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Armenian National Unity Can Not Be Questioned Any More

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  • Armenian National Unity Can Not Be Questioned Any More

    ARMENIAN NATIONAL UNITY CAN NOT BE QUESTIONED ANY MORE
    Aram Araratyan

    ArmInfo
    2010-04-20 16:21:00

    Interview with Hilda Tchoboian, Chairwoman of the European Armenian
    Federation for Justice and Democracy

    Mrs.Thoboian, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan meetings in Washington
    finished. What, in your opinion, are their main results?

    In the course of Serzh Sargsyan's visit to Washington was that he
    clarified to Turkey and the USA the norms of negotiations between
    Armenia and Turkey. From now on, the negotiations should be defined by
    the norms fixed by Armenia. The international forces and particularly
    Turkey noted that the Armenian national unity can not be questioned
    any more.

    During in his Washington's speech Armenian leader stressed that
    time has proved that Armenian-Turkish process would slow down or
    temporarily freeze international steps aimed at the recognition of
    the Armenian Genocide. Do you, as a representative of the Armenian
    Diaspora, share this opinion?

    No, during the early period of processing the protocols, the diplomatic
    confusion gave a blow to the cause of the internationalization of
    genocide recognition. But we already have passed this stage.

    Before Serzh Sargsyan's Pan-Armenian tour you mentioned that there
    is a split between the Diaspora and Armenia. Have you changed your
    position since that time, given that the main concern of the Diaspora
    in the issue of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, namely
    the "freezing" of the international process of Genocide recognition,
    proved to be groundless?

    I didn't speak about dissension, but I said there was now a gap
    between Armenia and the Diaspora. No, I do not think that the fears
    of the Diaspora proved unfounded. But after the pronouncements of
    Der Zor and Washington it is clear that a unity is currently set up,
    and my hope is that it persists. I had also suggested that Diaspora's
    preoccupations and interests be integrated in a global Armenian
    strategy to be implemented in the field of relations with Turkey. I
    still insist on the necessity of considering Diaspora as a political
    subject to insure the viability of the Armenian nation.

    How sincere are the statements of Turkish leaders about their desire
    to establish contacts with the Armenian Diaspora? Is the Diaspora
    ready to a dialogue?

    To judge, we have to look for signs of a change of attitude from the
    Turkish government. So far, I see no signs that are needed to create
    an atmosphere conducive to dialogue with Diaspora. They even don't
    have that favourable atmosphere to discuss with their own people,
    because channels of a genuine dialogue are legally blocked in Turkey.

    Is Diaspora ready to a dialogue? In the genocide issue, the Diaspora is
    the injured party. Consequently, Turkey has to make special efforts to
    convince the Diasporan organisations to believe its sincerity mainly
    because until now we only experienced attempts by Turkish leaders to
    mask their real intention to bury the issue of genocide by a process
    of biased dialogue.

    What do you think about the prospects that Barack Obama, in his annual
    speech on April 24 will outline the events of 1915 as "Genocide"?

    We shouldn't make predictions in this area, because currently
    Turkish-American relations are in an instable stage. Barack Obama, as
    a Democrat leader has made a clear promise to recognize the Armenian
    genocide that he has not fulfilled. And November 2010 elections
    should make Democrats and President Obama think seriously about the
    consequences of that failure.

    How do you assess the possibility of adopting a resolution on the
    Armenian Genocide in countries such as Spain, Serbia and Bulgaria?

    Genocide recognitions have generally not been easy to accomplish
    because of the huge pressure put by Turkey on the governments. We
    have always succeeded in the countries to obtain recognitions by
    facing that pressure. I'm convinced that Spain, Serbia and Bulgaria
    will recognize the Armenian genocide too. Having said that our main
    objective should be to make possible the recognition by Turkey.

    Rapprochement between Armenia and Turkey and reopening of the border
    has never been a key issue in the process of Turkey's joining the EU.

    Yet, don't you think the EU should clearly put such a precondition
    in its own negotiation?

    That precondition exists: One of the membership criteria Turkey
    should fulfill is to establish good neighborly relations with all its
    surrounding countries. So, even now, Turkey has already violated the
    European conditions for its membership. It has the same problem with
    a European Union member country - Cyprus that it refuses to recognize.

    Actually, Turkey is not interested in the normalization of its
    relations with Armenia, but rather pretends to act for it. All its
    efforts are directed to convince the European Union that Turkey is
    committed to make peace with Armenia, while in reality it sabotages
    the peace process.
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