President Sargsyan. "Where are we going? Personally I am
headed for the resolution of the problems"
19-09-2009 20:30:00 | Armenia | Politics
Opening remarks of President Sargsyan at the thematic
debate on the "Current stage of the normalization of the
Armenian-Turkish relations"
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. This is our third
meeting in this format. As you remember, the first two meetings
of this kind were dedicated to the peaceful resolution of the NK
conflict and mitigation of the consequences of the global
financial and economic crisis. For me personally, and as I have
been told for many of the participants, these discussions were
important and necessary not only for sharing views but also for
making certain adjustments in our course of actions.
Today, I propose the discussions the current stage of the
Armenian-Turkish relations. I expect that this topic will be
debated in different formats. In the coming weeks there will be
various formats of discussion, I will be initiating and
participating in some of them myself and so I’ve decided to
start the series with this meeting. Undoubtedly, with many of
you we will also meet during similar discussions elsewhere. I
believe in your public activities you will be having
opportunities to present your views, while I see today’s meeting
as a fitting format for continued deliberations on a political
dispute which has started some time ago.
The process, which has started after issuing the joint
declaration and the pre-signed protocols on the normalization of
the Armenian-Turkish relations, is really a positive and
important one. And I mean this stage of public and political
discussion.
During these days I have familiarized myself with a
spectrum of different opinions, took notice of some positive,
encouraging calls, some criticism, including harsh one, and I
took notice of some concern. Surely, I see the risks as well and
I have concerns too. But to evaluate our concerns, to give a
proper assessment to the risks and to understand that there are
some things we have to do, we should put all our considerations
on the table.
By inviting the President of Turkey to Armenia and by
initiating this entire process, I have been trying to open a
window of opportunity for Armenia and Turkey to normalize
bilateral relations, to show that the nation, which went through
the devastation of Genocide and the Armenian state – sturdy and
faithful to its people’s pain – is strong enough to reach out
and point out the irrationality of moving against the flow of
the global development.
At this point I would like to invite your attention to the
following: Many would say that it is necessary to negotiate with
Turkey, however there is no need to do it openly and publicly.
You all know that there have been a number of attempts to do it
and this last one indeed differs from the previous ones by its
openness. I believe, nevertheless that it should be an open
process since tension, which exists between us, is not
imaginary, not situational; that tension is not, so to say, war
of the elites. It is between our societies and that tension, or
to be straight, that animosity is the result of the darkest page
of our history – the Armenian Genocide perpetrated in the
Ottoman Empire. If we are to normalize our relations with Turkey
at all then above and beyond the political will of Armenia’s and
Turkey’s leadership it is necessary to engage both societies.
Otherwise, the problem will not be solved. I realize that
publicity has its problems because if the process comes to a
dead end then quite naturally, contradictions and animosity I
referred to will deepen.
In these first days of public debate, I haven’t heard yet
an opinion expressed by a political force in opposition to
opening the borders. Possibly, it will be voiced today, I don’t
know, however I am confident that such a stance, at least in the
political field, will not be a dominating one, it is not spoken
about directly. Viewpoints that oppose the establishment of
diplomatic relations with Turkey are few or even non-existent.
And if this is the starting point for our line of reasoning then
we must be able to figure out where we are, what we have, and
where we are going. Where we are: This is the stage of
discussing the pre-signed documents, of signing and possible
ratification. Yes, I think it is possible that regarding certain
parts of the documents some people find the explanation not very
convincing, though I am confident that when it is examined from
every angle and with no prejudice, it wouldn’t be that way. But
even in that case, does it mean that we have lost over some
issue? Or rather it means the opening of a working field for
debating all issues and solving them? Do we actually conclude or
commence with this stage? Let’s talk it over today and
understand it thoroughly. What do we have? We have two
pre-signed documents and an active process. Let’s us reckon
together what these documents give or take. I am sure you’re
aware of the details. How to evaluate them? As the answer to the
existing problems or the acts which create conditions for the
resolution of the problems? Let’s us think together whether we
sacrifice our principles and our understanding of truth, or
instead of confining ourselves in immaculate self-absorption we
open the way to bring them to resolution, opening an area for
work. Let’s think about it.
These days many people ask me questions and the question is
the following: what’s the minimum and maximum you want to
achieve? Establishment of diplomatic relations with Turkey I
view neither as minimum, nor as maximum. I view the outcome of
these processes only as the establishment of minimal conditions
which would allow to start a dialogue with the Turks. We have
many issues in the realm of the Armenian-Turkish relations that
need solving – ranging from economic and political to
historical.
Where are we going? Personally I am headed for the
resolution of the problems. If for the resolution of any problem
we have closed the door of opportunity, please point it out.
Let’s assess those problems together. If we sincerely want to
normalize relations, and I repeat, so far not a single political
force has announced publicly that it opposes the normalization
of our relations with Turkey, then let’s understand who is going
to do what and, in general, what we are going to do together. I
think this is the most important issue.