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ACNIS Director Richard Giragosian Comments on the
RECENT TRILATERAL ARMENIAN-TURKISH-SWISS JOINT STATEMENT
Richard Giragosian
Director
Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS)
(23 April 2009, Yerevan)–Armenian Center for National and International
Studies (ACNIS) Director Richard Giragosian issued a statement today
commenting on the recent joint declaration issued on 22 April by the
Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of
Turkey and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.
Only two days before the April 24th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, a
trilateral statement was issued by the Armenian, Turkish and Swiss
governments declaring that "Turkey and Armenia, together with Switzerland as
mediator, have been working intensively with a view to normalizing their
bilateral relations and developing them in a spirit of good-neighborliness,
and mutual respect, and thus to promoting peace, security and stability in
the whole region."
The statement went on to note that "the two parties have achieved tangible
progress and mutual understanding in this process and they have agreed on a
comprehensive framework for the normalization of their bilateral relations
in a mutually satisfactory manner. In this context, a road-map has been
identified."
Concluding by stating that "this agreed basis provides a positive prospect
for the on-going process," the joint statement represents one of the most
serious strategic blunders by the Armenian government to date. Although
this brief 95-word statement may accurately reflect an opportunity for a
genuinely historic breakthrough in relations between Armenia and Turkey, the
message of its text and the timing of its release raise important concerns.
Most clearly, by issuing such a joint statement just prior to the annual
commemoration of the Armenian genocide, the Republic of Armenia has only
bolstered, and seemingly endorsed, Turkish attempts to pressure US President
Barack Obama from fulfilling his campaign promises to recognize the Armenian
genocide in his traditional April 24th statement.
Moreover, by agreeing to not only issue a joint statement that clearly
conforms to Turkish attempts to distort and deny the historical veracity of
the Armenian genocide, but to also release such a statement just two days
prior to the traditional April 24th anniversary, the Armenian government has
demonstrated an appalling degree of short-sightedness and irresponsibility.
Such a strategic error raises further questions over the sophistication,
sincerity and seriousness of Armenian leadership, particularly at such a
vulnerable point in Armenian history when the security and status of
Nagorno-Karabagh remain unresolved and the future course of democratic and
economic reform in Armenia remains in doubt.
Within a broader context, this strategic error by the Armenian authorities
is considerably more than simply a deficiency in foreign policy, but
suggests a truly tragic, and possibly irrevocable step, whereby the Armenian
government has not only sacrificed the integrity of the state, but has
abdicated its responsibility to both the passing generation of genocide
survivors and the present generation of their ancestors. Such a disdainful
disregard for the historical legacy of the Armenian genocide has been an all
too common characteristic of the Republic of Turkey, but for the Republic of
Armenia, such irresponsible collaboration deserves only intense
condemnation. It is truly a tragic start to the annual commemoration of the
Armenian genocide.
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The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) is a
leading independent strategic research center located in Yerevan, Armenia.
As an independent, objective institution committed to conducting
professional policy research and analysis, ACNIS strives to raise the level
of public debate and seeks to broaden public engagement in the public policy
process, as well as fostering greater and more inclusive public knowledge.
Founded in 1994, ACNIS is the institutional initiative of Raffi K.
Hovannisian, Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs. Over the past
fifteen years, ACNIS has acquired a prominent reputation as a primary source
of professional independent research and analysis covering a wide range of
national and international policy issues.
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