Contrary to Scandinavians, your country’s specialisation has been on short-term humanitarian issues in the midst of violent conflict, rather than helping to solve long-term diplomatic disputes. Contrary to many other disputes of today, this one hasemotional, moral, historical and ongoing aspects. Far from being on no talking terms, the parties involved have been talking regularly to each other, often with the help of other countries, but sometimes by themselves, on many occasions over the past two decades or so.

In earlier columns, I had described the major negative aspects of the already initialed Armenia-Turkey Protocols made public on August 31. The concerns I had expressed dealt with two unacceptable preconditions — recognizing the territorial integrity of Turkey and establishing a joint committee of experts to study historical archives, a not so-veiled reference to re-examining the Armenian Genocide.

In the fifth clause of the protocol on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey, the parties agree to define the existing border. In this regard, it is necessary to take up a very important question, even if strange at first glance, whether the Republic of Armenia [...]

The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia is not authorized to discuss and vote on, much less ratify the protocols between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey on establishing diplomatic relations and developing bi-lateral ties. The said protocols fall outside the authority of the National Assembly. The current Constitution of the [...]

By Ara Papian Ten days of discussion have already passed from the forty (of traditional mourning) granted to that dark pair of protocols. It is evident that the “internal discussions” are not working out. Naturally, they would not come to pass, given the circumstances. The current situation makes nothing work, and nothing will work in [...]

By Ara Papian A question has been raised a great deal lately, to which a clear answer has not been given. Why is the Armenian Revolutionary Federation demanding the resignation of the foreign minister, but does not demand the resignation of the president? Although I am not a member of the ARF, I shall try [...]

By Ara Papian Through their own dubious analysis and that of others, certain Parteikanzlei (party leaderships) are attempting to equate opposition to signing the pair of unfortunate protocols and the establishment of Armenian-Turkish diplomatic relations with opposing the opening of the so-called border. Personally, I am one hundred percent for establishing diplomatic, as well as [...]

By Ara Papian It is simply incredible how innovatively the snares have been woven into that unfortunate pair of Armenian-Turkish protocols. Let us take up but one of many. Many drew attention to the fact that the vagueness in deadlines in the protocols for parliamentary ratifications can cause the parties to drag out the actual [...]

By Ara Papian In 1927, the leadership of the United States was considering the same dilemma as the authorities of the Republic of Armenia face today. The administration, giving in to the interests of the business community, intended to establish diplomatic relations with Turkey, while public opinion and a majority of the Senate remained against [...]

By Ara Papian Until now we were saying and they were confirming, that diplomatic relations were to be established with Turkey without preconditions. Many believed it. They believed it perhaps because it would have been impossible to imagine otherwise. The opposite would have simply demeaned Armenian statehood it would have turned blood into water, debasing [...]

By Ara Papian The renowned classical Armenian philosopher, Davit Anhaght (David the Invincible), once asked, “How can there be a limit to knowledge, when there is no limit to ignorance?” A similar kind of unlimited ignorance was seen and heard lately, when a young person with an air of authority stated, “Khoy and Salmast are [...]

After reviewing hundreds of articles in regional and international media outlets and scores of statements by various officials regarding the Protocols between Armenia and Turkey, it is clear that these agreements will not be ratified by the Turkish Parliament, unless the Armenian government first makes concessions on Karabagh (Artsakh). As expected, there was great agitation [...]