Being ashamed for what you've done
"It's like being ashamed of something that you shouldn't have done," this was Armenian National Congress (HAK) coordinator Levon Zurabyan's evaluation of the moratorium for ratification of the Turkey-Armenia Protocols.
The Congress will touch upon the reason why the National Assembly decided to take the issue of ratifying the Turkey-Armenia Protocols from the agenda of the National Assembly's four-day sessions, as well as a number of issues relating to the process and the effects after discussions with all forces of the Armenian National Congress.
Head of the National Assembly's "Heritage" faction Armen Martirosyan told "A1+" that he welcomes the moratorium of the ratification of the Turkey-Armenia Protocols, but finds that it was incomplete. "I am glad that the political coalition finally focused on the announcements made by high-ranking Turkish officials. In the past year, the coalition was ignoring them a day after the signing of the Protocols. I welcome the decision to take the issue out of the agenda of the National Assembly's four-day sessions, but generally, the signature must be taken back."
Armen Martirosyan believes that if ever should there be the start of establishing Turkish-Armenian relations, it should be without preconditions.
"It should only be within the framework of establishing diplomatic relations and Turkey's opening of the border."
Martirosyan thinks the political coalition issued the statement because it was under huge pressure. By saying pressure, Martirosyan means:
"The authorities are in such an inter-political situation, there are so many issues that remain unsolved that they wouldn't be able to keep power if they ratified the Turkey-Armenia Protocols with such preconditions."
The ARF also believes the step was "incomplete". The ARF is planning to issue a joint statement along with the parties that have joined the "No" movement.
