PROTOCOLO

10 Major Concerns Regarding
Armenia-Turkey Protocols
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

In earlier columns, I had described the major negative aspects of the already initialed Armenia-Turkey Protocols made public on August 31. The concerns I had expressed dealt with two unacceptable preconditions -- recognizing the territorial integrity of Turkey and establishing a joint committee of experts to study historical archives, a not so-veiled reference to re-examining the Armenian Genocide.

Below is a more comprehensive evaluation, providing 10 reasons why the Armenian government should not have initialed, and should not sign and ratify these Protocols:

1) Armenia’s leaders made the misjudgment of trying to resolve a large number of emotionally-charged Armenian-Turkish issues all at once, through a single agreement. Decades of antagonism cannot be dealt with in such haste. Armenian officials should have proceeded cautiously and gradually, starting with the simple step of establishing diplomatic relations, followed by the opening of the border. More complicated issues should have been left for a later date.

2) Since the declared purpose of these negotiations is the opening of the border with Armenia -- which Turkey shut down 16 years ago -- there was no reason to conduct such protracted and complex negotiations, and draft an elaborate document that included many unrelated and unacceptable conditions. It may have been wiser to draft a one-sentence agreement that would have simply stated: “Armenia and Turkey agree to establish diplomatic relations and declare their mutual border open on January 1, 2010.” In fact, such a one-line agreement was adopted by the United States and Turkey in 1927, when establishing diplomatic relations.

3) Armenia did not have to make any concessions in order to entice Turkey to open its border. Since Turkey has been desperately trying to join the European Union for several decades, it has no choice but to open its border with Armenia. The EU requires that all member states have open borders with neighboring countries.

4) By rushing to shut down the border in 1993, Turkey deprived itself of an important leverage over Armenia. Should Turkey reopen the border, it would once again repossess that leverage, holding the threat of closing the border as a Damoclean Sword over Armenia’s head. This threat becomes particularly potent, once Armenia’s population is increasingly dependent on imported, cheap Turkish foodstuffs and goods. Should Turkey decide to close the border in the future under some pretext, Armenia’s leaders would not be able to reverse the damage done to the nation’s interests, even if they abrogated the Protocols!

5) Prime Minister Erdogan said once again last week that Turkey would not open its border with Armenia, unless the Karabagh (Artsakh) conflict is resolved. Armenia’s leaders should announce that they will not sign these Protocols, since Turkish officials have made it crystal clear that they have no intention of keeping their side of the bargain.

6) Retired Turkish Ambassador Yalim Eralp made an important disclosure during a recent interview. He stated that the Turkish Parliament, while ratifying the Protocols, could declare them to be valid only after the resolution of the Karabagh conflict. Should the Turks advance such a condition, the Armenian Parliament could retaliate by requiring that the Protocols go into effect only after Turkey acknowledges the Armenian Genocide and Azerbaijan recognizes the Republic of Artsakh!

7) The Protocols do not include any requirement that they be signed and ratified by a particular date. The oft-mentioned October 12 or 13 signature dates are not mentioned in the text of the Protocols. The Armenian government should not rush to sign and ratify these Protocols. Armenia’s leaders may yet be saved from damaging their country’s interests by Turkey’s reluctance to ratify the Protocols. Turkey may blink first!

8) Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian admitted last week that there is no legal requirement to submit these Protocols to Parliament for ratification. However, such ratification would unnecessarily compound the damage done to Armenia’s national interests.

Miguel Angel Nalpatian(1942).- Mar del Plata.- Buenos Aires.- Rca Argentina.-

9) The Armenian government made no attempt during the lengthy negotiations with Turkey to consult with Diaspora Armenians, despite the fact that the Protocols addressed vital pan-Armenian issues. Months ago, when organizations and individuals expressed serious concerns regarding the preliminary text of the Protocols, they were simply ignored by the Armenian authorities. Attempts to hold discussions at the eleventh hour are futile, since the Armenian Foreign Minister has declared that the Protocols cannot be amended.

