REFERENDUM IS NONSENSICAL

3/aram-sargsyan
07:50 pm | September 03, 2009 | Politics

Chairman of the "Republic" party Aram Sargsyan doesn’t find the
"Heritage" party’s proposal for a referendum too appropriate and takes
note of the fact that in that case, a referendum must be held not in
Armenia, but also for all Armenians because the Armenians who suffered
because of Turkey are mainly living outside Armenia and their approach
is much more important.

"The government must know the views of Armenia, Karabakh and the
Diaspora, but the legitimate government can do that. The current
authorities can’t do that because they came to power by ignoring
public opinion."

Chairman of the "Republic" party welcomes the attempt to normalize
relations between Armenia and Turkey, although he has some concerns.

Aram Sargsyan doesn’t accept the creation of a sub-committee of
historians. He is also sure that the Karabakh issue lies in the
normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations.

"It is a process that leads to the strengthening of relations between
two nations and it is a historical event. The two countries must
enter a new stage and create a new political situation. The opening
of the borders and the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations
and other countries in the region are in the interest of Armenians
and the given countries."

Aram Sargsyan is sure that Vazgen Sargsyan would have been in favor
of the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations.

"I think that Vazgen would have been in favor. Vazgen wanted to see
a free and strong Armenia. He believed that Armenian businessmen can
compete with any foreign businessmen, much less Turkish businessmen. He
saw Armenia’s defense through the army, friendly relations with
neighbors, economic development and the opening of the borders as
the rise of the Armenian people."

The commission of historians is logical

"As all statements by the "Heritage" party, this demand for a
referendum is also illogical," said chairman of the Constitutional
Right Union Hayk Babukhanyan. He finds that the expected discussions
and ratification by the parliament are fully sufficient.

Babukhanyan sees no danger in the creation of a commission of
historians. "I think that it would be illogical if the Turks
and Armenians didn’t discuss the wrinkles of the past, Turkey’s
responsibility, the genocide issue and act as if nothing had
happened. That would be illogical. After all, there are issues
concerning historical heritage and other important issues, such as
the Treaty of Sevres that need to be discussed."