THE ARF FIGURE IS CONFIDENT THAT THE US PRESIDENT WILL KEEP HIS PROMISE ON APRIL 24
Nairi Muradian

AZG DAILY
14-04-2009

In order to be ready for the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border,
the ARF (Dashnaktsutyun) is preparing an "economic document" to submit
for consideration of the Government.

The document will be ready until the end of the month, the ARF
Bureau Hay Dat and Political Affairs office director Kiro Manoyan
told journalists yesterday at "Urbat" club.

The ARF document that, according to Kiro Manoyan, is more economic
than political is the program of actions to be taken before and after
opening of the border.

According to Kiro Manoyan, Azerbaijan’s "tearfulness" after the US
President’s visit forces Turkey to return to the situation created
after the blockade of 1993, when "Turkey became a hostage to the
Azerbaijani policy".

"Especially after Barack Obama’s visit to Turkey Erdogan’s
announcements have become rather serious, in the sense that
Armenian-Turkish negotiations may reach a deadlock. Turkey has already
started speaking of preconditions", Kiro Manoyan told adding that they
don’t speak of signing of an agreement and opening of the border in
this year with the previous confidence.

"What about Obama’s role in this, on April 24 he will keep his promise
and will recognize the Armenian Genocide as he promised before being a
president. He has already announced in Turkey that his position hasn’t
changed. And the President, who told that in Turkey will speak more
freely in his country, especially when speaking with his citizens,
whom he has given a promise. We are confident that President Obama
will keep his promise on this coming April 24", Kiro Manoyan said.

What about the question whether recognition of the Armenian Genocide
will do harm to US-Turkish relations, Kiro Manoyan said that nothing
of the kind will happen – "Just one or two months of Turkish annoyance
towards USA".

According to the ARF figure, recognition of the Armenian Genocide
by the USA is very important, as it will make Turkey recognize its
history, then it will affect recognition of the Armenian Genocide
by a series of other countries, and will make Turkey to conduct more
serious negotiations with Armenia.

Touching upon Serzh Sargsian’s last announcement that if Turkey
stands back from the reached agreement, Armenia will come out of the
process getting stronger, Kiro Manoyan said that he agreed with it
in part. According to him, everything depends on the Armenian-Turkish
negotiations’ duration and the US position on it. If President Obama
does not recognize the fact of 1915, then speaking of strength will
be in vain.

According to the Director of Hay Dat and Political Affairs office,
not the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border but establishment of
Armenian-Turkish diplomatic relations is of primary importance.