“Words contradict actions”
Head of ARF faction Vahan Hovhannisyan notices some controversy in Armenia's stance towards the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation process.
"The words and actions of the Armenian side contradict each other. It does not matter whether you surrender an acre or two. Once you cede anything unilaterally, you become a loser," Mr. Hovhannisyan told a press conference today.
On the one hand, Vahan Hovhannisyan reminded Serzh Sargsyan's speech at the tomb of Woodrow Wilson and the government's decision to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the Genocide; on the other hand, he recalled the rejection of ARF proposals and draft laws by parliamentary majority.
"They did everything possible to vote down our proposals and amendments to the Law on International Agreements. We have been unable to understand what they mean by saying "a reasonable timeframe."
Regarding the long-disputed Armenian-Turkish Protocols, Mr. Hovhannisyan said," Turks "concocted" the document for two reasons. Firstly, Turkey noticed that Armenian authorities were afraid of the consequences of the Russian-Georgian conflict as the road was closed down for a few days. Secondly, they saw that Armenian authorities preferred personal interests to national ones."
"Initiating dialogue with Armenia, Turkey sought to split and weaken our nation. And now it aims to split the Diaspora," said Mr. Hovhannisyan and quoted Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu words that Turkey is ready to host Diaspora representatives but not those with rough stance, i.e. ARF.
Vahan Hovhannisyan is of the same opinion about the protocols. "Armenia had better withdraw from the talks."
When asked what would happen if Armenia ratified the document before Turkey, Mr. Hovhannisyan said, "It will be a disgrace to Armenia. Turkey will not ratify the document unless the Karabakh conflict is settled."
