SERZH SARGSYAN: PERSONALLY, I AM GOING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS…

NOYAN TAPAN
SEPTEMBER 18, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Below is Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan’s opening speech (abridged version) at the September
17 thematic consultation "The Current Stage of the Normalization of
Armenian-Turkish Relations".

"I propose making the current stage of the normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations the subject of today’s discussion. I expect
various formats of discissions on this subject.

Following the publication of the joint statement on normalization
of Armenian-Turkish relations and the initiated protocols, a really
positive and important process has begun.

By inviting President of Turkey to Armenia and initiating all this
process, I have had the purpose to open the window of opportunities
for the normalization of bilateral relations for Armenia and Turkey
and to show that the people who have gone through the ordeal of the
Genocide, and the steadfast country of Armenia ready to defend the
pain of its people actually have enough power to be the first to offer
their hand and to point out the senselessness of moving against the
course of the world development.

Many say that we should negotiate with Turkey, but there is no need
to do it openly and publicly. All of you remember that there have
always been such attempts throughout the history of indpendent
Armenia: indeed, the latest process differs from the rest by its
publicity. However, I believe that this process should be publicized
because the tension existing between us is not a situational one,
this tension is not, so to speak, a war of the creams of societies,
but it is between our societies, and this tension, or frankly speaking,
this animosity is a consequence of the gloomiest page in our history –
the genocide committed in the Ottoman Empire. If we ever normalize
our relations with Turkey, then, in addition to political will of
Armenian and Turkish leaders, the participation of our societies is
necessary. I understand that the publicity has its problems as well
because if the process reaches a deadlock, the contradictions and
the animosity I mentioned will only deepen.

We should be able to understand where we are, what we have and where
we are going.

Where are we? The current stage is the stage of discussion, signing
and possible ratification of the initiated documents. Yes, I consider
it possible that the explanations about some parts of the documents
will not be convincing for some people, even though I am sure this is
almost impossible in case of a comprehensive presentation and impartial
examination. But even in this case does it mean that we experienced
failure regarding some issue, or does it mean that we have opened
a working field for speaking and solving all problems? After all,
do we start or finish with this stage? Let’s speak and understand
together today.

We have two initiated documents and an active process. Let’s reflect
together on what these documents give or take. I am convinced that
you are familiar with the details. How to assess them: as acts giving
answers to the existing questions or as acts creating prerequisites
for solution of the problems? Let’s reason together: do we sacrifice
our convictions and our belief in truth by these documents, or instead
of isolating ourselves in a reserved immaculateness, do we open ways
of bringing them to others’ notice and open a front for work? Let’s
understand it together.

Numerous people now ask me the questions about what my minimum and
maxiumum programs are. I consider the establishment of diplomatic
realtions with Turkey and the opening of borders neither my minimum
program nor the maximum one. I view the completion of this process
as the ensuring of a minimum environment which will allow starting
a dialog with the Turks. We have a lot of problems to solve in the
field of regulating Armenian-Turkish relations, from theoretical and
political problems to historical ones.

Where are we going? Personally, I am going to solve problems. If
we have shut a door for resolving some problem, I would ask you to
indicate it.

Let’s understand these problems together. If we really want to
normalize the relations, whereas I repeat that so far no one
has declared publicly that he as a political force is against the
normalization of relations with the Turks, let’s understand who will
do what, in general, what work we all will do. I think this is the
most important thing".