Member of  the “Miatsum” National Initiative Responds to Hetq Questions Re: Protocols

My evaluation of recent developments in Armenian-Turkish relations is negative for a few very clear reasons. It has been stressed that in the protocols, that really have the content of a treaty, there exists al the preconditions that Turkey has sought over the years regarding normalization of relations with Armenia or the opening of borders. »»»»»

The presidential press service has announced that President Sargsyan left today on his whirlwind public relations tour of the diaspora in an effort to garner public support for the recently signed Armenian-Turkish protocols.

Accompanying President Sargsyan on his tour is Gagik Harutyunyan, President of the RoA Constitutional Court; Hranush Hakobyan, Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Arkady Ghukasyan, special presidential envoy. »»»»»

Armenian MP’s Artzvik Minasyan and Vardan Ayvazyan today debated the economic merits or pitfalls of the reopening of the border with Turkey.

Mr. Minasyan, speaking on behalf of the ARF, stated that the party had drawn up an economic analysis of what would happen if the borders were to be reopened and that it contained several key issues that needed to be addressed first. »»»»»

A European Commission sponsored survey conducted in Turkey early this summer revealed wide misperceptions and mistrust of minorities on the part of Turkish citizens.

For example, when asked if minorities were loyal to the Turkish Republic, 54% of respondents said Alevis were loyal and 38% said Kurds were. When it came to non-Muslim minorities, the figure decreased sharply to 16% for Greeks and 15% for Armenians and Jews. »»»»»

Today, the RoA Ministry of Defense has refuted reports appearing in the Azeri press that cite Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Azimov as stating that certain Armenian military units have abandoned their frontline posts and are retreating towards the west.

The RoA Defense Ministry cites Colonel Senor Hasratyan, head of the Press Division of the NKR Defense Army, as denying any such information as pure propaganda emanating from Baku.

Today the Armenian National Assembly is holding parliamentary hearings on Armenian-Turkish relations. In his address to the parliament, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said such discussions provided an opportunity to listen to various opinions on Armenian-Turkish relations and to understand the public comprehension of certain issues. Here are some excerpts of his speech:

“Ever since independence Armenia has been ready to normalize relations with Turkey without preconditions. Now we are realizing this aspiration. Relations between Armenia and Turkey go beyond the circle of bilateral political relations and include issues affected by historical, moral-psychological and other factors.” »»»»»

Yesterday, Zarouhie Postanjyan, a member of Armenia’s delegation to PACE, directed the following question to the PACE Presidential Committee:

“PACE often talks about the need of electronic news outlets in Armenia that would express a variety of opinion. Regarding the decision of the court to deny a operating license to “A1+” TV, I would like to ask the committee if it is aware that the government of Armenia had yet to fully comply with the requirements set forth in previous PACE resolutions and what steps does the Assembly intend to take to resolve the problem?” »»»»»

Even the most depoliticized segment in the diaspora is convinced that “our government has sold us out”

Serious developments are taking place in the diaspora. Even though many are attempting to label the supporters of the diasporan ARF as extremists and far-out nationalists, there are many in the diaspora, not belonging to any party, who are also up in arms and angry over the Armenian-Turkish protocols. »»»»»