Founder of “Modus Vivendi” Center Ara Papyan argues that the First President Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s remarks pertaining to some provisions of the “Declaration on the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide” were published for the purpose of against the territorial demands. “The aim was one – to act against the territorial demands as this was his main thought. All he wanted to say was this that you should not do such a thing. The remaining remarks was a beautiful package. Yes, it was necessary to address Turkey with a claim of genocide, because there exists also the other side of the question, they say to us, “Have you addressed us to recognize it? If you have not addressed us, why should we recognize it?”, told Ara Papyan to Aravot.am, referring to the 1st President’s criticism that we shouldn’t have mentioned such a claim in the declaration. “The president says that the genocide will be recognized after we establish good neighborly relations and do not raise questions. Well, sorry, why do I need recognition of the genocide, if I should give up everything? Genocide recognition has always been perceived in the first phase of all other requirements, naturally, if tomorrow I tell Turkey that I demand nothing from you, neither material, nor tangible, nor territorial, nor moral, but only recognize the genocide, it would gladly recognize it right tomorrow,” continued Mr. Papyan.
He does not share Ter-Petrosyan’s observation that there was no need to thank the countries that recognized and condemned the genocide. “Even when the person standing opposite to you makes a commitment by the conventions, saying thank you is not wrong. Saying thank you cannot humiliate the Armenian people. It should be taken into account that these countries by recognizing the genocide have the courage, because very often they have spoiled their relationship and economic interests with Turkey, which was not easy. Ter-Petrosyan says that if we urge Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide, it is a blow to our dignity and does not contribute to normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations. Well, when other countries were recognizing or urging Turkey to recognize the Armenian genocide, weren’t they damaging their relationship?”
Apa Papyan believes that the reference found in the Declaration about expressing support to Turkish citizens who oppose the Turkish authorities on the issue of the Armenian Genocide is also a good idea. “Turkey implements its policy towards these people based on its relations with the West. Can Turkey punish them without much headache, to think that we become a reason and an excuse with our support, it is wrong. These people are in need of support, they have been in prison for years. Perhaps, these people would say, how come that you say thank you to the states that recognized the genocide, while you do not express half-hearted sympathy and support to us that we risk our everyday life. Hence, in this sense, the 1st president’s criticism was not appropriate.”
Our interlocutor considers the Declaration as a half-step progress and highlights particularly the reference of our rights with a reference of respective substantiated documents found in the Declaration. “Perhaps, if they had asked me, I would write complete restoration of territories of Armenia instead of the provision on establishment of personal and community national rights, because Turkey has occupied our lands. But it should be considered that this document is a compromise document. This is the first one that de jure is not a body acting on behalf of all Armenians, but de facto, it is rather a representative one.” To our question of whether it is not belated, he said, “It could be done earlier, but let’s not forget that the centennial is a good reason. The Declaration will motivate foreign mass media representatives to go further and understand what our requirement is. To this day, it seems to the world like it seemed to Levon Ter-Petrosyan that our dream is the recognition of the Genocide. No, it’s not what we dream about, genocide recognition is a small step in the big way. And now, thanks to this document, the world will go deep into the details.”
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Arpine SIMONYAN
