Petition Opposing Some Provisions in the Protocols

21 comments

1. Turkish-Armenian Border

   On the Turkish-Armenian border question, a unilateral public statement by Armenia should suffice:

    

   "Any country seeking to be part of a pluralistic and democratic Europe and wishing fraternal relations with Armenia should open its border to land-locked Armenia. It is not an issue that needs to be negotiated. It simply needs to be done. An unwillingness to do so continues the terrible legacy of attempted genocide against the Armenian nation. As such, it is unforgiveable."

2. Send a strong Message

   This whole concept of the Protocols is unacceptable, not only some provisions. It sounds as if the wronged party is at par with the culprit.

   Having said so, if the protocols will be a start to unconditional rapprochement and diplomatic relations then so be it. Only in that sense I endorse this petition.

   The idea of having a protest march in Sevres or Lausanne (why not both) is excellent and should be promoted.

3. Vartan Oskanian speaks up

   Vartan Oskanian, the former Foreign Minister of Armenia sets the record straight. Since 1991 Turkey has insisted on the preconditions, but successive governments did not give in. In the interim didn’t Armenia survive and thrive?

   I would like yet to hear what has substantially changed that compels Armenia to capitulate on all major issues. Granted, today Russia too is in play, and it is in its interest to open the borders. That was all the more reason why Armenia should have resisted, and pointed out to all interested parties that it was up to Turkey to take the appropriate step.

   Armenia should have seized the opportunity. Armenian Diplomacy should have consistently whispered in the ears of Russia, Europe, USA that opening the border would be foremost in their interest coupled with urging them to demand Turkey to lift the blockade. Unfortunately, the Armenian government did not take the initiative and let Turkey dictate the agenda.

   How could it when its own legitimacy was dependent on those very same powers? Let us call a spade a spade, not distort and misrepresent the facts simply to suit previous friendly stances that certain circles had towards the present regime partly due to grievances against LTP.

4. What are the president’s answers?

   Honorable S. Sargsian, the president of Armenia must answer to the Armenians worldwide the following questions:

   – Is the Armenian Genocide a question for debate?
   – Would the protocols undermine Nagorno Gharabkh’s right to self-determination and Armenia’s security?

   If the answer to any of the above questions is YES then we are doomed for disaster and annihilation.

5. Cilician Armenians

   Although I endorsed the petition, there was no mention of compensation for the loss of land, property and most of all human lives of Cilician armenians who in the Diaspora form the majority of the descendants of the persecuted and massacred. If the government of Armenia will act for the appropriation of land and property for western Armenians, who will act on our behalf and for our cause?

   1. That is exactly why two intitutions came to life

      Dear  Mr. K. Krajian,

      I was withholding  it for a a while for a suitable moment. Not wishing to throw oil on fire – so to speak.

      I am an old time activist  from the First Armenian Congress that convened in Paris in Sept.3/6,1979, later elected by nearly 400 participants to the temporary executive board.

      Much water has passed over the years. However, since this fiasco commenced on April 23rd, 2009,  then the Protocols, two institutions formed in Paris, France. Actually, the first one  prior to the said protocols. It calling itself Haybachdpan. It endevours  to declare itself and become as the legitimate representative for the Western Amenians, outside  the Homeland.

      I do not condone their wish to get acknowledged by the international community as such. The fact is that they were trying to apply to the UN for recognition.

      The other, is the brainchild  of my dear friend Dr. Hagop Kirkiasharyan, again of Paris, through his Ararat Cultural Foundation. It also is indirectly supporting the above idea to the point of establishing an Arevmdahay (Western  Armenian) group.

      I would earnestly ask both to refrain from utilizing this approach of seperating our two main segments from each other.

      We  have one cause for one Nation. If  we in any way depart from that premise then it will be yet another fiasco, this time brought about not by the homeland, but from without. We simply must stick together. Any further fragmentation would be very welcome by our adversaries. Especially great Turkey. Their  diplomacy  these days is fast at work and such an act or move by us in the Diaspora would serve  their purposes immensely.

      Instead, I beseech to firstly join forces and not mention any Western Armenian entity, then begin to think  of re-structuring  our Diaspora(s) to the detriment of our adversaries. Tolerate what  the other segment, namely RA is trying to advance, and with much patience convince the latter to rectify the Protocols that are yet to be ratified in the RA  parliament.

