Armenia has no choice, she is presented with a fait accompli

PanARMENIAN.Net - The possible opening of the Armenian-Turkish border and the establishment of diplomatic relations may put Armenia on the brink of disappearance. As proof to this can serve the whole 600-year-old history of the Armenians' inhabitance in the Ottoman Empire and in the Turkish Republic of Kemal Ataturk. We can talk endlessly over the fact that the pride and glory of the Ottoman culture were raised by ethnic Armenians, but the whole world is already convinced that architect Sinan was a great Turkish architect, and the monuments of Greek and Armenian culture preserved in Turkey belong to a certain culture of Asia Minor. We say that even so the world community knows who the Armenians were and we do not need to once again prove what is already obvious. This kind of approach to the proof of ownership to Western Armenia and its monuments is nothing but a stupid sense of "excellence" that can lead to nothing.

If you take a serious look at all the Pro et Contra imposed on Armenia through the unacceptable agreement, it turns out that we should simply erase from our own history the past 200 years and continue to live as if nothing has happened. Then no one would need the numerous protests and petitions used in the 19th century, when Armenians simply begged the San Stefano peace treaty to grant a constitution. The constitution resulted in the massacre of 1896... Next, the Young Turks "paid attention" to the Armenians. The outcome was the Armenian Genocide of 1915. The last one was Ataturk, who completed the work of Talaat Pasha. The conclusion drawn from the whole incident is very sad - we are unable to learn a lesson from history. Perhaps it's just a habit, a character, a way of life. The Armenians are remarkably complacent when it comes to the question of physical existence of the nation. Of course, one could argue that genocide is possible in the 21st century, but Rwanda and Darfur prove the contrary. Besides, there are now more civilized methods of destruction of a nation, which could be used against the Armenians in case of opening the Armenian-Turkish border.

As for the ratification of the Protocols on the normalization of bilateral relations in the parliaments of Turkey and Armenia, there probably lies the last chance for Armenia. The idea of a national referendum on the Armenian-Turkish relations, voiced by some political parties, could cool the hot heads yearning for opening the border. In fact, majority of the Armenian population as well as the Diaspora is against opening the border. Moreover, failure of the referendum or ratification of the Protocols at the National Assembly of Armenia would lead to a final split between the two branches of the Armenian nation, who even so have little friendly feelings towards each other. Convincing the Diaspora that friendship with Turkey is for the welfare of Armenia is the same as to formally tell the descendants of Genocide survivors that years ago there happened nothing but simply a war at which we suffered some losses. That is, take a Turkish point of view. Right at the entrance to the ancient Ani is a monument to the Turks who died during the First World War at the hands of the Armenians...

Meanwhile, the European experts and not only them started to suggest that in case of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, Presidents Sargsyan and Gul are worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize. There has been one such precedent in the East: Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat were granted the Nobel Peace Prize in 1978 for signing the Camp David Accords: "The Framework for Peace in the Middle East" and "Framework for the Conclusion of a Peace Treaty between Egypt and Israel". Israel returned to Egypt most of the Sinai Peninsula. However, a number of important issues remained unresolved, among them the problem of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the issue of occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The agreement was signed under the mediation of U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

In our case, the role of Carter is performed by Switzerland. But the question is what Armenia is going to return to Turkey or Azerbaijan. Israel returned the Sinai, which did not belong to her, but do the Armenian authorities have the right to give their land in exchange for illusory 'prosperity under the Ottoman care'? This is where the problem lies.

According to Civilitas Foundation, headed by former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Vardan Oskanian, with the Protocol on establishing diplomatic relations with Turkey and opening the border, Armenia agrees that she has no territorial claims against Turkey, and that she accepts Ankara's initiative of establishing a commission of historians. "If the Armenian parliament ignores the existing threats in the documents, it would be a fatal mistake. For the past 17 years none of the Armenian leadership has taken such a step, taking into consideration their political and historical responsibility," emphasized the article published on the website of the foundation.

One more tip. Probably no one yet pictures that normalization of relations with Turkey will inevitably lead to opening a Turkish Embassy in Yerevan, on top of which the Turkish flag will be waving...