10) When the Armenian President met with leaders of more than 50 political parties in Yerevan last week, the five-hour-long “consultations” were held behind closed doors. Regrettably, only the President’s remarks were publicized. One would hope that when Pres. Sargsyan goes on his planned trip in early October to Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Moscow, and Beirut, his discussions with Diaspora leaders would be more open and transparent, and preferably televised.

The one unintended outcome of this heated controversy is the coming together of diverse Armenian organizations to take a common stand against these Protocols. It is everyone’s earnest hope that the intense intra-Armenian discord would not last long and Armenia’s leaders would find the courage and wisdom to stand down from their decision to sign and ratify these Protocols detrimental to the Armenian Cause.

Georgia / Vahagn Chakhalyan

Sylvie Guillaume, députée européen, soulève le cas de Vahagn Chakhalyan auprès de l'Union Européenne

De: Union YERKIR- Europe (contact@yerkir.eu)

Enviado: martes, 22 de septiembre de 2009 04:47:00 p.m.

Para: orgwelcome@hotmail.com www.armeniarebelde.unlugar.com Miguel Angel Nalpatian

Communiqué

Le 15 septembre 2009

SYLVIE GUILLAUME, députée européen, interpelle les instances Européennes sur la cas de Vahagn Chakhalyan

L’Union Yerkir vous informe de la démarche de la députée européenne, Sylvie Guillaume, interpellant la Commissaire Européenne chargée des relations extérieures, Mme Benita Ferrero-Waldner, concernant l’affaire de Vahagn Chakhalyan, leader de l’Alliance Démocratique Djavakhk Uni, condamné à 10 ans de prison ferme en Géorgie.

Union Yerkir

Parlement Européen

Sylvie Guillaume

Députée au parlement européen

N/Réf. : SG/LB/09-14

Madame Benita Ferrero-Waldner

Commissaire chargée des relations extérieures

Strasbourg le 15 septembre 2009

Madame,

Je souhaiterais vous alerter sur la situation des minorités ethniques et religieuses vivant en Géorgie et qui sont victimes de discriminations.

Plus particulièrement, la minorité arménienne souffre de discriminations linguistiques, sociales et religieuses, la région où elle est majoritaire est lourdement carencée en dessertes routières, énergie, services sociaux et sanitaires.

L’un des leaders des arméniens de Géorgie, Vahagn Chakhalyan, a été arrêté en juillet 2008 et condamné à une peine de 10 ans de prison pour des faits largement discutables.

Les revendications de son mouvement, pacifique, ne sont ni indépendantistes ni même autonomistes, mais visent la reconnaissance des droits civiques de la minorité arménienne en Géorgie, alors que ce pays mène une politique assimilationniste assez forte dans cette région depuis le démantèlement des bases militaires russes en 2005.

Vahagn Chakhalyan a été transféré de sa prison de Tbilissi, alors que son procès en appel est en cours, dans un centre pénitentiaire dans une autre ville à 30 km où il craint pour sa sécurité.

Son procès en appel doit reprendre vendredi prochain mais les procédures d’arrestations, d’instructions et du procès en 1ère instance ont été émaillés d’infractions de la part des autorités judiciaires (la justice géorgienne lui a même refusé le droit d'avoir un avocat français).

On ne peut laisser ainsi les autorités géorgiennes agir en contravention des conventions internationales sur le droit à un procès équitable, et ce alors même que la Géorgie, au titre des financements communautaires, dans le cadre de la politique de voisinage, a reçu 15 Millions d'euros versés au titre de "la réforme de la justice".

Pourriez-vous vous engager en faveur de l’observation de ce procès par la représentation de l’U.E à Tbilissi ? N’y a-t-il pas lieu de demander des comptes aux autorités géorgiennes sur l’utilisation faite des fonds destinés à améliorer le fonctionnement de la justice et envisager des dispositions qui incitent la Géorgie à respecter ses engagements.

