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Game is coming to its end, Armenia beating Turkey all ends up - Eduard
Sharmazanov
16:15 * 28.09.14
Vice-Speaker of Armenia's Parliament and Spokesman for the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov commented on the part
on the Armenian-Turkish relations in Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan's speech at the 69th session of the UN General Assembly.
According to him, the game is coming to its end, with Armenia beating
Turkey all ends up.
"Yes, years ago, the then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said
the ball was in Turkey's court. Moreover, later Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan said that the reasonable timeframe had a deadline. And
you could see that by mentioning recall of the Armenian-Turkish
protocols he suggested that the deadline is gradually approaching."
With respect to the phrase "to hell with your ratification" the
Armenian president used during his speech, Mr Sharmazanov said:
"We do not say 'to hell with it,' but we say that if Turkey keeps on
disregarding the positions of not only Armenia, but also the
international community, it shows its disrespect not only for
Armenia's position, but also for the positions of the mediators at the
signing of the protocols in Zurich. It, first of all, disregards its
own political decision by setting preconditions. Moreover, the
Armenian president clearly stated in New York that any bargaining over
our Homeland was out of the question. The Turkish political elite are
gravely mistaken if they think one fine day may come and we link the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process with the Armenian-Turkish protocols."
As regard the possibility of Armenia recalling the protocols in the
foreseeable future, Mr Sharmazanov said.
"I think the Armenian president's speech in New York was a conceptual
speech of a national figure and statesman. He spoke not only as an
Armenian national leader, but also as president if all the citizens of
Armenia because he raised the issues of not only the Armenian Genocide
or Nagorno-Karabakh. He not only called Nagorno-Karabakh free and
independent at that high-level venue, suggesting that there is no
alternative to Artsakh's freedom and independence, but also raised the
problem of Yezidis in northern Iraq. We remember well that Armenia's
Yezidi community appealed to the Armenian president a month and a half
ago, and by his step he showed he is ready to listen to each citizen's
opinion and express the Yezidi minority's opinion at the high-level UN
venue."
With respect to the statement on the return of the Sis (modern-day
Kozan) catholicosate to the Armenian Apostolic Church at the
Armenia-Diaspora conference too suggested that an entirely different
policy was being pursued in the Armenia-Turkey relations. Commenting
on the relevant discussions in Armenia, Mr Sharmazanov said:
"Armenia has over recent years been for a peaceful dialogue with
Turkey. Turkey's political elite and, after being elected Turkey's
president, Recep Erdogan have shown they have not such a political
will. We once more state any preconditions are unacceptable to us. And
President Serzh Sargsyan's statement is evidence that Armenia and
Armenia's authorities are masters of the Homeland and claims.
Armenia has invited Turkey to take part in the commemoration of the
centennial of the Armenian Genocide. As to whether the latest
statements and the invitation are in conflict with each other, Mr
Sharmazanov said:
"No, the invitation has nothing in common with Serzh Sargsyan's latest
statement. If Turkey's leaders come and visit the Memorial to Armenian
Genocide victims, Tsitsernakaberd, it means they acknowledge the
heinous crime of Genocide. That is, they do not consider the butchers
and their victims equal. If they do not come, we re-state that Turkey
is continuing its denial policy."
As to the Armenian side's further steps if Turkey continues its
policy, Mr Sharmazanov said:
"This is under the Armenian president's jurisdiction. Armenia's
president has proved that he is a national figure and statesman. All
his political biography is evidence thereof. He will make a decision
in the interests of Armenians and of the state."
Armenian News - Tert.am
Sharmazanov
16:15 * 28.09.14
Vice-Speaker of Armenia's Parliament and Spokesman for the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov commented on the part
on the Armenian-Turkish relations in Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan's speech at the 69th session of the UN General Assembly.
According to him, the game is coming to its end, with Armenia beating
Turkey all ends up.
"Yes, years ago, the then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said
the ball was in Turkey's court. Moreover, later Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan said that the reasonable timeframe had a deadline. And
you could see that by mentioning recall of the Armenian-Turkish
protocols he suggested that the deadline is gradually approaching."
With respect to the phrase "to hell with your ratification" the
Armenian president used during his speech, Mr Sharmazanov said:
"We do not say 'to hell with it,' but we say that if Turkey keeps on
disregarding the positions of not only Armenia, but also the
international community, it shows its disrespect not only for
Armenia's position, but also for the positions of the mediators at the
signing of the protocols in Zurich. It, first of all, disregards its
own political decision by setting preconditions. Moreover, the
Armenian president clearly stated in New York that any bargaining over
our Homeland was out of the question. The Turkish political elite are
gravely mistaken if they think one fine day may come and we link the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process with the Armenian-Turkish protocols."
As regard the possibility of Armenia recalling the protocols in the
foreseeable future, Mr Sharmazanov said.
"I think the Armenian president's speech in New York was a conceptual
speech of a national figure and statesman. He spoke not only as an
Armenian national leader, but also as president if all the citizens of
Armenia because he raised the issues of not only the Armenian Genocide
or Nagorno-Karabakh. He not only called Nagorno-Karabakh free and
independent at that high-level venue, suggesting that there is no
alternative to Artsakh's freedom and independence, but also raised the
problem of Yezidis in northern Iraq. We remember well that Armenia's
Yezidi community appealed to the Armenian president a month and a half
ago, and by his step he showed he is ready to listen to each citizen's
opinion and express the Yezidi minority's opinion at the high-level UN
venue."
With respect to the statement on the return of the Sis (modern-day
Kozan) catholicosate to the Armenian Apostolic Church at the
Armenia-Diaspora conference too suggested that an entirely different
policy was being pursued in the Armenia-Turkey relations. Commenting
on the relevant discussions in Armenia, Mr Sharmazanov said:
"Armenia has over recent years been for a peaceful dialogue with
Turkey. Turkey's political elite and, after being elected Turkey's
president, Recep Erdogan have shown they have not such a political
will. We once more state any preconditions are unacceptable to us. And
President Serzh Sargsyan's statement is evidence that Armenia and
Armenia's authorities are masters of the Homeland and claims.
Armenia has invited Turkey to take part in the commemoration of the
centennial of the Armenian Genocide. As to whether the latest
statements and the invitation are in conflict with each other, Mr
Sharmazanov said:
"No, the invitation has nothing in common with Serzh Sargsyan's latest
statement. If Turkey's leaders come and visit the Memorial to Armenian
Genocide victims, Tsitsernakaberd, it means they acknowledge the
heinous crime of Genocide. That is, they do not consider the butchers
and their victims equal. If they do not come, we re-state that Turkey
is continuing its denial policy."
As to the Armenian side's further steps if Turkey continues its
policy, Mr Sharmazanov said:
"This is under the Armenian president's jurisdiction. Armenia's
president has proved that he is a national figure and statesman. All
his political biography is evidence thereof. He will make a decision
in the interests of Armenians and of the state."
Armenian News - Tert.am