Armenian Assembly of America Board of Trustees Members participate in debate on Armenian-Tukish Protocols

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) Board of Trustees Member, Peter Kezirian and Assembly Western Region Director Yeghig Keshishian participated in a panel discussion hosted by the Armenian Law Student Association (ALSA) of Southwestern Law School in conjunction with the Law School's Diversity Affairs Office regarding the recently signed protocols to establish normal relations without preconditions between the Republics of Armenia and Turkey.



The panel also included Steve Dadaian and Vicken Sonentz Papazian representing the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).



Following the opening remarks by Stella Pogosyan, President of the Armenian Law Student Association at Southwestern, the Assembly and ANCA each discussed the protocols. Keshishian opened his discussion looking at the geopolitical situation in the South Caucasus, noting that the Republic of Armenia, since its independence in 1991, has sought formal diplomatic relations with Turkey without preconditions.



Turkey meanwhile has insisted on preconditions such as concessions on Nagorno Karabakh and demands that Armenia renounce international affirmation of the Armenian Genocide. Turkey's 15-year plus blockade of Armenia also reflects part of Turkey's strategy to attempt to isolate and marginalize Armenia.



Referring to the actual text of the protocols, Keshishian noted that they do not threaten the veracity of the Armenian Genocide, nor do they require Armenia to abdicate its treaty rights on territorial issues or require concessions on Nagorno Karabakh as many have speculated.



Steve Dadaian, speaking on behalf of the ANCA, attempted to use legal arguments to argue that the Protocols undercut particular interests of the Armenian Republic and accused the current government of not having the position or moral authority to deal with these concerns.



Papazian and Dadaian argued that the Protocols are poorly drafted and will help Turkey's accession to the European Union, which require open borders.
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