October 21, 2009                                      Contact: Roupen Kouyoumdjian

 

The Armenian President provides his explanations on the nebulous and problematic contents of the “so-called Protocols”
 

Ottawa – On October 10 2009, a few hours before the signing of the Turkey-Armenia protocols in Zurich, Switzerland, the President of the Republic of Armenia, Serj Sarkissian addressed the nation. In his introduction, he clearly stated that “let no one ignore the fact that, contrary to any slogans, the Armenian nation is united in its goals and is strong with its sons and daughters. And let no one try to split Armenia and our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora in presenting their concern over the future of Armenia as an attempt to impose something on the Republic Armenia.”

He insisted on certain points, three of which are of particular importance because they were the exact reasons for which the Armenian side should have refrained from signing the protocols.

1.“No relations with Turkey can question the reality of the patricide and the genocide perpetrated against the Armenian nation. It is a known fact and it should be recognized and condemned by the whole progressive humanity. The relevant sub-commission to be established under the intergovernmental commission, is not a commission of historians.”

2.“The issue of the existing border between Armenia and Turkey is to be resolved through prevailing norms of the international law. The Protocols do not go beyond that.”

3.“These relations cannot and do not relate to the resolution of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict, which is an independent and separate process. Armenia does not regard the clause of the territorial integrity and inviolability of the borders contained in the Protocols as in any way related to the Nagorno Karabagh problem. ”

The Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) believes in the reconciliation process but also believes in the major issue clarified by President Sarkissian. The President of ANCC Dr. Girair Basmadjian wondered “why after the above mentioned explanations, the Armenian side still put its signature under the “so-called” protocols that are not beneficial for the reconciliation because of its vague and confusing nature.”

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The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of issues.

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Le CNAC est l'organisation politique canadienne-arménienne la plus large et influentielle. Collaborant avec une série de bureaux, chapitres et souteneurs à travers le Canada et des organisations affiliées à travers le monde, le CNAC s'occupe activement des inquiétudes de la communauté canadienne-arménienne.