EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION: TURKEY’S PRECONDITIONS VIOLATE THE PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

armradio.am
03.09.2009 13:32

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) 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 prec onditions, 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=2 0genocide 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.