WHOSE GOAL WAS SCORED?
JAMES HAKOBYAN
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12:14:12 – 01/09/2009
We have to admit that few of those who track the Armenian and Turkish
relation would expect the two protocols, released on August 31. Even
if such an event was expected in the process of normalization of the
Armenian and Turkish relations, nevertheless, very few people imagined
such a thing happen in the nearest future.
Above all doubts, the Armenian government will present this event
as the success of Armenia because the protocols prepared by Armenia
and Turkey dwell on the opening of the border and establishment
of relations.
But both protocols contain not only admirable but also worrying
points for the Armenian side. The point is that the protocols run
that Armenia and Turkey, the countries which sign the protocols,
respect the territorial integrity of other countries. Is there no
danger in connection with the Karabakhi conflict? Is Azerbaijan not
one of the other countries? The point is that there does not seem to
be any exception in the protocol.
Besides, the sides also recognize each other’s borders. Perhaps no
comment is needed here, as well as regarding the fact that the sides
agree to set up an intergovernmental commission to shape an atmosphere
of mutual confidence between the societies, which will also consider
other issues, including a sub-commission to study the genocide issue.
There is not a statement about the genocide or that the commission
is to study it. But what does it mean an impartial and through study
of historical documents? Turkey has never set forth or acknowledged
the issue of genocide as such, it has always dwelt on historical
issues. Consequently, Turkey means the study of the genocide,
and the Armenian side should understand the real implication of
the statements. If the Armenian side fails to get the real meaning,
this means that the document with Turkey is signed by people who have
nothing to do with politics and diplomacy.
In other words, it seems to be evident that the protocols signed
by Armenia and Turkey include all the three preconditions which the
Turkish side offered to the Armenian side in return for opening the
border and establishing diplomatic relations through leakages and
Turkish high-ranking officials.
The Armenian side has always denied the existence of preconditions but
after reading the text of the protocols it is difficult to believe
those denials. We only need to believe that during these six weeks
of consultations, which are going to be held on the protocols, the
Armenian side will manage to eliminate the dangers present in the texts
of the protocols. However, the fact that the text was published by
the Armenian Foreign Ministry means that it did not find any dangerous
points in it or it did not want to.