      If that cannot be attained, then let’s work all of us together to draw a new statute for the Armenian Diaspora.

      This indeed is a very tough task, especially having our political parties, and why not let  me say it, I am not afraid of uttering it, the indirect intervention of our Spiritual leadership. The Latter is still maintaining  and acting in accordance  to  SAHMANATRUTYUN  which is more than 160 years old and drawn up in Constantinople under harsh restrictive  Ottoman rule.

      This last  point must  be  pointed  out to them that it is not in line with the aspirations of the present dynamic Diaspora. There is no Ottoman threats today in any of the Diaspora communities – not in Syria, Iran, Lebanon, other Arab countries, in any of EU counties, Australia or in the Americas. Our present stance is totally different in the Diaspora(s)

      As to our political parties – with plenty respect to all of them – they should realize  that both human and material resources dwell in our huge collectives that are non-partisan and unfortunately not so active in the national affairs arena. These good people can be harnessed, so to speak, to take up the nation’s cause and in fact support them and not go against them.

       

6. Message sent to Canadian professors & lecturers

   On behalf of the signatories of the Petition the following message was sent to more than 5000 professors and lecturers and to 1000 people of all walks of life in Canada:

   
   Dear Professors and Lecturers,

    

   Turkey and Azerbaijan have blockaded the Republic of Armenia for close to two decades now. The United States, Western Europe, and Russia, acting in their own oil and geopolitical interests, have urged Turkey to lift the blockade and establish diplomatic relations with Armenia.

    

   Armenians, worldwide, have welcomed the opening of the border. However, Turkey, taking advantage of Armenia’s weak military, economic and institutional situation, has imposed preconditions which jeopardize tiny Armenia’s security and the recognition of the Armenian Genocide for which the descendants of the 1.5-million Armenian victims have struggled for nearly a century.

    

   We invite you to take a look at the referenced material and to the petition. Please join us to neutralize this latest hostile act by Turkey.

    

7. Turkish-Armenian border question

   I am just back from visiting Western Armenia, Van, Kars, etc. and I would honestly urge our government’s "Vasak" members to do the same, and then realize what we have lost, and or what we are talking about. 

   Apart from the Wilsonian borders, at least let them have the courage to ask the Russians to undo the treachery of handing over Kars territories to Turkey. 

   Let our political parties take the Kars Treaty case to the United Nations and remind them how one Jewish General illegaly signed over our territory to another Jewish general.

   1. That always was an
      That always was an un-answered question for me;  since 1991 what steps have our governments taken, with the UN and other entitites, to bring-up injustices against the Armenian nation….I think none!

8. I wonder

   
   

   I wonder if people in the Diaspora (those who thought March 1-2, 2008 was not a big deal) think now that having a government that is not accountable to its subjects is a dangerous idea. Do you people understand that by feeding these corrupt and murderous folks for years you have aided this outcome (i.e., the protocol)? Do you know now that the quest for money and power has no patriotic feelings?

   You have tolerated undemocratic and inhumane governments in Armenia for years now and in return you got this. You have allowed yourselves to be fooled by setrakians, hovnanians, and oskanians of the world who have abused your love and devotion and turned it into money laundering- and career-making machines for themselves.

   I wonder if the lessons of the past 20 years are properly internalized. This in my view is important if we are to avoid a fiasco going forward.

    

9. Armenians
   Dear compatriots,

   I am a very proud Armenian and I never thought of hiding it.  Armenians are excellent engineers, physicians, architects, goldsmiths, etc…but, one thing we are REALLY bad at is politics. The words Armenians and politics don’t mix well for reasons we all know. We never spoke with one voice and we don’t even have a unified language and grammar.

   We don’t have a unified church, and we even managed to have two "Arachnortaran"s in one city, which is basically the equivalent of one country having two embassies in one city.

   If we think we speak Armenian, then we are just cheating ourselves. Armenians who immigrated to Canada or the U.S. the day before yesterday, became more anglophone than the people who lived in the country for over a century, they speak 90% bad English and 10% bad Armenian.

   What are we looking for exactly? What do we want exactly? If Turkey restitutes all Armenian territories taken by force would we go back? I doubt it very much.

