DEMAND FOR ARMENIAN FM’S RESIGNATION IN CONTEXT OF DISADVANTAGE FOR ARMENIA, DIASPORA

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Aug 28 2009
Armenia

A few weeks ago, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) demanded
the resignation of RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan. One of the
principal reasons for the ARF’s position was the Armenian side’s
inconsistency in the negotiations over the roadmap with Turkey,
writes Jorge Rubén Kazandjian, Editor of Diario Armenia.

The mistake was not recognized, as the Armenian Government’s steps
were not properly understood. The response to the ARF’s demands that
the details of negotiations be published was as follows: there are
no preconditions nor will there be any concessions that would run
counter to our demands in any way. Nevertheless, this confidence
vanished soon after the Turkish Government announced its position
through some of the high-ranking officials. Ankara made it clear that
the Turkish-Armenian border would not be reopened nor any diplomatic
relations be established until a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh
problem acceptable to Azerbaijan was found.

On this evidence, Minister Nalbandayn was expected give a response,
which was not done – except for languid denials of statements made
by Turks. Seeing the palsy of its Armenian counterpart, the Turkish
foreign office launched unprecedented activities, especially in the
countries where the Armenian communities succeeded in getting the
Armenian Genocide officially recognized.

Supported by USA-based Jewish politicians, the Turkish lobby gained
its first great victory when it forced U.S. President Barack Obama
to renege on his campaign promises to officially recognize the 1915
evens as genocide.

What was the argument? A very simple one: Armenia and Turkey started
a rapprochement process, which comprises numerous issues. Of course,
Turkey’s activities aimed at making the Nagorno-Karabakh problem part
of the roadmap context just a few days after the anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide are by no means coincidence. The Turkish foreign
office showed comprehension: its "dialectics" applied in the United
States was similar to that applied in Europe and Middle East. After
President Obama reneged, Turkey launched diplomatic operations in
Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Brazil. The Turkish ambassadors to
European countries proved to be "up to the mark" as well. As regards
Ankara’s representative in Baku, he had a special mission…

Armenia has never been able to do anything to "temper" that strong
contrary wind. Ankara is reaping dividends from the political
scenarios, whereas Armenia proved impotent.

The results of Turkish diplomats’ activities can be felt in Argentina
as well. News about the developing ideology of Genocide denial keep
on coming. Meetings with parliamentarians and officials, as well as
invitations to journalists and other people to visit Turkey, have
become usual practice. Against this background, the sluggish Armenian
diplomacy strikes the eye. So the demand for Edward Nalbandyan’s
resignation fits in with the context, which is unfavorable for both
Armenia and the Diaspora. This is an issue to be considered in all
seriousness.