Je vous prie de croire, Madame, en l’expression de ma considération distinguée.

Sylvie Guillaume

Miguel Angel Nalpatian(1942).- Mar del Plata.- Buenos Aires.- Rca Argentina.-

PROTOCOLO BILATERAL - Armenia / Turquia

Articles > Armenian-Turkish Relations > Protocols signed by Armenia and Turkey
Protocols to guide relations between Armenia and Turkey

The foreign ministers of Armenia, Turkey and Switzerland issued a joint announcement Monday, 31 August 2009, outlining the protocols that will guide the establishment and development of relations between Turkey and Armenia.
Below is the text of the announcement and the protocols, received from the foreign ministry.

The Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey have agreed to start their internal political consultations on the two protocols – the “Protocol on the establishment of diplomatic relations” and the “Protocol on the development of bilateral relations” – which have been initiated in the course of their efforts under Swiss mediation.

The two Protocols provide for a framework for the normalization of their bilateral relations within a reasonable timeframe. The political consultations will be completed within six weeks, following which the two Protocols will be signed and submitted to the respective Parliaments for the ratification on each side. Both sides will make their best efforts for the timely progression of the ratification in line with their constitutional and legal procedures.

The normalization of bilateral relations will contribute to the regional peace and stability. The Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey are committed are pursuing their joint efforts with the assistance of Switzerland.
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Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between Republic of Armenia and Republic of Turkey

The Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey,

Desiring to establish good neighborly relations and to develop bilateral cooperation in the political, economic, cultural and other fields for the benefit of their peoples, as envisaged in the Protocol on the development of relations signed on the same day,

Referring to their obligation under the Charter of the United Nations, the Helsinki Final Act, the Charter of Paris for a New Europe,

Reconfirming their commitment, in their bilateral and international relations, to respect and ensure respect for the principles equality, sovereignty, non intervention in internal affairs of other states, territorial integrity and inviolability of frontiers,

Bearing in mind the importance of the creation and maintenance of an atmosphere of trust and confidence between the two countries that will contribute to the strengthening of peace, security and stability of the whole region, as wll as being determined to refrain from the threat or the use of force, to promote the peaceful settlement of disputes, and to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Confirming the mutual recognition of the existing border between the two countries as defined by the relevant treaties of international law,

Emphasizing their decision to open the common border.

Reiterating their commitment to refrain from pursuing any policy incompatible with the spirit of good neighborly relations.

Condemning all forms of terrorism, violence and extremism irrespective of their cause, pledging to refrain from encouraging and tolerating such acts and to cooperate in combating against them,

Affirming their willingness to chart a new pattern and course for their relations on the basis of common interests, goodwill and in pursuit of peace, mutual understanding and harmony,

Agree to establish diplomatic relations as of the date of the entry into force of this Protocol in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 and to exchange Diplomatic Missions.
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Protocol on Development of Relations Between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey

Guided by the Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey signed on the same day,

Considering the perspectives of developing their bilateral relations, based on confidence and respect to their mutual interests,

Determining to develop and enhance their bilateral relations, in the political, economic, energy, transport, scientific, cultural issues and other fields, based on common interests of both countries,

Supporting the promotion of the cooperation between the two countries in the international and regional organizations, especially within the framework of the UN, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and the BSEC,

Taking into account the common purpose of both States to cooperate for enhancing regional stability and security for ensuring democratic and sustainable development of the region,

Reiterating their commitment to the peaceful settlement of regional and international disputes and conflicts on the basis of the norms and principles of international law,

Reaffirming their readiness to actively support the actions of the international community in addressing common security threats to the region and world security and stability, such as terrorism, transnational organized crimes, illicit trafficking of drugs and arms,

1. Agree to open the common border within 2 months after entry into force of this Protocol,

2. Agree to conduct regular political consultation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries;

Implement a dialogue on the historical dimension with the aim to restore mutual confidence between the two nations, including an impartial and scientific examination of the historical records and archives to define existing problems and formulate recommendations;