   Whatever is happening to Armenia, Artsakh or Armenians, in general, today is no surprise to me. All the bickering among Armenians for decades and all over the world made many Armenians turn their back to the Armenian institutions. These same institutions played ping-pong with generations of Armenians until they got sick of them.

   I am bombarded with messages from Armenian "institutions" on a daily basis, and I feel pulled by both sides. Did anyone ask himself a question: who is benefitting from all this? On the other hand corrupt people in Armenia are trying to sell prime land for peanuts. Do I have to dance to every tune? The game is over my friends.

10. Il n’est pas admissible de

    Il n’est pas admissible de brader ainsi notre patrimoine.

11. Protocole Arménie / Turquie

    Il est irresponsable de la partie des Dirigeants politique Arménien, D’accepter, que Soit Souillé La mémoire de nos ancêtres. Seraient-ils morts, Campagnols, dépouilles, les massacres DE LEUR Volonté propre? Monsieur le président avec tout le respect que je vous Accorde, réveillez-vous.

12. The Armenia -Turkey Protocols

    I strongly oppose signing of these shameful protocols.
    Shame on all Vasak Sounis who want to sign it.

13. Say NO to protocols

    Shad ban ga aseloo, bayts aganjner chegan leseloo.

    Turkere angam me yeves bedi shahin mer baron nakhagahi yev eer ardagin gortsots nakharari kaghakaganutiune ogdagortselov.

    TSEGHASBANUTIAN yev HOGHAYEEN DARATSKNEROO hartsere bedk e vor cheshdvin angasgatseli, barz yev voch koghargvats barerov.

14. Diaspora gets what it deserves

    Support given to dictators Kocharian & Sarkisian and its servants including Oskanian would eventually end up by this.

    Remember how you sent supportive messages to them after March 1-2, 2008 massacre in the downtown Yerevan (not Ottoman empire).

15. Do not sign this infamous agreement with the enemy

    Mr. President

    Greetings,

    History will judge you, the blood of the martyrs of the past 6 centuries will curse you and your associates.

    Have You been to Der Zor Mr President?…I’ve been this year

    I heard that You explained that if Armenia doesn’t sign this agreement, then Turkey will attack and annihilate Armenia and that USA has given the "green light" to Turkey for this annihilation.

    Turkey tried to annihilate Lebanese-Armenian diaspora for the past 30 years…were they successful?…judge by Yourself when You visit Lebanon the next few days.

    We all are aware that You are surrounded by Academics, Historians, Professors, who ask You not to sign, We are also aware that there are dark forces who are urging You to sign.

    Well, we have to admit, Turks are very clever, they couldn’t win for the past 90+ years, now they are winning and by whose hands? by an Armenian hand.

    Shame on us all.

16. From Batoum treaty to the current Protocols

     

    I’d like to present my opinion as briefly as possible:
     
    Armenia -Turkey Protocols form the fourth notorious agreement after 1) Batoum 2) Alexandropol and 3) Kars Treaties.

    I think the two neighboring countries just need  an agreement to establish diplomatic relations to be able to negotiate all critical issues between themselves. These issues should be an agenda for future discussions. None of these subjects need to be mentioned in the Protocols; otherwise, they can be viewed as preconditions.
     

17. NO to protocols

    I don’t trust the Turkish government.
    They closed the border, not us.
    They should open the border without conditions and on our terms.

18. Opposing the Protocols

    We are descendants of the Armenian people who lived for centuries in Cilicia, and eastern Anatolia which was always inhabited by Armenians. They were driven out, forced to march to the deserts of Deir Zor by orders of Ottoman officials, Comanders and liberated criminals for the objective of annihilating the Armenians . Thus was commited the Genocide of 1915 when one and one half million people perished.

    More than sixty members of my father’s and my mother’s relatives were killed. We cannot ignore thess facts recognized by Historians, Academicians and Governments. 

    My mother lived to be 96, sirvived by four sons and eleven grandchildren. Several of them became specialists in the medical field as physicians.

    We will not forget.

19. No to the protocol

    If any ordinary individual Turk were asked about the Armenians, she/he only would express hatred, with the exception of very few broad minded people. 

    Is Armenian Government so naive for not noticing this fact? Turkey is and will remain Armenia’s enemy.

    The only beneficiary from this protocol is Turkey, and the consequences for the Armenians and Armenia could be catastrophic.

Comments are closed.