FOREIGN MINISTER’S RESIGNATION STILL A PRIORITY, SAYS MANOYAN

Asbarez
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Aug 19th, 2009

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)-The Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s call
for the resignation of Armenia’s Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian
is still a priority, said the party’s political director Giro Manoyan
Wednesday during a press briefing.

"Our demand for the minister’s resignation will allow the president
to alter the political course and indicate to all that policies have
changed," said Manoyan, emphasizing that the imperative for changing
Armenia’s foreign policy still exists given the continuing disturbing
developments.

Manoyan went on to discuss a wide array of issues on the forefront
of the Armenian political agenda, including Armenia-Turkey relations
and the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Manoyan said that a "hot political season" was on the horizon, since
Armenia is being pressured into making up its mind on the so-called
"Madrid Principles," which are currently guiding the OSCE Minsk Group
conflict resolution process.

"The Minsk Group Co-Chairs are pulling out all the stops to reach an
agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan on the so-called ‘fundamental
principles’ by October 14. But the final draft of these principles
will only be ready for submission by the end of September," explained
Manoyan who clarified that Oct. 14 is the date for a soccer match
between the Armenian and Turkish teams, scheduled to take place
in Turkey.

"The fact that official Baku has never said that it would abide by the
will of the people of Karabakh if they chose to remain outside the
territorial jurisdiction of Azerbaijan, is enough reason to declare
that the sides will not agree on these fundamental principles,"
added Manoyan. "I’d say that neither side wants to say ‘yes’ to the
principles but also that neither side wants to be the first to say
‘no.’"

Manoyan assessed that the Minsk Group principals were trying to
meet Turkey’s demands of ensuring that Armenian President Serzh
Sarkisian will attend the soccer match in October. Late last month,
Sarkisian indicated that he might not travel to Turkey for the match,
if inroads were not made in the talks.

In his assessment Armenia should have declared to the international
community that Turkey has nixed the Armenian-Turkish negotiation
process by changing the rules of the game from the onset. He added
that such statements from Armenia "would shift pressure on to Turkey."

"Today, Turkey’s main objective is to demonstrate that Armenian-Turkish
negotiations are progressing. It is the only way to prevent any third
party’s interference in the process," Manoyan said, emphasizing that
Turkey was doing its utmost to position itself as a the side that
is eager to proceed with the talks, when in reality it is the side
that has veered from the principle of conducting the talks without
preconditions.

Manoyan also discussed recent revelations that the Turkish Secret
Police were behind the plot to assassinate Turkish-Armenian editor
Hrant Dink, adding that the Turkish authorities have complicated
the trial.

"They have turned the trial into a joke, which naturally has
angered Dink’s family, the Turkish-Armenian community, as well as
non-Armenians," said Manoyan adding that it was difficult to gauge
what the Turkish authorities intention was.

He said the sudden revelations and intermittent information being
disseminated aimed at further hiding the truth surrounding the
case. Despite assertions to the contrary by Turkish authorities, it
is evident that the forces behind Dink’s murder still wield tremendous
influence in Turkey.

Commenting on Georgia’s withdrawal from the CIS, Manoyan said that
Armenia currently is in a delicate position of being deprived of a
border with the CIS.

He expressed hope, however, that the Georgian authorities will be
prudent and would not create obstacles for Armenia.