“Haykakan Zhamanak” says that the Armenian authorities have deliberately deflected public discussions from details of their protocols with Ankara to the question of whether an open border with Turkey would be good for Armenia. “Thus, the government propaganda machine is creating the impression that those who are in favor of opening the Armenian-Turkish border also support the finalized protocols,” says the opposition daily. “It is as a result of this mess that many criticize the Armenian National Congress for not supporting the protocols while being an advocate of normalizing Turkish-Armenian relations.”
“Aravot” is not surprised that most of the views on the subject that have been expressed in Armenia in recent weeks are “purely emotional.” “It is also natural that opponents [of the Turkish-Armenian agreements] are more active,” editorializes the paper. “Those who support [the agreements] sincerely, and not out of their official status, as a rule keep silent because they risk being branded by the emotional and passionate opponents as traitors, aerialists, pro-Turkish elements and, what is more terrible, government supporters. The source of the opponents’ emotions is clear. For decades, the [Communist Party] Central Committee and the KGB, intellectuals and Armenian language teachers have instilled a loser’s mindset, a victim’s complex in us. It was essential for the Soviet empire to have a scared nation at its southern border that relies only on its mercy.”
Deputy speaker Samvel Nikoyan tells “Hayots Ashkhar” that Armenia’s National Assembly should ratify the protocols only after they are approved by the Turkish parliament. “On the other hand, if Turkey tries to breach the agreements, who will it thereby deceive?” asks Nikoyan. “The Republic of Armenia? Not at all. It would primarily deceive the United States, Europe, the international community.”
Zoya Tadevosian, a member of the Central Election Commission (CEC) who was expelled from the opposition Zharangutyun party, tells “Zhamanak” that the party is no longer in opposition to Armenia’s leadership. Tadevosian points to Zharangutyun leaders’ decision to join forces with the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) in fighting against the Turkish-Armenian agreements. “It can be suggested that the purpose of getting rid of us was to remove those standing in the way of that cooperation,” she claims.
(Aghasi Yenokian)
“Aravot” is not surprised that most of the views on the subject that have been expressed in Armenia in recent weeks are “purely emotional.” “It is also natural that opponents [of the Turkish-Armenian agreements] are more active,” editorializes the paper. “Those who support [the agreements] sincerely, and not out of their official status, as a rule keep silent because they risk being branded by the emotional and passionate opponents as traitors, aerialists, pro-Turkish elements and, what is more terrible, government supporters. The source of the opponents’ emotions is clear. For decades, the [Communist Party] Central Committee and the KGB, intellectuals and Armenian language teachers have instilled a loser’s mindset, a victim’s complex in us. It was essential for the Soviet empire to have a scared nation at its southern border that relies only on its mercy.”
Deputy speaker Samvel Nikoyan tells “Hayots Ashkhar” that Armenia’s National Assembly should ratify the protocols only after they are approved by the Turkish parliament. “On the other hand, if Turkey tries to breach the agreements, who will it thereby deceive?” asks Nikoyan. “The Republic of Armenia? Not at all. It would primarily deceive the United States, Europe, the international community.”
Zoya Tadevosian, a member of the Central Election Commission (CEC) who was expelled from the opposition Zharangutyun party, tells “Zhamanak” that the party is no longer in opposition to Armenia’s leadership. Tadevosian points to Zharangutyun leaders’ decision to join forces with the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) in fighting against the Turkish-Armenian agreements. “It can be suggested that the purpose of getting rid of us was to remove those standing in the way of that cooperation,” she claims.
(Aghasi Yenokian)