ARMENIA MUST WITHDRAW SIGNATURE, DEMONSTRATORS STATE

news.am
April 23 2010
Armenia

A year ago, on the threshold of the 94th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, Yerevan and Ankara stated their intention to establish
bilateral relations. On April 22, 2010, the Armenian side had to state
its decision to suspend the ratification of the Armenian-Turkish
protocols signed in Zurich on October 10, 2009, the reason being
Turkish officials’ destructive position and delay in ratifying the
documents.

Despite the heinous crime committed against the Armenian people in
1915, this people was able to found its statehood, Artyusha Shahbazyan,
Secretary of the ARF parliamentary faction, stated at a rally in
Yerevan on April 23. "The other day Turkish Premier Recep Erdogan
stated that Muslims are unable to commit genocide, but we have no
problems with Muslims. We are grateful to the Muslim nations that
saved hundreds of thousands of Armenians from the Genocide and gave
refuge to them," Shahbazyan said.

According to him, modern-day Turkey’s problem is that it continues
committing cultural genocide in Western Armenia. "We will never forget
that crime," Shahbazyan said.

Harutyun Arakelyan, Chairman of the Ramkavar Azatakan (Liberal
Democratic) Party of Armenia, pointed out that the anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide must cause the Armenian political forces to combine
their efforts to get the Armenian Genocide international recognized.

Chairman of the New Times Party Aram Karapetyan stated that the
Armenian authorities’ policy "has made the entire nation feel enormous
strain" for a year. "The Armenian authorities might have pursued a
policy of getting the Armenian Genocide internationally recognized,
but their actions over the past year, as well as President Serzh
Sargsyan’s statement yesterday, will eventually result in even greater
pressure in the context of Nagorno-Karabakh. The present situation has
shown we must be consistent in getting Armenia’s signature withdrawn
from the protocols," Karapetyan said.