Make the best possible use of existing transport, communications and energy infrastructure and networks between the two countries and to undertake measures in this regard;

Develop the bilateral legal framework in order to foster cooperation between the two countries;

Cooperate in the fields of science and education by encouraging relations between the appropriate institutions as well as promoting the exchange of specialists and students, and act with the aim of preserving the cultural heritage of both sides and launching common cultural projects;

Establish consular cooperation in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963 in order to provide necessary assistance and protection to the citizens of the two countries;

Take concrete measures in order to develop trade, tourism and economic cooperation between the two countries;

Engage in a dialogue and reinforce their cooperation on environmental issues.

3. Agree on the establishment of an intergovernmental bilateral commission which shall comprise separate sub-commissions for the prompt implementation of the commitments mentioned in operation paragraph 2 above in this Protocol. To prepare the working modalities of the intergovernmental commission and its sub-commissions, a working group headed by the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs shall be created 2 months after the day following the entry into force of this Protocol. Within 3 months after the entry into force of this Protocol, these modalities shall be approved at ministerial level. The intergovernmental commission shall meet for the first time immediately after the adoption of the said modalities. The sub-commissions shall start their work at the latest 1 month thereafter and they shall work continuously until the completion of their mandates. Where appropriate, international experts shall take part in the sub-commissions.

The timetable ans elements agreed by both sides for the implementation of this Protocol are mentioned in the annexed document (See below), which is an integral part of this Protocol.

This Protocol and the Protocol on the Estblishment of Diplomatic Relation between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey shall enter into force on the same day, i.e. on the fist day of the first month following the exchanges of instruments of ratification.
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Timetable and elements for the implementation of the Protocol on development of relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey Steps to be undertaken:

1. to open the common border within two months after the entry into force of the Protocol on the development of relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey

2. to establish a working group headed by the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs to prepare the working modalities of the intergovernmental commission and its sub-committees 2 months after the day following entry into force of the Protocol on development of relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey

3. to approve the working modalities of the intergovernmental commission and its sub-commissions and ministerial level within 3 months after entry into force of the Protocol on development of relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey

4. to organize the first meeting of the intergovernmental commission immediately after the adoption of the working modalities of the intergovernmental commission and its sub-commissions at ministerial level

5. to operate the following sub-commissions:

- the sub-commission on political consultations;

- the sub- commission on transport, communications, and energy infrastructure and networks,

- the sub-commission on legal matters

- the sub-commission on science and education

- the sub-commission on trade, tourism, and economic cooperation;

- the sub-commission on the historical dimension to implement a dialogue with the aim to restore mutual confidence between the two nations, including an impartial scientific examination of the historical records and archives to define existing problems and formulate recommendations, in which Armenian, Turkish as well as Swiss and other international experts shall take part.

At the latest 1 month after the first meeting of the intergovernmental commission

For the Republic of Armenia

For the Republic of Turkey

Miguel Angel Nalpatian(1942).- Mar del Plata.- Buenos Aires.- Rca Argentina.-

Respuesta de la U. S. Senadora Dianne Feinstein

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein responding to your message‏
De: senator@feinstein.senate.gov
Enviado: viernes, 11 de septiembre de 2009 12:43:26 p.m.
Para: orgwelcome@hotmail.com

Dear Mr. Nalpatian:

Thank you for writing to express your support for robust U.S. aid to Armenia. I appreciate hearing from you on this topic and welcome the opportunity to respond.


Like you, I am a strong supporter of Armenia and the Armenian-American community. I believe it is important for the U.S. to maintain close ties with Armenia and strengthen our relationship.


