Vahan Hovhannisyan: Armenian-Turkish process awakened Armenian mentalityMay 1, 2010 - 14:02 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The ARF Dashnaktsutyun never opposed normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, an ARFD Bureau member said. “It’s a long process consisting of three stages. First, it should be establishment of diplomatic relations and opening of the border. Second stage could imply discussion of urgent problems. Then, the sides would be able to sign some agreements,” Vahan Hovhannisyan said during a meeting with Villeurbanne Mayor Jean-Paul Bret. “Turkey managed to combine all these stages in one and it was Armenia’s diplomatic failure. We are hopeful that our diplomats will correct this mistake,” he said. At the same time, Mr. Hovhannisyan noted that the Armenian-Turkish process awakened Armenian mentality. “Political forces speak not only of the necessity of recognition of the Armenian Genocide but also of compensation for its consequences,” he said. Mr. Bret said for his part that dragging out the process of ratification of Protocols on normalization of relations, Turkey has badly damaged its international image. “Turkey seems to screen its secret policy by these Protocols,” he said. He also informed that a delegation led by him will be visiting Nagorno Karabakh on May 2 and 3, while a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian is scheduled for May 4. The Armenian Genocide The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres and deportations, involving forced marches under conditions designed to lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths reaching 1.5 million. The Armenian-Turkish Protocols The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks held through Swiss mediation. Top stories President of the Armenian parliament Alen Simonyan met with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova. Achieving stable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains a priority of the OSCE, said Ian Borg. The Cabinet of Ministers decided on Thursday, November 9 to allocated AMD 120 million to arrange the gathering. Michael Roth believes sanctions must be put on the table after Baku‘s ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. Partner news | Police try to impede Armenian Church head’s access to war memorial Police tried to stop the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin II, from visiting a war memorial. Greece says ready to help as Armenia fights flooding consequences Greece is ready to assist Armenia in combatting the consequences of deadly floods in the country’s north. “He will leave”: Protest leader no longer demands meeting with Pashinyan Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan no longer demands a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. |