MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
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PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
Vartan Oskanian’s letter to Nansy Pelosy, Speaker of US House of
Representatives
Speaker Nancy Pelosi
US House of Representatives
Washington DC
Dear Speaker Pelosi,
I have refrained from intruding into the process that has brought US HR 106
to its current stage in the congressional process. I have done so because I
believe that the content and the intent of the resolution are a matter for
US Representatives and their constituents. For us, there is nothing there
that is historically inaccurate, nor that threatens the interests of any
country. Nevertheless, we have refrained from public expressions.
The recent letter from eight Secretaries of State addressed to you, Madame
Speaker, introduces an important change in the nature of the discussion.
That letter clearly addresses processes that directly affect the Republic of
Armenia, and therefore, I would take this opportunity to share my concerns
and thoughts.
It is with dismay that I read that the letter claims that such a resolution
would hurt Armenia-Turkey relations. It is quite unfortunate that eight
experienced diplomats would buy into Turkish manipulation. I regret to say
that there is no process in place to promote normalization of relations
between Armenia and Turkey. Expressing concern about damaging a process that
doesn’t exist is at the very least, disingenuous.
Let me go further. Not only is there no process, I can honestly tell you
that we have no hope that Turkey will seriously engage with the expectation
of achieving minimal normal relations as an outcome. My pessimism is based
on the fact that each time we agree to a meeting, the simple fact of the
meeting is used by Turkey to derail other processes in the US or around the
world in other bodies. Yet the meeting itself does not open any new doors,
does not have a commensurate follow-up, and other than meeting-for-meeting’s
sake, there is no progress. That is frustrating for us, but appears to be
inconsequential for Turkey’s leadership.
This time, too, we agreed to a meeting between myself and the newly
appointed Foreign Minister of Turkey, Ali Babacan, in New York next week,
cognizant of our responsibility to use every opportunity to improve
relations. Before that meeting has even been held, there are claims that
somehow that still-unheld meeting is part of a process that might be
endangered.
Madame Speaker, Armenia has always been ready for normal Turkey-Armenia
relations. Yet, every initiative that would lead toward normalization has
been rejected by Turkey. Instead, it continues to place pre-conditions.
Turkey makes offers that are simply invitations for open-ended talk, without
serious commitment to arriving at ordinary relations between neighbors. Even
their call for a historical commission to discuss painful, historic events
is not serious, given their prohibitive penal consequences for open speech
and discussion and the adversarial environment Turkey has created by
maintaining closed borders with Armenia.
To view acknowledgement of the truth as an obstacle to political relations
is cynical. A resolution that addresses matters of human rights and genocide
cannot damage anyone’s bilateral relations – neither yours with Turkey, nor
ours. I would urge you and your colleagues, as well as the former
secretaries of state, to acknowledge that the same concern for geostrategic
interests should move us all to do everything possible to open these
borders, and not to reward intransigence.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Vartan Oskanian
September 27, 2007
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
