ARMENIA SHOULD RETURN TO ITS PRINCIPLED POSITION

Yerkir
22.04.2009 18:33

Yerevan (Yerkir) – A round table discussion, organized by the ARF
Supreme Body of Armenia on the current stage of the Armenian-Turkish
relations, was held in Yerevan’s Erebuni Hotel on April 22.

Making opening remarks, ARF Bureau member Levon Mkrtchian said that
the Dashnaktsutyun has always attached great importance to discussions
on the Armenian-Turkish relations. "This issue has been among the
most important ones since Armenia’s independence," he said.

ARF Supreme Body of Armenia representative Armen Rustamian said the
discussion stems from concerns raised after the recent developments
in the Armenian-Turkish relations, especially after Turkey began to
again put forward preconditions.

ARF Bureau representative Hrant Margarian harshly criticized the
current situation in the relations. "Armenia is a defeated side in
those relations now because Turkey has succeeded to force those
preconditions, at least in form of comments. Not the Armenian or
Turkish sources say so, but Obama, for example," Margarian said. He
added that a year ago, Turkey had no moral right to voice a position
in the Karabakh issue; now it is presented as a party. "The Armenian
authorities, beginning 1990, states that it is ready for relations
with Turkey without preconditions, and Armenia should not give up
its principled positions now," Margarian went on saying. He added
that the national issues, the genocide issue are "the open nerves
of the Armenian people, and anyone who touches them would get an
adequate response."

Azg daily’s Hakob Chakrian also presented a report.