ARF WARNS OF DANGERS FOR ARMENIA AND KARABAKH

rns-of-dangers-for-armenia-and-karabakh/
Sep 2, 2009

YEREVAN (Yerkir)-Calling it a retreat from generations of struggle
and a disgrace, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, at a rally
Wednesday, warned of the dangers emanating from the Armenia-Turkey
normalization process as outlined by the protocols announced earlier
this week. The rally was organized to mark the 18th anniversary of
Karabakh’s independence.

Speaking to the thousands gathered at Yerevan’s Aznavour Square, ARF
Bureau member Vahan Hovannesian expressed the unequivocal rejection
by his party of the protocols for establishment and development of
relations between Armenia and Turkey, which were announced on Monday.

He warned that the documents did not reflect the aspirations of
Armenia and were guided by elements that, in the long run, would
benefit Turkey and its interests in the region, including the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its aspirations for membership in the EU.

Hovannesian pointed out that the Armenian authorities have agreed
to further concessions in a process that was supposed to have been
advanced without any preconditions, as articulated on numerous
occasions by Armenia’s leaders.

"No matter how extensively our and US officials contend that talks on
Turkish-Armenian relations are proceeding without preconditions, Turkey
has not abandoned them and has adeptly managed to construct the entire
negotiations package around its preconditions," said Hovannesian.

He outlined that the provisions of the protocols have weakened the
process to attain international recognition for the Genocide and are
effectively forcing the recognition of the anti-Armenian Kars Treaty,
to which Armenia was not a signatory.

"We view as careless efforts by the Armenian President and Foreign
Minister to seek a quick resolution through negotiations. Our people
will pay a very high price for that," warned Hovannesian, enumerating
Turkey’s gains and Armenia’s losses since the announcement of the
so-called "roadmap" agreement on the eve of the 94th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide.

Hovannesian stressed that the ARF has never been against the reopening
of the Turkish-Armenian border.

However, he said the party can by no means agree to "the price
the Armenian authorities are willing to pay" for meeting Turkey’s
preconditions.

"We say ‘yes’ to the establishment of diplomatic relations without
any preconditions. However, in their present form, the Protocols are
unacceptable and must be revised," Hovannesian stated.

The same sentiments were echoed by ARF Supreme Council of Armenia
chairman Armen Rustamian, who also discussed the party’s position on
the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution process.

He said that the current negotiations process are also pressuring
Yerevan to agree to a hasty agreement, through which withdrawal of
liberated territories surrounding the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is
stipulated without security guarantees and the demand for determination
of a new status, which goes counter to democratic norms, since Karabakh
has already determined its status through popular vote.

ARF parliamentary bloc member Ara Nranyan also discussed Armenia’s
domestic situation, outlining socio-economic reforms to strengthen
Armenian society and national interests.