EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION For Justice & Democracy
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B-1000 Bruxelles
Tel/ Fax: +32 2 732 70 27/26
Website :Eafjd [1]

PRESS RELEASE
WEDNESDAY 2 SEPTEMBER 2009
CONTACT : VARTéNIE ECHO
TEL. / FAX. : +32 (0) 2 732 70 27

ARMENIAN /TURKISH PROTOCOLS: TURKEY’S PRECONDITIONS VIOLATE THE
PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

On Monday, 31st August, Armenia and Turkey, under the aegis of the
Swiss diplomacy, announced that they agreed to start internal
political consultations in order to sign and swiftly ratify two
protocols aiming at normalising their relations.

According to the joint press release, the two parties claim that
they will complete the consultations on the `protocol on the
establishment of diplomatic relations’ and on the `protocol on the
development of bilateral relations’ in six weeks, further to which
they pretend to quickly reach a ratification `in line with their
constitutional and legal procedures’. These documents were made
public

A close examination of the protocols (attached herein [4]) clearly
reveals that the purview of these documents ` historically
unprecedented between the two neighbouring states ` goes far beyond
the mere `normalisation’ and border-opening issues being discussed
between Armenia and Turkey over many years. These protocols embrace,
in a fundamental way, the full scope of unresolved issues between
Turkey and the Armenian people worldwide, including those involving
the legitimate rights of the European Armenian communities. Through
the protocols, and mobilizing immense resources of international
pressure, Turkey has indeed imposed its preconditions, which Armenia
had categorically rejected so far.

The European Armenian Federation considers these protocols a
dangerous retreat from Armenia’s time-honoured policy of welcoming
normalisation of relations with Turkey, but without any
pre-conditions. The Turkish government’s pre-conditions violate the
core principles of international law as they involve acceptance by
Armenia of the terms and conditions of old and illegitimate treaties
long pre-dating the existence of independent Armenia.

They involve the abandonment by Armenia of all efforts toward the
international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. They also involve
complete capitulation by Armenia to Azerbaijan’s terms in the
Karabagh negotiations, as re-iterated by Minister Davutoglu on the
very day, i.e. September 1st, of the announcement of the protocols.
Furthermore, the tri-lateral announcement fails to recognize the fact
that the people of Nagorno Karabagh and the communities of the
Armenian Diaspora ` therefore the European Armenians ` are
legitimate parties to any `political consultations’ involving
these issues.

`Turkey should not be permitted to abuse these bilateral
negotiations `packaging away’ its historic national liabilities in
border-opening agreements with Armenia, its economically vulnerable
neighbour. The international community must reject Turkey’s most
recent practice of imposing its policy of denial of the Armenian
genocide through such biased bilateral deals. And the Swiss government
should be more vigilant in its assessment of the moral implications of
its mediation initiative given Turkey’s questionable record in all
these issues,’ stated Hilda Tchoboian the chairperson of the
European Armenian Federation.

« For decades, the European Armenian communities fought all forms
of genocide denial, advocated for the right to self-determination of
the people of Nagorno Karabagh, and defended the heritage of the
Armenian people in all of its aspects, having by their side the
unwavering support of the European society to their Just Cause. Today,
we reaffirm our commitment to defend the legitimate rights of our
People with the same determination,’ concluded Hilda Tchoboian.
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