HistoryofTruth.com - Armenian Allegations

Q: Armenia has declared suspension of the process of normalization of relations with Turkey. How would you comment on this issue?

A: Armenia’s suspension of the protocols is a step backwards in the Turkish-Armenian normalization process. This decision undoubtedly brings more tension and confusion in Armenia’s relations with Turkey and as such, is counterproductive.

But we also need to bear in mind that for Sargsyan's government this decision was some sort of a compromise between conflicting pressures coming from the domestic political circles and Diaspora on one hand, and the international community on the other. Domestic opposition and Diaspora wanted him to completely scrap the protocols and the international community expected him to ratify the protocols, or at least to keep them on the agenda. As a result of these competing influences and pressures, the Armenian parliament symbolically suspended the protocols, which were already stalled in both Armenian and Turkish parliaments. But at the same time, Yerevan did not withdraw its signature from them. So, the protocols are still on the agenda and form the basis for Turkish-Armenian normalization process.

Q: Which will be the implications of this step for Turkey and Armenia? Who will win more from it, Turkey or Armenia?

A: Armenia’s suspension of the protocols is a small victory for radical and pro-status quo forces within Armenia and its Diaspora. The decision to suspend the protocols is neither good for Turkey, nor Armenia itself, because both endure the consequences of their past and present unresolved problems. The normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations is necessary for strengthening peace and security in the broader region, and as such, is also in the interest of Azerbaijan. So, in that sense, I would argue, any attempts to torpedo the Turkish-Armenian protocols, and by implication, the Turkish-Armenian normalization process is detrimental to Azerbaijan’s long-term interests as well.

Q: Turkey has earlier proposed a number of peacekeeping initiatives in this region. Does Sargsyan’s decision to suspend the normalization process mean that Yerevan has deprived Ankara of any opportunity to influence the situation in the region? Can the suspension of the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement affect the Karabakh settlement? If yes, how will it happen?

A: There exist implicit connections between the Turkish-Armenian normalization and Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. Both positive and negative dynamics in one process produce similar effects in the other. The fact that the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement was high on the international agenda throughout the last year has largely helped bring more international attention to the stalled Nagorno-Karabakh talks. Now, negative developments in the Turkish-Armenian normalization impairs Ankara’s attempts to lobby the US, Russia and France – the co-chair countries of the Minsk Group – to speed up their mediation efforts and help Armenia and Azerbaijan to reach a formal agreement on basic principles over Nagorno-Karabakh. And in that sense, some circles in the Armenian political establishment may be indeed interested in killing two birds with one stone – that is suspending the Turkish-Armenian process to also stall last year’s dynamism in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

Q: What can you say about the fact that despite the suspension of the process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations, US President Barack Obama did not call the events of the early 20th century in Turkey as “genocide” against the Armenian people?

A: The answer to the question is in the president’s Obama’s address. President Obama while saying that his “own view” of the circumstances of the tragic deaths of the Ottoman Armenians has not changed, avoided once again the controversial label of “genocide” to enable Turkish and Armenian peoples to jointly discuss their history as part of their historical reconciliation process. This statement was a recognition of a fact that resolutions in third country parliaments or statements by third country officials labeling tragic events in the dying days of the Ottoman Empire a “genocide” is counterproductive to Turkish-Armenian reconciliation efforts, which will continue in spite of Armenian parliament’s recent decision.