As you may know, the Senate Appropriations Committee, on which I serve, recently reported the fiscal year 2010 State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Act (S. 1434) to the full Senate for consideration. While this legislation includes $30 million in humanitarian and economic support and development aid to Armenia, it does not currently include funding for military assistance or contain provisions related to the ongoing dispute over the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. You may be interested to learn that the U.S. House of Representatives has included $3 million in Foreign Military Financing, $450,000 for International Military Education and Training, and language pertaining to Nagorno-Karabakh in their version of the legislation. Any differences between the bills passed by each chamber will need to be worked out in a conference before each house considers the final version of this bill. Be assured that I have noted your thoughts, and will keep them in mind as Congress continues to complete work on the fiscal year 2010 appropriations process.


Further, please know that I appreciate the efforts the people of Nagorno-Karabakh have made to build a better future for themselves following the collapse of the Soviet Union and years of war and conflict. I am hopeful that Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Azerbaijan will settle their differences peacefully at the negotiating table. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE) Minsk Group has launched several diplomatic initiatives aimed at resolving the outstanding issues, and I encourage all parties to actively participate in these efforts.


Again, thank you for writing. I hope you will continue to write me on matters of importance to you. If you have any further questions or comments, please feel free to contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-3841. Best regards.


Sincerely yours,

Dianne Feinstein United States Senator


Further information about my position on issues of concern to California and the Nation are available at my website http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/. You can also receive electronic e-mail updates by subscribing to my e-mail list at http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ENewsletterSignup.Signup.

Miguel Angel Nalpatian(1942).- Mar del Plata.- Buenos Aires.- Rca Argentina.-

Turkish-Armenian " historical commission "

I am writing to you, as my voice in the U.S. House, with a formal request that you investigate and share with me your findings on a foreign policy matter that holds great moral, political, and historical meaning.
My appeal to you is to make formal inquiries of the State Department regarding the Administration’s morally indefensible pressure on Armenia to accept Turkey’s proposal to establish a Turkish-Armenian “historical commission.”
In recent days, Armenia, blockaded by Turkey, the successor state to the Ottoman Empire that launched the Armenian Genocide, and under intense economic and diplomatic pressure, was forced to sign a set of deeply flawed and dangerous protocols that called for, in the words of The New York Times (9/1/09), “the formation of an international history commission to study the Armenian genocide, the central dispute between the countries.” This proposal is as patently offensive as an official state-sponsored commission that would bring together historians and deniers of the Holocaust. It, tragically, represents a victory for Turkey’s campaign of denial, which has long sought international legitimacy for its shameless efforts to cast doubt on the settled history of this crime against humanity.
I am outraged that my government would support, in any way, the creation of this commission or any other measure intended to question the Armenian Genocide. U.S. backing is both morally wrong and diplomatically counter-productive. The fact remains: There can be no enduring relationship between Armenia and Turkey that is not built upon the foundation of Turkey’s acceptance of a true and just resolution of this crime.
Turkey’s true intentions in seeking to create such an artificial commission is clearly illustrated by the fact that, even as its seeks, in the international arena, to garner credit by appearing open to dialogue, it is, back at home, criminalizing even the mere mention of the Armenian Genocide through statutes such as Article 301, which sets jail terms of up to 2 years for “insulting the Turkish nation.”
I urge you to write to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, firstly, to register your opposition to any U.S. monetary, political, or other support for a “historical commission” or any other initiative that questions the veracity of the Armenian Genocide, and secondly, to request a full accounting of any activities on the part of the U.S. government in connection to the “historical commission” and other related undertakings.
Denial is the last stage of past genocides, and, tragically, the first stage of the next genocide. Our government, unlike Armenia – which is under tremendous duress – is in a powerful position to reject both Turkey’s heavy-handed denial tactics and its profoundly offensive efforts to enlist the American people in its campaign of lies and cover-ups.
I would very much appreciate learning of the results of your inquiries with the Department of State, and thank you in advance for your assistance in this regard.

Miguel Angel Nalpatian(1942).- Mar del Plata.- Buenos Aires.- Rca Argentina.-