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Had We Not Hold Protest Marches They Would Never Understand Us

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  • Had We Not Hold Protest Marches They Would Never Understand Us

    HAD WE NOT HOLD PROTEST MARCHES THEY WOULD NEVER UNDERSTAND US
    Gevorg Harutyunyan

    Hayots Ashkhar Daily
    11 Sep 2008
    Armenia

    Interview with NA Deputy Speaker, member of ARFD Supreme Body Hrayr
    Karapetyan

    "Mr. Karapetyan in the first week of September Dashnaktsutyun held
    two massive events: the demonstration on September 2 and the protest
    march against the visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gyul to Yerevan
    on September 6. Did these events show any good results?"

    "As we have already announced the meeting of September 2 was devoted
    to the 17th anniversary of Artsakh's independence. That day over again
    we reconfirmed our demands regarding Artsakh. We particularly took
    into consideration the developments that took place in the region,
    the de facto recognition of Abkhazia's and South Osatia's independence.

    It was during that rally that we touched upon Gyul's visit and called
    our people to reconfirm our historic demands.

    On September 6 ARFD Armenian Supreme Body organized protest marches on
    the occasion of Gyul's visit to Yerevan. Over again I must underscore
    that we don't have anything against establishing diplomatic relations
    with Turkey. But the relations with Turkey shouldn't harm our
    state-national interests.

    We should have used the chance of this visit to voice our problems,
    because unlike the civilized world Turkey refutes the fact of Armenian

    Genocide. Beside that they condition the establishment of diplomatic
    relations with Armenia and the lifting of the blockade with our
    relations with Azerbaijan. It is an unacceptable approach contradicting
    all the international norms."

    "Today some speculate an issue saying that the statements heard during
    the demonstration contradict the demands of the coalition agreement
    and are against the ruling power."

    "All our demands derive from the interests of our national security.

    These clauses are also enshrined in the coalition agreement. The
    Republic of Armenia officially confirms that the world must recognize
    NKR's independence and confirms that Artsakh can't be in Azerbaijan. As
    for the issue of the world's recognition of Armenian Genocide,
    this issue has always been the priority of our foreign policy. All
    the ridiculous statements saying that Dashnaktsutyun shouldn't have
    voiced those issues are illogical. All our steps derive from our
    national interests.

    In this respect the initiatives of the radical opposition are more
    ridiculous. We really understand their attitude towards Dashnaktsutyun
    and towards Turkey. It has not changed. We have already tasted their
    anti-Dashnaktsutyun and pro-Turkish policy during the years of power
    of Armenian Pan National movement.

    But today it is really ridiculous that the activists of Armenian Pan
    National movement didn't attend the memorial of Genocide on April 24,
    instead they continued their rallies against the ruling power. But on
    the occasion of Gyul's visit they postponed all the protest functions.

    Had we not hold protest marches against Gyul's visit, the world, even
    our allies, and those civilized countries that have already recognized
    the Genocide and even Gyul wouldn't have understood us, because they
    know that the Genocide has really happened. Even the Turks attended
    the memorial of the Genocide and put flowers there. They went to the
    museum of Genocide and were shocked by the terrible facts."

    "What conclusions can we draw or what can we expect from Gyul's visit
    to Yerevan?"

    "God willing this visit has good impact on Armenian Turkish relations.

    But we accept that each similar meeting is a result of coulisses
    negotiations. I'm very far from the idea that the two Presidents
    discussed only the football match. I think there is a much more
    profound diplomacy under it. I'm also sure our President conditioned
    all his steps by our national interests.

    Today our task is, not to allow Turkey to use this visit as a fact of
    their being very civilized, in case when they haven't yet recognized
    Armenian Genocide. Until they do that they can't consider themselves
    the friend of Armenia, especially because they haven't changed their
    attitude towards Artsakh issue.
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