ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES MUST PREVENT ALL RISKS RELATED TO BORDER OPENING BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
30.09.2009 18:45 GMT+04:00

On September 30 the president of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan had a
meeting with the Public Council of Armenia on the matter of the
Armenian-Turkish Protocols.

According to the chairman of the Public Council Vazgen Manukyan, all 12
committees of the council held meetings on the subject matter, and then
adopted the draft decision, reflecting the main views of the Council.

"Almost all are in favor of opening the border and establishing
diplomatic relations with Turkey, since Armenia this way will come
out of isolation and become a reliable partner for other regional
countries. There are, however, concerns related to economic
and migration expansion, uncontrolled opportunity of trading the
property. In our opinion, the Armenian authorities should create a
proper governmental group, which will review some legislation and
prevent the risks of expansion, " Vazgen Manukyan said.

"Establishing a subcommittee on historical issues, in our opinion, can
be treated as we question the Armenian Genocide, and that Turkey’s goal
is to suspend the process of international recognition of the Genocide.

We believe that Turkey wants to drive a wedge between Armenia and
the Diaspora," said the Council chairman, adding that the Armenian
Genocide cannot be questioned.

"On the other hand, the discussion of Genocide in a different context
can enable the Turkish people to become familiar with it and understand
that such events really occurred," Vazgen Manukyan said.

According to him, the subcommittee should also involve scientists from
Diaspora, and its chairman must be someone who is very well aware of
the subject matter and enjoy confidence in Diaspora.