At a press conference held earlier today, Haykazoun Alvrtsyan, Director of the "Western Armenians’ Research Center" Foundation, stated that the Armenia-Turkey protocols would have negative consequences for Javakhk given that it is the "hottest" pre-conflict area in the entire region. He argues that with the signing of the protocols Armenia assumed a number of obligations including the implicit forfeiture of the Armenian Cause. Mr. Alvrtsyan said that the protocols would also have a strong negative moral impact on Javakhk and that area Armenians would be resigned to a complicated state of affairs with Armenia’s effective resignation from land compensation demands and international genocide recognition efforts. "There is no government or regime that can defend the interests of Armenians in that country when the authorities in Armenia had effectively thrown in the towel. The logic of these protocols is such that the Armenian government is turning its back on pursuing the Armenian Cause. Just take a look at how the Armenian prime minister formulated the position when he stated that the RoA government is responsible for three million Armenians. This means that the millions of Armenians in the diaspora, in Artsakh and Javakhk are of no concern to them," stated Mr. Alvrtsyan. He also stated that the economic situation for Armenians in Javakhk would also deteriorate. Mr. Alvrtsyan noted that Javakhk Armenians had for years been trying to develop those economic links it has with Armenia. "However, when Armenia itself falls under the economic pressure of Turkey, Armenians of Javakhk will no longer pin their hopes on Yerevan. This will only serve to heighten an exodus of Armenians from the region." The other panel speaker, Vahe Sargsyan, a policy expert with the "Mitk" analytical center, argued that the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border can have a dual impact on Javakhk. With the opening of the border, Armenia’s orientation will center more on Turkey and the chasm that now exists between Yerevan and Tbilisi will only get bigger. "In this case, either Armenia will give a free hand to Georgia in terms of Javakhk. Armenia will thus no longer have any transportation or other issues with Georgia." On the other hand, according to Mr. Sargsyan, this hand-off policy by Yerevan might lead to more independent actions on the part of local Javakhk-Armenian groups since they would no longer be under the supervision of Armenia. "This might be of some benefit to Javakhk. We have come to the conclusion that over the [past ten years Armenia, in terms of Javakhk, has entered into a mutual understanding with Georgia. Certain organizations have even been set-up by the two countries to monitor developments in the Javakhk might be afforded some freedom to operate on its own if and when Armenia adopts a hand-off policy," he argued. Mr. Alvrtsyan then chimed in, "They will no longer be able to say that if we do something the roads leading to Armenia will be closed."