Serzh Sargsyan Addressed All Armenians

Tert.am

18:59 ¢ 10.10.09

Serzh Sargsyan Addressed All Armenians

"My fellow compatriots,
The historic destine of our nation has many times been focuses on the
directive of searching wise exits of the most complex situations. We
have only succeeded when we pragmatically assessed the current
challenges and took appropriate actions. Today we also find ourselves
in a similar position. In order to build and consolidate our statehood
we, in our collective identity, need to demonstrate adequate thinking
and action.

Today, we are trying to put on a normal track the relations with a
country where, under the Ottoman rule, our nation fell victim to the
policy of patricide and genocide. The scars of the Genocide do not
heal. And the memory of our martyrs and future of our generations
dictates to have solid and stable state, powerful and prosperous
country, a country which is the rebirth of the dreams of the whole
Armenian nation. One of the significant steps along that road is
having normal relations with all our neighbors, including Turkey.

Independence dictates the will and determination to take responsible
decisions; it dictates pragmatism and forward-looking sustained
work. That is the road I have selected. I have done it with the strong
understanding of the historical reality and a strong belief in the
future of our people.

There is no alternative to the establishment of the relations with
Turkey without any precondition. It is the dictate of the time. It is
not this need that is being debated today. The concern of individuals
and some political forces is caused by the different interpretation of
certain provisions contained in the Protocols and their historic
mistrust towards Turkey.
Having realistically assessed these circumstances and being convinced
in the necessity and correctness of the steps undertaken, I insist on
the following:

1. No relations with Turkey can question the reality of the patricide
and the genocide perpetrated against the Armenian nation. It is a
known fact and it should be recognized and
the whole progressive humanity. The relevant sub-commission to be
established under the intergovernmental commission, is not a
commission of historians.
2. The issue of the existing border between Armenia and Turkey is to
be resolved through prevailing norms of the international law. The
Protocols do not go beyond that.
3. These relations cannot and do not relate to the resolution of the
Nagorno Karabagh conflict, which is an independent and separate
process. Armenian does not regard the clause of the territorial
integrity and inviolability of the borders contained in the Protocols
as in any way related to the Nagorno Karabagh problem.
4. The Armenian side will give an adequate reaction if Turkey
protracts the process of ratification or raises conditions for
it. Armenia undertakes no unilateral commitments though these
Protocols and does not make any unilateral affirmations. Armenia is
signing these Protocols in order to create basis for the establishment
of normal relations between our two countries. Hence, if Turkey fails
to ratify the Protocols within a reasonable timeframe and does not
implement all the clauses contained herein within the provided
timeframe or violates them in the future, Armenia will immediately
take appropriate steps as stipulated by the international law.

Dear compatriots, in addressing you I want to emphasize that today,
more than ever our people should stand united; we should have
capability of maturing our collective identity to life in the reality
of statehood. That is our road to the future.
The signing of the Protocols will be followed by stages of their
ratification and implementation. All the concerns and possible threats
which were so widely expressed in the course of the debate will be
taken into careful consideration and we shall be able to prevent any
development that might contradict our national interest. Today, I am
more than convinced that we will succeed. And we will do that
together, all of us, the Armenians. Today we are not the same we were
only a few months ago. And i
fidence in the wisdom of our people. I have confidence that together
we shall hand down a prosperous and peaceful motherland to our
generation. It will definitely be so".

Tert.am