International community’s stance to clear up after April 24

April 21, 2010 - 15:24 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Director of Caucasus Institute, political analyst Alexander Iskandaryan said that the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide is irrefutable.

“Usually, those countries, which do not want to recognize the Armenian Genocide or avoid it, say that Turkey is important for them, thus, they do not consider taking this step to be correct. This is a political motivation,” Mr. Iskandaryan said during Historical Memory and Contemporary Reality Yerevan-Moscow space bridge dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

According to him, political games are normal and the issue of Genocide will also be used in them. Referring to Armenia’s possible concessions, Mr. Iskandaryan stated that Armenia has made a compromise since 1991, declaring its willingness to establish diplomatic relations with Ankara without preconditions.

He voiced doubts with respect to any development of the Armenian-Turkish process until April 24. According to him, the sides will take some break after this date; while there will be some developments after that. “We shall wait to see whether Washington, Moscow or Brussels will exert pressure on Turkey for the Protocol’s ratification, but Armenia cannot exert pressure on Ankara itself. After April 24, it will become clear whether pressure will be exerted on Turkey, or not. If yes, the dialogue may be resumed after April 24,” the Director of Caucasus Institute stressed.

The Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres and deportations, involving forced marches under conditions designed to lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths reaching 1.5 million.

The majority of Armenian Diaspora communities were formed by the Genocide survivors.

Present-day Turkey denies the fact of the Armenian Genocide, justifying the atrocities as “deportation to secure Armenians”. Only a few Turkish intellectuals, including Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk and scholar Taner Akcam, speak openly about the necessity to recognize this crime against humanity.

The Armenian Genocide was recognized by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, Italy, 45 U.S. states, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Argentina, Belgium, Austria, Wales, Switzerland, Canada, Poland, Venezuela, Chile, Bolivia, the Vatican, Luxembourg, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Sweden, Venezuela, Slovakia, Syria, Vatican, as well as the European Parliament and the World Council of Churches.

The Armenian-Turkish Protocols

The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks held through Swiss mediation.

On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country’s Organic Law.

Commenting on the CC ruling, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “it contains preconditions and restrictive provisions which impair the letter and spirit of the Protocols.” ”The decision undermines the very reason for negotiating these Protocols as well as their fundamental objective. This approach cannot be accepted on our part. Turkey, in line with its accustomed allegiance to its international commitments, maintains its adherence to the primary provisions of these Protocols. We expect the same allegiance from the Armenian government,” the Ministry said.