WHAT’S ON THE ARMENIANS’ MIND?

Hayots Ashkharh Daily, Armenia
Dec 12 2007

And thus, the NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations is
organizing parliamentary hearings devoted to the following topic:
"Armenian-Turkish Relations; Problems and Perspectives." The hearings
are scheduled for December 19-20.

According to official reports, "wide-ranging discussions will be
initiated during the hearings, with the purpose of clarifying the
causes of the problems existing in the Armenian-Turkish relations,
estimating their character and specifying the potential and the
mechanisms of parliamentary diplomacy in the process of regulating
those relations."

Well, by interrupting one another for two days, the MPs and the
participants invited to the hearings will speak about initiating a
dialogue with Turkey and the profitableness of continuing it. They
will speak about the fact that it is necessary to improve the
relations, as it is very important for the establishment of peace in
the Caucasus. If the members of the Armenian pan-national Movement
are among the invitees, there will even be discussions on Turkey’s
possible role in the Karabakh settlement process.

And whether or not we want it, we’ll start thinking that the native
activists are kind to pour forth so many good intentions in such a
short time. And this was done with regard to Turkey. And what’s more,
these people positively combine it with the Karabakh problem and the
establishment of peace in the region.

The prelude and the starting point are not something new; they are
old. Many years ago and within the course of years it was a thousand
times repeated that we were very desirous to have diplomatic relations
with Turkey. As to Turkey, it responded a thousand times within the
same time period that it was unwilling to have such relations with
us unless we ceded Karabakh to Azerbaijan.

With the help of Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Zhirayr Liparityan, Vahan
Papazyan and Alik Arzoumanyan we arrived at the conclusion that our
economy would prosper if Turkey raised the blockade. Turkey swore on
the memory of Ozal, Chiler, Demirel, Gyul and Ataturk that it would
not raise the blockade unless we ceded Karabakh to Azerbaijan.

We will not cede Karabakh to Azerbaijan. Therefore, there will be no
diplomatic relations and the blockade will not be raised. At least
in the visible future. But as the native activists like to repeat,
"We do see the profitableness of initiating a dialogue with Turkey
and continuing it".

So did we at the beginning of the ’90s. It is Turkey that doesn’t
see it. As to us, instead of making the world hear and see that
Turkey behaves as enemy, we all time whimper that we want to be on
friendly terms, whereas Turkey doesn’t. Without appreciating its
profitableness. Of course, it is first of all for us.

I repeat, the matter has even gone so far that our people have started
speaking about Turkey’s "positive involvement" in the process of
achieving the "peaceful settlement" of the conflict. Perhaps, this is
not obvious absurdity and treachery, but rather – delicate diplomacy
which we do not simply understand.

No, say what you may, but the diplomacy of our activists will
eventually lead to a war with Turkey – touch wood. Because Turkey
may start suffering from mass psychosis as a result of making futile
efforts in an attempt to understand what the Armenian wants and says.

We expressed our opinion about the borders of Karabakh long ago.

They are well-aware in the Caucasus of what we do and how, while the
Armenians are hinting at some dialogue and initiating some discussions
in the National Assembly. What for?

What’s on the Armenians’ mind this time? Allah knows.