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H. ABRAHAMIAN: THE ISSUE OF RECOGNITION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE PUT TO ANY POLITICAL AUCTION OR BE BARGAINED
NOYAN TAPAN
MAY 4, 2010
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, MAY 4, NOYAN TAPAN. On May 4 the 23rd forum of the European
region of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie organization
began its 3-day work in Yerevan, in the National Assembly of Armenia.
More than 80 representatives from various European countries are
participating in the forum entitled "The Problems and Challenges of
Educational Systems in Our Societies in the Context of Socioeconomic
and Cultural Developments".
Welcoming the participants, Speaker of Armenia's National Assembly
Hovik Abrahamian in particular said that for the National Assembly,
it is a gratifying fact that the holding of the forum in the capital
of Armenia coincides with a significant event: along with all the
other member states of La Francophonie international organization,
Armenia, which has status of an associated member, also celebrates
the 40th anniversary of the organization this year.
He said that French has the status of a foreign language in Armenia,
but over the centuries French has been more than a language of
communication for a wide section of the Armenian people. "As a result
of the genocide committed against the Armenians in the Ottoman Turkey
in 1915-1923, the French language became a language for creation
of works for those sons and daughters of the Armenian people who
took refuge in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada, and Middle
East countries: for Charles Aznavour, Vahe Katcha, Henri Verneuil,
Garzou, Jeansem, Alice Sapritch and many other famous figures of
Armenian descent. In the Soviet time, French was not forgotten in
Armenia and got a new lease of life after the 1945-1947 repatriation
when our compatriots brought accents of Paris, Marseilles and the
Mediterranean region to their historic homeland," the NA speaker said.
He spoke about two issues of importance to Armenia, "which are
directly or indirectly related to member states of La Francophonie
international organization". He declared that Armenia is ready to
honor its international obligations, but this readiness does not
imply subordination of its own interests.
"As is well known, Armenia and Turkey signed protocols on normalization
of their relations in Zurich, and after their ratification by
parliaments, these protocols envisage the establishment of diplomatic
relations and the opening of borders that, by the way, Turkey has
kept closed for more than 17 years. Armenia has repeatedly stated its
readiness to honor its obligations, whereas Turkey has maneuvered
from the very first, putting forward various pretexts and reasons,
going back from its word, linking the protocols to the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, delaying their ratification, thus hindering the normalization
process," he noted, adding that the stipulation of such preconditions
is unacceptable to Armenia. He also said that the Armenian president
has signed a decree on suspension of the protocols' ratification and
that Armenia has not yet withdrawn from the process and it expects
"Turkey to display the will for a constructive approach".
"The issue of recognition of the Armenian Genocide cannot and will
not be put to any political auction or be bargained. Declaring that
it is ready to establish relations with Turkey without preconditions,
Armenia at the same time says that it is faithful to its principles
of national and state importance and will not take any step to the
detriment of the interests of the Armenian people. The Armenian
authorities have repeatedly said that our country has not and will
not call into question the fact of the genocide and the importance
of its international recognition," H. Abrahamian declared.
Addressing the Nagorno Karabakh problem, the National Assembly
speaker said that in parallel with cease-fire violations by Azerbaijan
that have recently become more frequent, Azerbaijan is also taking
disinformation steps. "Azerbaijan is aware that its army is unable to
solve any military problem to result in its victory so it is making
belligerent statements. But irrespective of everything, the Nagorno
Karabakh problem will never get a not pro-Armenian solution," H.
Abrahamian said.
In his words, the most important thing for the Armenian side is
the status of Nagorno Karabakh and the security of its people, and
the Armenian authoriies' efforts during the negotiating process are
aimed at that. He said that in this issue Armenia will never take
steps to the detriment of the interests of Armenia, Artsakh, and the
Armenian nation. "Nagorno Karabakh cannot be part of Azerbaijan,"
H. Abrahamian declared. It was stated that the Nagorno Karabakh
problem has no relation to the Armenian-Turkish normalization not
only because the protocols do not contain even a word about it and
these are two different processes, but also because "the protocols
in Zurich were signed by Armenia and Turkey, and not by the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan".
