ARMENIAN EX FM CRITICIZES ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS

ArmInfo
2009-09-22 19:18:00

ArmInfo. During a press-conference today former Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Armenia Vardan Oskanyan criticized the initialled
Armenian-Turkish protocols.

We have been presented with a fait accompli. These protocols do not
serve the interests of Armenia but nothing can be changed in them
any more. Our people are being persuaded that the future of Armenia
depends on the opening of its border with Turkey. But let’s not deceive
our people and our own selves and call a spade a spade. The border
may be opened but in exchange for serious concessions on Armenia’s
part. The protocols will break the balance of forces and will prevent
the development of normal relations between Armenia and Turkey in
the future.

The present situation is very much like the developments of 1997 when
it was said that the only way for Armenia to ensure its development
was to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. The past 10 years have
proved the opposite.

Armenia has actively developed in the last years. Today, the country
is facing a hard situation especially in the economy. The Diaspora and
Armenia have never been as far from each other as they are today. The
Armenian society is split and hopeless. And they say again that the
opening of the border will solve our problems. But, in fact, we still
have big potential for growth. Our problems are inside our country
and we must look for solutions at home.

The Armenian-Turkish protocols will not solve our internal problems. On
the contrary, they will generate new problems and challenges.

Oskanyan does not object to establishment of normal relations with
Turkey but we must do it under calmer conditions with no external
pressure on the basis of equality of interests. The way it is now
this document is unacceptable to us.
From: Baghdasarian