MANOYAN: PROTOCOLS ARE STILLBORN

11/manoyan-protocols-are-stillborn/
October 11, 2009

Below are comments made by the ARF Bureau political affairs director
Giro Manoyan on Oct. 10.

The protocols signed today after a delay of three and a half hours
are stillborn.

According to uncontested reports in the international media as
well as official Armenian explanation, the delay was because of the
Armenian delegation’s concerns regarding the statement to be made by
the Turkish foreign minister after the signing of the protocols.

According to uncontested Turkish news reports, the Turkish side
wanted to refer to the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict in the statement,
something Armenia says has nothing to do with the normalization of
ties with Turkey.

According to U.S. official reports, the U.S. delegation led by
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton facilitated "the two sides in
coming to an agreement on the statements that they’re going to make
at the ceremony." At the end, as a result of this "facilitation,"
after the signing of the document none of the foreign ministers made
any statements.

Conclusion: Turkey continues to regard the "resolution" of the Karabagh
conflict as a precondition for establishing diplomatic relations with
Armenia and for lifting the blockade. Not making this statement right
after signing the protocols does not mean it has changed its policy; it
only means the Armenian authorities, under obvious U.S. pressure, are
agreeing to continue to accept Turkey’s precondition in this regard.

And if President Sarkisian’s address today to the Armenian people is
to be taken seriously, then these protocols are stillborn.