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ASHOT MELKONYAN: CHAIN REACTION OF CRIMINALIZATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL IN EUROPE WILL NOT DWELL ON FRANCE
by Nana Martirosyan
arminfo
Monday, February 13, 14:14
Interview of Director of the Institute of History of Armenian National
Academy of Science Ashot Melkonyan with ArmInfo News Agency
What decision do you think the Constitutional Council of France will
make on the bill criminalizing the denial of genocides?
Certainly, the propaganda machine of Turkey spends a lot of funds on
making the Constitutional Council of France rule that the bill fails
to comply with the French Constitution. However, taking into account
the similar law criminalizing the denial of Holocaust, the Council
will make a positive decision for Armenians, and Nikolas Sarkozy will
ratify the bill in the near future.
If the bill is ratified in France, what effect will it have for
Armenia?
The more the world community speaks of the Genocide, the more countries
will condemn it and speak of reparations, and the safer the situation
for Armenia will be, for Turkey is not afraid of recognition of the
Genocide, it is afraid of reparations. The more we speak of the country
which committed the Genocide and the more intensively we conduct the
policy of criminalization of the genocide denial, the stronger we
insure ourselves against re-occurrence of such tragic cases.
Will the bill spread in other European countries and in the world
in general?
The democratic stance of France played a very important role in the
adoption of the bill. Some changes have occurred in Europe, and amid
these changes the criminalization of the denial of Armenian Genocide
may spread in other countries as well. In May the French officials
hindered the adoption of the bill, but in December the same officials
welcomed it. The change in the French high-ranking officials' attitude
towards the bill demonstrates that the issue has been discussed in
other European countries as well, particularly, with the Chancellor
of Germany Angela Merkel. And it may probably be discussed in other
countries, too.
Nevertheless, the recent statement of the U.S. Secretary of State
fails to demonstrate that...
As regards the United States, one should always remember of the
duplicity characteristic of that country's leadership. When stating
about the incompliance of the bill with the democratic principles
of the USA, Clinton displays demagogy. She had better recall the
USA's activity over the past few years and afterwards speak of the
incompliance of the bill with the country's laws, which are flexible
enough. However, I think that some countries will fall under the
USA's influence in this matter and will not hurry to criminalize
the genocide denial. Moreover, the stances of the United States
and the United Kingdom are similar given that both do not recognize
the Genocide. However, the Schengen zone countries have a different
viewpoint about this issue and the chain reaction of criminalization
of the genocide denial will not stop. Moreover, the USA's stance
in the Armenian-Turkish normalization process is unacceptable for
Armenia. In particular, the Zurich protocols should be immediately
removed from the Armenian Parliament's agenda. Using these protocols,
the USA is trying to impose its influence on the region. By opening
the Armenian-Turkish border the USA will open Armenia for itself,
which has been closed so far and has been hindering the extension of
the American influence.
Has the meeting in Sochi become an accelerator of the Karabakh peace
process?
Due to Russia's intervention during the meeting in Sochi, Azerbaijan
realized that the resolution of the conflict will remain within the
OSCE Minsk Group format and there are no solutions to the problem,
except the peaceful one. Maintenance of the peace talks is the most
important progress in the
Karabakh process. Turkey will never replace France as a co-chair
country of the OSCE Minsk Group in the Karabakh peace process. Such
important problems are resolved by superpowers, and if Russia, the
USA and France cannot resolve the conflict, such politically small
countries as Turkey will be unable to do that.
Taking into account the latest impulses in the region, do you think
France may assume the role of the initiator in the Karabakh peace
process?
I do not think it is possible at the present stage. Even if President
Sarkozy decides to take that step, he will do it after the presidential
election in France. Anyway, France may only be active, but it cannot
assume the whole responsibility. Rather the United States than France
will do it. But the USA may just as well start military actions against
Iran. Such scenario would be extremely undesirable for Armenia. In
that case the ethnic Azeris living in Northern Iran will cross the
Iranian-Armenian border. In the meantime, in case of military actions
against Iran, Armenia will not be subject to the USA's pressure. They
in the United States realize that being in the blockade imposed by
Azerbaijan and Turkey, Armenia should be friends with either Russia's
enemy Georgia or the USA's enemy Iran.
