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Armenia's positions in Nagorno-Karabakh peace process remain strong ` opinions
16:27 ¢ 20.04.14
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan's remarkson Armenian-Turkish
protocols have evoked varied responses among Armenian politicians and
political scientists.
Tert.am interviewed Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies
Ruben Safrastyan, expert in Turkic studies Artak Shakaryan and
Vice-Chairman of the Heritage party Armen Martirosyan about their
opinions of the president's remarks having to do with the political
situation in Armenia.
Ruben Safrastyan does not think the Armenian president's remarks have
to do with domestic political processes.
`It may have something in common with foreign political developments
in the future, but I do not think it stems from the domestic political
situation,' he said.
Mr Safrastyan agrees with the president's remark that Armenia's
positions in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process remain strong.
`If we see that our positions in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process
remain strong, and Azerbaijan is more and more often resorting to
militant rhetoric, heightening border tensions, it means our positions
are really strong, and this is the reason for Azerbaijan seeking to
torpedo the negotiations as it sees the process is not in its
interests,' the expert said.
Turkey's efforts to get the role of mediator are failing. Many nations
clearly see that Turkey cannot act as mediator because it is
supporting Azerbaijan.
Heritage party Vice-Chairman Armen Martirosyan believes that the
Armenian president's statement has to do with domestic political
relations, apart from external signals.
In some respects he agrees with the president's statement, while in
others he does not.
`Indeed, the border tensions are increasing, and the fact is that,
Armenia's relatively balanced foreign policy has ensures an alignment
of forces on the foreign policy front so that we are not faced with a
problem of lost territories. Well aware of that, Azerbaijan is
resorting to blackmail and heightening tensions,' he said.
According to Mr Martirosyan, balance is regularly disturbed.
`I mean the Turkey-Azerbaijan alliance. They are even speaking of
creating joined armed forces. Regrettably, Armenia's foreign policy,
particularly the Armenian-Turkish protocols, legalized Turkey's
actions,' he said.
With respect to the points he does not agree with, Mr Martirosyan said
that it is common knowledge that Turkey is ready to re-open its border
with Armenia if the Armenian side cedes two regions to Azerbaijan.
`Therefore, the Armenian-Turkish protocols immediately involve Artsakh
[Nagorno-Karabakh]. Some of the points could be applied to Artsakh's
detriment,' he said.
According to Mr Martirosyan, the Armenian-Turkish protocols will cause
damage to the process of recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
`I do not think that our struggle is only for the US Senate to
recognize the Armenian Genocide.'
According to him, the Armenian authorities are well aware that it is
not in Armenia's interests. So they did not ratify the protocols.
Expert in Turkic studies Artak Shakaryan noted that nothing can be
said for certain. In any case, he agrees that the protocols were a
solution back in 2008-2009.
`Official Yerevan made a step back thus placing the responsibility for
the failure of the protocols on Ankara,' he said.
Mr Shakaryan agrees with the Armenian president's opinion that Armenia
did not let the world think that official Ankara is not responsible
for the absence of Armenian-Turkish relations.
Despite Turkey pretending to be neutral in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process, it will support Azerbaijan when necessary, the expert said.
Armenian News - Tert.am
16:27 ¢ 20.04.14
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan's remarkson Armenian-Turkish
protocols have evoked varied responses among Armenian politicians and
political scientists.
Tert.am interviewed Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies
Ruben Safrastyan, expert in Turkic studies Artak Shakaryan and
Vice-Chairman of the Heritage party Armen Martirosyan about their
opinions of the president's remarks having to do with the political
situation in Armenia.
Ruben Safrastyan does not think the Armenian president's remarks have
to do with domestic political processes.
`It may have something in common with foreign political developments
in the future, but I do not think it stems from the domestic political
situation,' he said.
Mr Safrastyan agrees with the president's remark that Armenia's
positions in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process remain strong.
`If we see that our positions in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process
remain strong, and Azerbaijan is more and more often resorting to
militant rhetoric, heightening border tensions, it means our positions
are really strong, and this is the reason for Azerbaijan seeking to
torpedo the negotiations as it sees the process is not in its
interests,' the expert said.
Turkey's efforts to get the role of mediator are failing. Many nations
clearly see that Turkey cannot act as mediator because it is
supporting Azerbaijan.
Heritage party Vice-Chairman Armen Martirosyan believes that the
Armenian president's statement has to do with domestic political
relations, apart from external signals.
In some respects he agrees with the president's statement, while in
others he does not.
`Indeed, the border tensions are increasing, and the fact is that,
Armenia's relatively balanced foreign policy has ensures an alignment
of forces on the foreign policy front so that we are not faced with a
problem of lost territories. Well aware of that, Azerbaijan is
resorting to blackmail and heightening tensions,' he said.
According to Mr Martirosyan, balance is regularly disturbed.
`I mean the Turkey-Azerbaijan alliance. They are even speaking of
creating joined armed forces. Regrettably, Armenia's foreign policy,
particularly the Armenian-Turkish protocols, legalized Turkey's
actions,' he said.
With respect to the points he does not agree with, Mr Martirosyan said
that it is common knowledge that Turkey is ready to re-open its border
with Armenia if the Armenian side cedes two regions to Azerbaijan.
`Therefore, the Armenian-Turkish protocols immediately involve Artsakh
[Nagorno-Karabakh]. Some of the points could be applied to Artsakh's
detriment,' he said.
According to Mr Martirosyan, the Armenian-Turkish protocols will cause
damage to the process of recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
`I do not think that our struggle is only for the US Senate to
recognize the Armenian Genocide.'
According to him, the Armenian authorities are well aware that it is
not in Armenia's interests. So they did not ratify the protocols.
Expert in Turkic studies Artak Shakaryan noted that nothing can be
said for certain. In any case, he agrees that the protocols were a
solution back in 2008-2009.
`Official Yerevan made a step back thus placing the responsibility for
the failure of the protocols on Ankara,' he said.
Mr Shakaryan agrees with the Armenian president's opinion that Armenia
did not let the world think that official Ankara is not responsible
for the absence of Armenian-Turkish relations.
Despite Turkey pretending to be neutral in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process, it will support Azerbaijan when necessary, the expert said.
Armenian News - Tert.am