BEING ASHAMED FOR WHAT YOU’VE DONE

A1Plus.am
22/04/10

"It’s like being ashamed of something that you shouldn’t have done,"
this was Armenian National Congress (HAK) coordinator Levon Zurabyan’s
evaluation of the moratorium for ratification of the Turkey-Armenia
Protocols.

The Congress will touch upon the reason why the National Assembly
decided to take the issue of ratifying the Turkey-Armenia Protocols
from the agenda of the National Assembly’s four-day sessions, as well
as a number of issues relating to the process and the effects after
discussions with all forces of the Armenian National Congress.

Head of the National Assembly’s "Heritage" faction Armen Martirosyan
told "A1+" that he welcomes the moratorium of the ratification of the
Turkey-Armenia Protocols, but finds that it was incomplete. "I am glad
that the political coalition finally focused on the announcements made
by high-ranking Turkish officials. In the past year, the coalition was
ignoring them a day after the signing of the Protocols. I welcome the
decision to take the issue out of the agenda of the National Assembly’s
four-day sessions, but generally, the signature must be taken back."

Armen Martirosyan believes that if ever should there be the start
of establishing Turkish-Armenian relations, it should be without
preconditions.

"It should only be within the framework of establishing diplomatic
relations and Turkey’s opening of the border."

Martirosyan thinks the political coalition issued the statement because
it was under huge pressure. By saying pressure, Martirosyan means:

"The authorities are in such an inter-political situation, there
are so many issues that remain unsolved that they wouldn’t be able
to keep power if they ratified the Turkey-Armenia Protocols with
such preconditions."

The ARF also believes the step was "incomplete". The ARF is planning
to issue a joint statement along with the parties that have joined the
"No" movement.