Vahan Hovhannisyan: Armenian-Turkish process awakened Armenian mentality

May 1, 2010 - 14:02 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The ARF Dashnaktsutyun never opposed normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, an ARFD Bureau member said.

“It’s a long process consisting of three stages. First, it should be establishment of diplomatic relations and opening of the border. Second stage could imply discussion of urgent problems. Then, the sides would be able to sign some agreements,” Vahan Hovhannisyan said during a meeting with Villeurbanne Mayor Jean-Paul Bret.

“Turkey managed to combine all these stages in one and it was Armenia’s diplomatic failure. We are hopeful that our diplomats will correct this mistake,” he said.

At the same time, Mr. Hovhannisyan noted that the Armenian-Turkish process awakened Armenian mentality. “Political forces speak not only of the necessity of recognition of the Armenian Genocide but also of compensation for its consequences,” he said.

Mr. Bret said for his part that dragging out the process of ratification of Protocols on normalization of relations, Turkey has badly damaged its international image. “Turkey seems to screen its secret policy by these Protocols,” he said.

He also informed that a delegation led by him will be visiting Nagorno Karabakh on May 2 and 3, while a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian is scheduled for May 4.

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.