NOYAN TAPAN
MAY 4, 2010
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, MAY 4, NOYAN TAPAN. On May 4 the 23rd forum of the European
region of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie organization
began its 3-day work in Yerevan, in the National Assembly of Armenia.
More than 80 representatives from various European countries are
participating in the forum entitled "The Problems and Challenges of
Educational Systems in Our Societies in the Context of Socioeconomic
and Cultural Developments".
Welcoming the participants, Speaker of Armenia's National Assembly
Hovik Abrahamian in particular said that for the National Assembly,
it is a gratifying fact that the holding of the forum in the capital
of Armenia coincides with a significant event: along with all the
other member states of La Francophonie international organization,
Armenia, which has status of an associated member, also celebrates
the 40th anniversary of the organization this year.
He said that French has the status of a foreign language in Armenia,
but over the centuries French has been more than a language of
communication for a wide section of the Armenian people. "As a result
of the genocide committed against the Armenians in the Ottoman Turkey
in 1915-1923, the French language became a language for creation
of works for those sons and daughters of the Armenian people who
took refuge in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada, and Middle
East countries: for Charles Aznavour, Vahe Katcha, Henri Verneuil,
Garzou, Jeansem, Alice Sapritch and many other famous figures of
Armenian descent. In the Soviet time, French was not forgotten in
Armenia and got a new lease of life after the 1945-1947 repatriation
when our compatriots brought accents of Paris, Marseilles and the
Mediterranean region to their historic homeland," the NA speaker said.
He spoke about two issues of importance to Armenia, "which are
directly or indirectly related to member states of La Francophonie
international organization". He declared that Armenia is ready to
honor its international obligations, but this readiness does not
imply subordination of its own interests.
"As is well known, Armenia and Turkey signed protocols on normalization
of their relations in Zurich, and after their ratification by
parliaments, these protocols envisage the establishment of diplomatic
relations and the opening of borders that, by the way, Turkey has
kept closed for more than 17 years. Armenia has repeatedly stated its
readiness to honor its obligations, whereas Turkey has maneuvered
from the very first, putting forward various pretexts and reasons,
going back from its word, linking the protocols to the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, delaying their ratification, thus hindering the normalization
process," he noted, adding that the stipulation of such preconditions
is unacceptable to Armenia. He also said that the Armenian president
has signed a decree on suspension of the protocols' ratification and
that Armenia has not yet withdrawn from the process and it expects
"Turkey to display the will for a constructive approach".
"The issue of recognition of the Armenian Genocide cannot and will
not be put to any political auction or be bargained. Declaring that
it is ready to establish relations with Turkey without preconditions,
Armenia at the same time says that it is faithful to its principles
of national and state importance and will not take any step to the
detriment of the interests of the Armenian people. The Armenian
authorities have repeatedly said that our country has not and will
not call into question the fact of the genocide and the importance
of its international recognition," H. Abrahamian declared.
Addressing the Nagorno Karabakh problem, the National Assembly
speaker said that in parallel with cease-fire violations by Azerbaijan
that have recently become more frequent, Azerbaijan is also taking
disinformation steps. "Azerbaijan is aware that its army is unable to
solve any military problem to result in its victory so it is making
belligerent statements. But irrespective of everything, the Nagorno
Karabakh problem will never get a not pro-Armenian solution," H.
Abrahamian said.
In his words, the most important thing for the Armenian side is
the status of Nagorno Karabakh and the security of its people, and
the Armenian authoriies' efforts during the negotiating process are
aimed at that. He said that in this issue Armenia will never take
steps to the detriment of the interests of Armenia, Artsakh, and the
Armenian nation. "Nagorno Karabakh cannot be part of Azerbaijan,"
H. Abrahamian declared. It was stated that the Nagorno Karabakh
problem has no relation to the Armenian-Turkish normalization not
only because the protocols do not contain even a word about it and
these are two different processes, but also because "the protocols
in Zurich were signed by Armenia and Turkey, and not by the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan".