sovereign unite, a small
state, which will have good-neighborly relations with Azerbaijan
and close brotherly ties with Armenia. The Minsk group co-chairs
make different offers to push the settlement forward. But it’s not
the time and the place for detailed discussion of these offers,
particularly in case when they are not thoroughly elaborated.

– Is that possible that the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan will
break out?

– That threat is always hanging, as Azerbaijan is getting ready
for parliamentary elections in November. If the opposition exerts
too much pressure the authorities may provoke break of the truce in
order to unite the nation and keep the opposition away from taking
the wheel. Much will depend on America’s and Russia’s behavior. Will
they take a tough position not to allow a war that will destabilize
the region? In view of the newly built Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline,
such destabilization would play into hands of neither oil companies
nor the Western states with their huge investments in the pipeline.

– What do you think of Turkish Prime Minister’s letter to Armenian
President with a proposal of a joint Armenian-Turkish group to study
archive documents connected with the events in the beginning of
20th century?

– I think that the fact of Turkish Prime Minister’s appeal to
Armenian President should be greeted. Unfortunately, Turkey takes such
steps only after feeling international community’s pressure. Without
Washington’s pressure that would be no Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation
Commission. Without European Union’s pressure, without European
Parliament’s precondition of Armenian Genocide recognition the Turkish
side would hardly take any step to remove that painful issue which
separates the two nations.

I think that Armenian President is right saying that it is not the
time to discuss archive documents and that it is not an issue for
the historians to study. Today the Armenian-Turkish relations are a
political issue. Politicians and diplomats have to treat it but not
the historians.

At any rate, Armenian side has no doubt that there was a genocide. No
Armenians are left in our historic homeland, their property was
appropriated, many monuments were ruined and the people spread all
over the world. It’s ridiculous to return to historical studies today
when 2 dozens of states and international organizations recognize
the Armenian Genocide.

– How do you see the improvement of Armenian-Turkish relations?

– I think that those relations should improve based on the
international law and should include a few elements: Genocide
recognition by Turkey, material reparation to Genocide survivors and
territorial concession to Armenia.

I think that small material reparation (there are very few survivors
today that could present their documents to Turkish authorities),
construction of a memorial at the place of massive massacres and
return of a symbolic territory comprising the Mount Ararat, Armenian’s
medieval capital of Ani could be a good ground for talks.

At all events, the World Armenian Congress has created a commission of
specialists that should elaborate a pan-Armenian approach and demand
to this issue. It will also decide the size of reparation. I think
we will have final and summarized recommendations to submit to the
Armenian authorities and the Armenian Diaspora.