SUSPENSION OF PROTOCOLS: A WELCOME YET INCOMPLETE MOVE
Armenian Weekly Staff
Fri, Apr 23 2010
On April 22, President Serge Sarkisian made a televised announcement on
the process of normalization between Armenia and Turkey. The president
said that Turkey was not ready for the normalization process, that the
preconditions set forth by Turkey were unacceptable, and that "the
pointless efforts of making the dialogue between Armenia and Turkey
an end in itself" were also unacceptable. He stated, however, that
Armenia will not exit the process, but will suspend the ratification
of the protocols.
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) has reason to approach this
development with guarded optimism. Armenia’s decision to effectively
suspend discussions until a change in attitude from the Turkish side
is the most open acknowledgment to date of the dangers inherent in
this process.
Sarkisian’s announcement also makes it clear that the voice of the
Armenian people both in Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora has had
an effect on the Armenian government. This is, therefore, also an
opportunity for us to redouble our efforts to make our voices fully
heard. Hopefully, the Armenian government has also learned to listen
to its people before embarking on such adventures in the future.
It must have become abundantly clear to official Yerevan by now that
Ankara has no intention to normalize relations with Armenia without
preconditions, and is simply using the negotiation process to stall
genocide recognition. To steer clear of this ongoing maneuvering
by Turkey, Armenia must fully disengage from the process, namely by
rescinding its signature from the protocols.
The announcement by Sarkisian also comes two days before President
Obama’s statement on the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
Last year, also on the eve of April 24, the "roadmap" to the
Turkey-Armenia normalization process was announced, and Obama
consequently refrained from using the term "genocide" in his annual
statement, citing " efforts by Turkey and Armenia to normalize their
bilateral relations."
"The two governments have agreed on a framework and roadmap for
normalization," Obama had noted. "I commend this progress, and urge
them to fulfill its promise." Now that Ankara has dragged its feet
for a year, it is time for Obama to fulfill his promise to properly
acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, paving the way for an honest and
open discourse and dialogue that does not hold history hostage