ARMENIAN POLITICAL FORCES ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 15 2009
Armenia

17:22 / 09/15/2009The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) has
presented draft amendments to the Armenian-Turkish Protocols to the
Armenian political forces.

The ARF mainly objects to the points on a commission to study
historical facts and on the mutual recognition of borders. Talking
to NEWS.am, Eduard Sharmazanov, Secretary of the Republican Party
of Armenia (RPA) faction, pointed out that some of the ARF-drafted
amendments are acceptable. "Specifically, the party proposes a
provision on a dialogue without any preconditions. On the other hand,
why should the text be amended if it is clear as it is?" Sharmazanov
said.

As regards the ARF;s objections to the point on mutual recognition of
borders, which, the party believes, means Armenia’s renouncing any
territorial claims on Turkey, he said: "During the whole history of
the Third Republic, no government, including the one with ARF as part
thereof, has stated Armenia has any territorial claims on Turkey." Of
course, the RPA expresses its all-out support for the Armenian-Turkish
Protocol and is not going to propose any modifications. "They are
unprecedented protocols, which do not contain a point challenging the
Armenian Genocide or one on the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. Both
President Serzh Sargsyan and international representatives made
relevant statements. We should trust our leaders after all,"
Sharmazanov said.

As regards he Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), it has not yet had time
to examine the ARF’s proposals. However, Aram Safaryan, Secretary of
the PAP faction, told NEWS.am that the party has prepared a number of
proposals. He did not provide any further information as the faction
decided to wait until the RA President’s meeting with the Armenian
political forces.

The Heritage Party has not decided on whether it will take part
in the meeting. Board Chairman Armen Martirosyan pointed out that
the party prepared ten proposals that are mostly similar to the
ARF-prepared ones.

On September 17, the Armenian President and Armenian political forces
are to discuss Armenian-Turkish relations. The Armenian National
Congress led by Levon Ter-Petrosyan refuses to take part in the
meeting.