“Heritage” demands a referendum
Statement of the "Heritage" party on the August 31 press release and two pre-signed protocols by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey.
Attaching importance to the establishment of friendly relations between Armenia and Turkey, the need to dispel the deep lack of confidence between both nations and mitigate the tension, nevertheless, the "Heritage" party
-considers the defective working style of the Armenian authorities and international community of making the society face the facts as inadmissible and inacceptable. A day after the joint statement by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey on April 22, 2009, the "Heritage" party demanded that the RA authorities "immediately present the propositions set forth in the "Roadmap" and "comprehensive framework for normalization of bilateral relations". "Heritage" expresses its concerns over the fact that the mentioned agreements were presented to the public not by the RA authorities and by their will, but were kept secret until the international community found it appropriate to let the people know about some of the propositions.
b. is disappointed that for months the RA authorities and foreign diplomats presented that the process of normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations is developing withough preconditions, while the two protocols show that Turkey's preconditions known to Armenians and the global community since 1991 are directly stated.
c. warns that the ratification of the pre-signed protocols will have a destructive impact on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and will lead to irreversible consequences, where Armenia will give Turkey "the right to speak about the seizure of lands within the framework of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and deprives itself of the right to speak about the historical facts of Turkey's seizure of the homeland."
Based on the above mentioned, the "Heritage" party:
1. demands a referendum for the agreed documents along with the issue of confidence of the RA President responsible for the country's foreign policy within six weeks in order to recap public opinion regarding the ratification and final signing of the two protocols
2. will hold a petition starting from the fall session of the NA and will appeal to the RA government with the demand to fulfill its powers established by the RA law on "Referendum"
3. will start bilateral discussions and consultations with opposition and pro-government parties whose positions and steps partially or completely fall in line with the positions of "Heritage"
4. will hold consultations with foreign advocates, international experts and diplomats to discuss the opportunities for changing the protocols, as well as to analyze and foresee all possible events after they are in effect
5. will take measures to prevent dangerous processes in case of not being able to change the protocols
6. will start a series of consultations with Diaspora organizations as a legitimate side in the Turkish-Armenian resistance
7. calls on all Armenians to express their views on the process, the protocols and Armenia's foreign policy
8. addresses the National Security Council with the demand to convene a session with all interested political parties and professionals
9. will appeal to the Constitutional Court with the demand to examine the compatibility of the protocols and the objectives laid down in the preamble
10.expects the position of the NKR government and social-political figures on the protocols, which will have a direct impact on the future process of recognition of the NKR independence.
"Heritage" party
September 3, 2009