Therefore, given these circumstances, no measures will be taken
against Armenia. The most dangerous thing for Armenia in case of
military actions against Iran would be possible violation of the
territorial integrity of the Islamic republic. One should not forget
that Azerbaijan has been dreaming to be connected with the northern
part of Iran (indigenous Atrpatakan) and to create the so-called
Great Azerbaijan, which will be very dangerous for Armenia and the
whole region.
by Nana Martirosyan
arminfo
Monday, February 13, 14:14
Interview of Director of the Institute of History of Armenian National
Academy of Science Ashot Melkonyan with ArmInfo News Agency
What decision do you think the Constitutional Council of France will
make on the bill criminalizing the denial of genocides?
Certainly, the propaganda machine of Turkey spends a lot of funds on
making the Constitutional Council of France rule that the bill fails
to comply with the French Constitution. However, taking into account
the similar law criminalizing the denial of Holocaust, the Council
will make a positive decision for Armenians, and Nikolas Sarkozy will
ratify the bill in the near future.
If the bill is ratified in France, what effect will it have for
Armenia?
The more the world community speaks of the Genocide, the more countries
will condemn it and speak of reparations, and the safer the situation
for Armenia will be, for Turkey is not afraid of recognition of the
Genocide, it is afraid of reparations. The more we speak of the country
which committed the Genocide and the more intensively we conduct the
policy of criminalization of the genocide denial, the stronger we
insure ourselves against re-occurrence of such tragic cases.
Will the bill spread in other European countries and in the world
in general?
The democratic stance of France played a very important role in the
adoption of the bill. Some changes have occurred in Europe, and amid
these changes the criminalization of the denial of Armenian Genocide
may spread in other countries as well. In May the French officials
hindered the adoption of the bill, but in December the same officials
welcomed it. The change in the French high-ranking officials' attitude
towards the bill demonstrates that the issue has been discussed in
other European countries as well, particularly, with the Chancellor
of Germany Angela Merkel. And it may probably be discussed in other
countries, too.
Nevertheless, the recent statement of the U.S. Secretary of State
fails to demonstrate that...
As regards the United States, one should always remember of the
duplicity characteristic of that country's leadership. When stating
about the incompliance of the bill with the democratic principles
of the USA, Clinton displays demagogy. She had better recall the
USA's activity over the past few years and afterwards speak of the
incompliance of the bill with the country's laws, which are flexible
enough. However, I think that some countries will fall under the
USA's influence in this matter and will not hurry to criminalize
the genocide denial. Moreover, the stances of the United States
and the United Kingdom are similar given that both do not recognize
the Genocide. However, the Schengen zone countries have a different
viewpoint about this issue and the chain reaction of criminalization
of the genocide denial will not stop. Moreover, the USA's stance
in the Armenian-Turkish normalization process is unacceptable for
Armenia. In particular, the Zurich protocols should be immediately
removed from the Armenian Parliament's agenda. Using these protocols,
the USA is trying to impose its influence on the region. By opening
the Armenian-Turkish border the USA will open Armenia for itself,
which has been closed so far and has been hindering the extension of
the American influence.
Has the meeting in Sochi become an accelerator of the Karabakh peace
process?
Due to Russia's intervention during the meeting in Sochi, Azerbaijan
realized that the resolution of the conflict will remain within the
OSCE Minsk Group format and there are no solutions to the problem,
except the peaceful one. Maintenance of the peace talks is the most
important progress in the
Karabakh process. Turkey will never replace France as a co-chair
country of the OSCE Minsk Group in the Karabakh peace process. Such
important problems are resolved by superpowers, and if Russia, the
USA and France cannot resolve the conflict, such politically small
countries as Turkey will be unable to do that.
Taking into account the latest impulses in the region, do you think
France may assume the role of the initiator in the Karabakh peace
process?
I do not think it is possible at the present stage. Even if President
Sarkozy decides to take that step, he will do it after the presidential
election in France. Anyway, France may only be active, but it cannot
assume the whole responsibility. Rather the United States than France
will do it. But the USA may just as well start military actions against
Iran. Such scenario would be extremely undesirable for Armenia. In
that case the ethnic Azeris living in Northern Iran will cross the
Iranian-Armenian border. In the meantime, in case of military actions
against Iran, Armenia will not be subject to the USA's pressure. They
in the United States realize that being in the blockade imposed by
Azerbaijan and Turkey, Armenia should be friends with either Russia's
enemy Georgia or the USA's enemy Iran.
Therefore, given these circumstances, no measures will be taken
against Armenia. The most dangerous thing for Armenia in case of
military actions against Iran would be possible violation of the
territorial integrity of the Islamic republic. One should not forget
that Azerbaijan has been dreaming to be connected with the northern
part of Iran (indigenous Atrpatakan) and to create the so-called
Great Azerbaijan, which will be very dangerous for Armenia and the
whole region.