Turkey is more active than Minsk group
Hanrapetutyun (Republic) Party Chairman Aram Sargsyan sees a linkage between Armenian-Turkish relations and Karabakh conflict and claims that the first is the logical consequence of the second.
He presented his stance on the issues during an interview with A1+.
-Mr. Sargsyan, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced in Yerevan yesterday that the two processes are in no way linked and all attempts to link these two issues are wrong. What's your opinion of Lavrov's statement?
-First of all, let me note that Lavrov reiterated Russian Premier Vladimir Putin's words said two days ago. Russian authorities would strange if they said the two issues were to be resolved in a single package. On the other hand, both Putin and Lavrov state that Russia has its key participation in the settlement of the two issues under question. They also underline the role of Turkey which is very dangerous in the sense that the OSCE Minsk group is in charge of the Karabakh conflict resolution and no responsibility is laid on any separate country. This is an ostrich policy. They seem to ignore the interrelation of the two processes and their sequence. Armenian-Turkish relations are already documented in the Protocols, now they have come to the Karabakh conflict. Both Russia and Turkey seek to see a document signed on the settlement, too.
- Russian Foreign Minister yesterday said that Russia expects a serious breakthrough in the Karabakh issue in 2010. Do you think it realistic?
-I am confident that all issues connected with Armenian-Turkish relations will be settled after the Karabakh conflict is resolved. Armenian-Turkish relations are resulted by the Karabakh conflict but Armenian authorities lack required resources to sit at the same negotiating table with Turkey. The authorities must first resolve the Karabakh conflict. They started negotiations with Turkey as they faced a problem of legitimacy and democracy inside Armenia. The decision made Turkey get engaged in the negotiations more actively than the Minsk group. History has shown that Armenia loses each time Russia and Turkey better their relations and deepen partnership. Armenian authorities are to blame for their short-sighted football policy.
Turkey's engagement in the negotiations complicates the process of the Karabakh conflict settlement. I don't exclude that the USA and Russia might take measures to suppress Turkey's appetite without paying attention to Armenian leadership. They will do it out of their own interests.
- The Constitutional Court of Armenian approved of the Armenian-Turkish Protocols finding them constitutional. But as Republican Spokesman Edward Sharmazanov says the National Assembly is not going to ratify the Protocols and waits for Turkey's steps. What's there behind the latency?
- Armenia has become an unpredictable country and I don't rule out that the National Assembly might start discussing the Protocols tomorrow. It depends on foreign developments.
- And what is the opposition going to do? You only speak of the authorities' mistakes. What is the Armenian National Congress going to do? Is the Congress satisfied with the authorities' policy?
- Surely not. I consider both Armenia and Karabakh to be my homeland. We are sorry for each trivial defeat and we shall express our sorrow by political events including rallies and mass meetings. Armenia's first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan has expressed a distinct stance on the Karabakh issue. The Congress will admit a settlement stemming from the interests of Karabakh people. If Karabakh people are displeased with the settlement presented by Serzh Sargsyan we shall undoubtedly back Karabakh people as we did in 1988.
- During the last really of the Armenian National Congress (HAK) Armenia's first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan said that the next rally will be held on March 1, 2010. Doesn't HAK foresee mass meetings by March 1?
- Given the recent developments I see a need for an earlier meeting. March 1 rally is fixed irrespective of all political developments but I don't exclude earlier rallies. Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev are expected to meet in the near future and I think we shall witness major events that will force people to go to the street. I am sure that public activeness will give rise to extraordinary presidential elections in Armenia.
- When do you anticipate extraordinary presidential elections in Armenia?
- I cannot fix an exact date. The earlier, the better.
Victoria Abrahamyan
