“Recall of the Armenia-Turkish Protocols was a right decision. Those who say freezing, they have no idea of the international relations and other story tellers,” so responded lawyer, historian, diplomat and Head of “Modus Vivendi” Center Ara Papyan, today, at the meeting with the journalist at “Noah’s Ark” press club, in response to the question of Aravot.am of whether recall of the Armenian-Turkish protocols was a right move, or there is a risk that this decision will be used against us, and it would be better to just freeze them. According to him, the existence of these protocols at the Parliament is already an obstacle, it means that we cast doubt on the genocide. He reminded the issue of setting up a subcommittee, which was called to check out complicated controversial issues of the history based on unbiased facts.
Mr. Papyan mentioned, “In a pretty package, they say to create a committee that will decide the issue of the genocide. Especially, if it is mentioned – based on unbiased facts. We also cast doubt on the work done up to now. The Protocols were wrong from the beginning. It was an anti-Armenian document. Staying in the Parliament for five and a half years, they were not ratified, because Turkey’s the third requirement was for Armenia to handover the Karabakh to Azerbaijan. But we knew about it.” Mr. Papyan noted that these Protocols have not become a major topic of discussion within the Foreign Ministry nor at the concerned ministries. Ara Papyan thinks that no one knows where these protocols have come from and who the authors are.
To the question that the Document has been recalled, so whether the signatures are valid, Mr. Papyan said, “The Documents have been recalled, it means they are still there. The arbitral award is the document that has entered into force. The Protocols have not entered into force yet as they become valid after ratification. It can be done at any moment regardless of whether it is at the parliament or not. Our official position has been made that after Turkey’s ratification we will ratify. If Turkey ratifies tomorrow, if the signatures are not deemed invalid, then they can be signed. It was a political move rather than legal.” Mr. Papyan noted that the only legal move prior to recognition of the Armenian Genocide is the adoption of the Declaration, and expressed his concern, “We are making some badges, print books, but it is a change in the quantity rather than quality.” For example, the Turks are going to print a 30-volume collection about the Armenian-Turkish relations. These documents are selected one by one, isn’t it clear?”
To our question of therefore Serzh Sargsyan has used signing these protocols to show the international community that he is a legitimate president, Mr. Papyan replied, “It could be one of the factors. Another factor could be the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, a message addressed the Turkish side. This entire document has been recalled after three times warning, now, every step is used to exert pressure on Turkey.” Mr. Papyan mentioned that he has sent an open letter to Erik Rubin, in which he had formulated his claim. “I was expecting that political moves would be made, but no. I have clearly formulated my offer to establish an administration over the Wilson Armenia under the international control, in which Armenia’s de jure interests and Turkey’s de facto interests will be compared and we will have the rights there and local peoples.” Ara Papyan thinks that we listen only statements on the Armenian Genocide recognition and compensation and no specific actions.
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Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
