Vahan Shirkhanyan, a member of the Social-Democrat Hnchak Party’s Central Board and former RoA Deputy Defense Minister, stated at a press conference today that the party had always been opposed to signing any protocols with Turkey since it saw dangers looming on the horizon. “Armenia has had 4 playing cards since independence – the diaspora, the Genocide, Russian bases and Artsakh. We lose the first three by these protocols and if they are ratified we will lose Artsakh as well,” noted Mr. Shirkhanyan. The historian also argued that the protocols also threatened Armenian-Iranian relations. Republican Party MP Hamlet Haroutyunyan didn’t share the views of the former Armenian deputy defense minister. “Armenia has already solved its internal problems and must now break-out of the diplomatic blockade it finds itself in. Establishing relations with Turkey is expressly directed at this issue.  These protocols are in our favour and include no causes for concern regarding the Genocide or Karabakh. We must be realistic and accept the fact that if we were to demand that Turkey recognize the Genocide and Artskah before we establish relations, Ankara wouldn’t do it in the next 100 years,” he argued. Vahan Shirkhanyan countered by saying that had Armenia not changed its plicy towards Armenia, Turkey would have taken those steps because that what was being demanded of it by many nations, the European Union and President Obama. Mr. Shirkhanyan asked his Republican Party counterpart what would Armenia derive from the opening of the border and stated that he had his suspicions about the protocols since we haven’t seen the signed copies. Hamlet Haroutyunyan answered by saying that when two nations establish diplomatic relations there are mutual benefits involved. He added that during the term of the first president of the RoA we scored a victory in Karabakh and that during the presidency of Kocharyan we saw the internationalization of the Genocide issue. During the term of the current president we will break free of the diplomatic blockade we find ourselves in, concluded MP Haroutyunyan. Inga Martinyan