Armenian Assembly of America Participates in a Panel Discussion on Armenian Turkish Protocol

Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) Board of Trustees Member, Peter Kezirian and Assembly Western Region Director Yeghig Keshishian participated in a panel discussion hosted by the Armenian Law Student Association (ALSA) of Southwestern Law School in conjunction with the Law School’s Diversity Affairs Office regarding the recently signed protocols to establish normal relations without preconditions between the Republics of Armenia and Turkey. The panel also included Steve Dadaian and Vicken Sonentz Papazian representing the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

Following the opening remarks by Stella Pogosyan, President of the Armenian Law Student Association at Southwestern, the Assembly and ANCA each discussed the protocols. Keshishian opened his discussion looking at the geopolitical situation in the South Caucasus, noting that the Republic of Armenia, since its independence in 1991, has sought formal diplomatic relations with Turkey without preconditions. Turkey meanwhile has insisted on preconditions such as concessions on Nagorno Karabakh and demands that Armenia renounce international affirmation of the Armenian Genocide. Turkey’s 15-year plus blockade of Armenia also reflects part of Turkey’s strategy to attempt to isolate and marginalize Armenia.

Armenia has withstood Turkey’s hostile actions and for the first time, Turkey has publicly committed to normalize relations with Armenia and lift its blockade. Despite Turkey’s continued counterproductive statements, Turkish demands for concessions on Nagorno Karabakh are not contained within the protocols.

Referring to the actual text of the protocols, Keshishian noted that they do not threaten the veracity of the Armenian Genocide, nor do they require Armenia to abdicate its treaty rights on territorial issues or require concessions on Nagorno Karabakh as many have speculated.

Steve Dadaian, speaking on behalf of the ANCA, attempted to use legal arguments to argue that the Protocols undercut particular interests of the Armenian Republic and accused the current government of not having the position or moral authority to deal with these concerns. The analysis, however, requires Protocol opponents to read into the document a number of arguments that have been explicitly rejected by the two countries. Dadaian also discussed the notion of bringing a legal claim under the auspices of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to settle claims regarding the Armenian Genocide. While the United States filed a document in 1951 before the ICJ affirming the Armenian Genocide, Dadaian omitted that Turkey cannot be compelled to submit to ICJ jurisdiction.

During the question and answer period, the Southwestern Law students raised a number of insightful issues on both the strategic and legal elements of the Armenian-Turkish relationship. Kezirian, drawing upon his international legal experience, addressed issues tied to treaty interpretation, Armenian national interests and the benefits generated by lifting the Turkish blockade and formal diplomatic recognition. In essence, with normalized relations, Armenia will be in control of its own economic as well as political destiny.

Papazian and Dadaian argued that the Protocols are poorly drafted and will help Turkey’s accession to the European Union, which require open borders. However, Turkey has been in this process for more than three decades and the rapprochement process allows Armenia to take control of its own future, rather than simply rely on the good wishes of others. Open borders is and has already been an important strategic objective for the Republic; Turkey has tried to leverage this need to force Armenian concessions on Karabakh and the Genocide. The Armenian people and its governments have withstood this pressure and are now poised to achieve a major objective without any concessions.
“The Armenian-Turkish Protocols Speaker Event successfully achieved its goal by presenting students an objective analysis of the issues, and allowed them to formulate their own opinions,” stated ALSA President Stella Pogosyan. “Only through such open, honest and balanced talks can we achieve progress and results. We thank each of our four speakers for their participation: Yeghig Keshishian, Peter Kezirian, Steve Dadaian, and Viken Sonentz Papazian,” Pogosyan added.

“It was one of the most important and beneficial events the Southwestern Armenian Law Student Association and the Southwestern Law School’s Diversity Affairs Office held this academic year,” concluded Pogosyan.

Source: ArmRadio – Original Article

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