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YEREVAN (Yerkir)—Calling
it a retreat from generations of struggle and a disgrace, the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation, at a rally Wednesday, warned
of the dangers emanating from the Armenia-Turkey normalization
process as outlined by the protocols announced earlier this
week. The rally was organized to mark the 18th anniversary of
Karabakh’s independence.
Speaking to the thousands
gathered at Yerevan’s Aznavour Square, ARF Bureau member Vahan
Hovannesian expressed the unequivocal rejection by his party of
the protocols for establishment and development of relations
between Armenia and Turkey, which were announced on Monday.
He warned that the
documents did not reflect the aspirations of Armenia and were
guided by elements that, in the long run, would benefit Turkey
and its interests in the region, including the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict and its aspirations for membership in the EU.
Hovannesian pointed out
that the Armenian authorities have agreed to further concessions
in a process that was supposed to have been advanced without any
preconditions, as articulated on numerous occasions by Armenia’s
leaders.
“No matter how extensively
our and US officials contend that talks on Turkish-Armenian
relations are proceeding without preconditions, Turkey has not
abandoned them and has adeptly managed to construct the entire
negotiations package around its preconditions,” said
Hovannesian.
He outlined that the
provisions of the protocols have weakened the process to attain
international recognition for the Genocide and are effectively
forcing the recognition of the anti-Armenian Kars Treaty, to
which Armenia was not a signatory.
“We view as careless
efforts by the Armenian President and Foreign Minister to seek a
quick resolution through negotiations. Our people will pay a
very high price for that,” warned Hovannesian, enumerating
Turkey’s gains and Armenia’s losses since the announcement of
the so-called “roadmap” agreement on the eve of the 94th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
Hovannesian stressed that
the ARF has never been against the reopening of the
Turkish-Armenian border. However, he said the party can by no
means agree to “the price the Armenian authorities are willing
to pay” for meeting Turkey’s preconditions.
“We say ‘yes’ to the
establishment of diplomatic relations without any preconditions.
However, in their present form, the Protocols are unacceptable
and must be revised,” Hovannesian stated.
The same sentiments were
echoed by ARF Supreme Council of Armenia chairman Armen
Rustamian, who also discussed the party’s position on the
ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution process.
He said that the current
negotiations process are also pressuring Yerevan to agree to a
hasty agreement, through which withdrawal of liberated
territories surrounding the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is
stipulated without security guarantees and the demand for
determination of a new status, which goes counter to democratic
norms, since Karabakh has already determined its status through
popular vote.
ARF parliamentary bloc
member Ara Nranyan also discussed Armenia’s domestic situation,
outlining socio-economic reforms to strengthen Armenian society
and national interests.
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