REPUBLICAN-ARF DEBATE

14:20:28 – 25/09/2009
hos15306.html

In his debate on September 25 with the Republican member Gagik
Melikyan, the ARF member Artsvik Minasyan said in connection with the
Armenian and Turkish protocols that the ARF considered the principle
of self-determination the only on which the Karabakh issue had to be
based. But little by little it was replaced by the principle of
territorial integrity which means that we are regressing and it is
dangerous for Karabakh.

Gagik Melikyan, as all the other Republican members and the
governmental supporters refuses that the Armenian and Turkish
protocols may be determined by the precondition of
Nagorno-Karabakh. Gagik Melikyan in general thinks that all the
concern which the political forces including the ARF voice after the
release of the protocols have no real ground.

He stated that we are not demanders but we demand our homeland but no
one is going to offer it to us. We have to struggle having a strong
country, strong government and strong people, says Gagik Melikyan.

According to him, Turkey cannot impose preconditions `Second, do not
ever think that Turkey will ever recognize the Armenian genocide, even
after singing of not signing these protocols. I do not think the Turks
have documents refuting the fact of genocide. If they had they would
have released them long ago’, says Gagik Melikyan.

Artsvik Minasyan replied that Gagik Melikyan was telling a dangerous
thing. `I am sure you do not think this way. You just want to defend
that protocol. Without demanding, you cannot create homeland said
Artsvik Minasyan adding that it is offensive for him that those
protocols deprive the Armenians from their historical right, their
homeland.

By the way, Gagik Melikyan said they are also concerned with the
protocols, which will be seen after signing. According to Melikyan,
this worry concerns to the tax and customs services. Artsvik Minasyan
told Melikyan that in connection with the Armenian and Turkish
relations, they do not need to ignore the opinions of a party which
has an experience of more than 100 years.