Consequences of "Disavowal in Zurich" according to the ANC
Statement by the Armenian National Congress
"By illegally seizing power through falsified elections and the massacres of March 1, the current regime initially put itself in such a vulnerable state in world affairs that led to unprecedented foreign pressures on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In this situation, the Sargsyan administration worked with the plan to solve the crisis within the framework of the so-called "innovative" foreign policy.
The essence of that "innovative" policy was the deal of disavowal in Zurich by which the administration accepted Turkey's demand for the creation of a historical commission with the promise to open the border. The administration had estimated that it would solve several issues by moving toward such an inacceptable deal from the angle of morality. Based on Sargsyan's calculations, by showing the ability to go against national interests and nationalists, he would receive support from the international community which would allow him to debilitate pressures on Nagorno-Karabakh on the one hand and on the other hand, ensure perspectives for Armenia's development with the solution to the conflict of independent Karabakh under the condition of open borders. The Sargsyan administration had also estimated that that support would allow the administration to suppress the opposition's struggle for democratic liberties and creation of legitimate authorities and to create a governable "nationalist" opposition. The objective for such a false opposition had to show that it was against Sargsyan when it came to national issues without such criticism that would reveal the regime's flaws and endanger its existence.
The Armenian National Congress has warned several times that from this angle of foreign policy, this plan is based on lack of foresight and wrong calculations. From the angle of internal policy, it is simply unlawful because it is aimed at misleading society and pressuring democracy.
As we had warned, Turkey is going to consistently tie the opening of the border with a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, while the Minsk Group Co-Chairs are not going to be able to exert pressure that would change that position. This fact is clear for everyone and only the authorities continue to deny that with their dull persistence.
The following are the consequences of the failed policy on disavowal in Zurich:
1. Not only did the pressures on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict not decrease, but due to the unprecedented intensive pressures, for the first time in the history of the newly independent republic, Armenia agreed to set limits on the right of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to self-determination within the framework of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity (OSCE Statement in Athens, December 2009).
2. Turkey used the Turkish-Armenian reconciliation process to get engaged in the talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and has already taken on the role of a de facto co-chairing country of the Minsk Group, which will have a negative impact on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
3. The Turkish-Armenian reconciliation apparently turned into the Turkish-Armenian conflict full of official accusations and insults.
After fatal failures, the regime faces two alternatives: either quickly resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through an unfavorable version, or confront the deepening of an economic crisis that will lead to a social explosion. By its nature, this regime cannot normalize the state of economy because that would endanger its own existence. The Armenian National Congress will soon release its viewpoint on the issues for normalizing Armenia's economy," as stated in the statement.
