He’s worried, however, that the main objective of genocide recognition has been ignored. “This is the formation of our political agenda. No one is speaking today about steps targeted at restoring the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia, and I fear no one ever will,” Papyan said.
According to him, the forthcoming 5th Armenia-Diaspora Forum is the setting where the issue should be raised. “It’s high time for the Armenian President to declare about the recalling of the Armenian-Turkish protocols, as otherwise they work against us,” he said.
Papyan says Armenia and the diaspora should declare that the Republic of Armenia is the successor of the First Republic of Armenia (which is a subject of international law), not Soviet Armenia.
“In this case the question will be about de-occupation of territories of the Republic of Armenia, be it by Turkey or Azerbaijan,” he added.
Nagorno-Karabakh’s recognition by non-subjects of international law marks only a moral victory for the country, according to Ara Papyan.
“We have only moral victories in such cases, but it adds nothing to Artsakh’s security,” he told Tert.am, commenting on the recently adopted resolutions.
It comes after Martin Garitano, the governor of the Basque Gipuzkoa province, said at a meeting with the Nagorno-Karabakh foreign minister that they recognize Artsakh’s right to self-determination.
Earlier, the California Senate adopted a resolution recognizing Artsakh’s independence.
Papyan recommended considering two basic aspects in the process: the legal and the political. “When we approach the Nagorno-Karabakh recognition from the political viewpoint, there is naturally no recognition here. Under international law, recognition is possible if it has been declared by a subject which is already recognized, i.e. What we have today – the US State or a Spanish province –are not subjects of international law; hence they cannot recognize [a country],” he explained.
The analyst noted that a close look into the Basque parliament’s resolution reveals that it only expresses support to the Nagorno-Karabakh people’s right to self-determination.
“And because no state has yet recognized Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence, it cannot be considered recognized. Recognition is within the competence of a federal authority,” he said, considering the recent measures politically positive for Karabakh.
Asked if he thinks that those recognitions might entrap the Armenian Genocide recognition efforts, the expert replied, “Given that scores of US states have recognized it without a result, that’s already something like a trap, because recognition is aimed at making them a subject of international law and committing themselves to its principles. And that means that a state’s defense and its borders cannot be violated under the threat of force. Under the UN Charter, a country has a right to self-defense; hence, recognition is not an end in itself; it has a meaning in itself,” he added.
– I AGREE FULLY WITH MR. PAPIAN THAT RECOGNITION IS NOT ENOUGH, AND THAT TURKEY HAS TO PAY A PRICE FOR FOR MURDERING IN THE MOST BRUTAL METHODS HALF OF THE ARMENIAN POPULATION; 300,000 DURIN1890s AND 1.5 MILLION IN 1915. ARMENIANS SHOULD REQUEST A MINIMMUM OF LAND RESTITUTION WHICH INCLUDES MOUNT ARARAT AND ALL THE WAY TO ANI.
I HAVE LEARNED THE TERM “TURKEY SHOULD PAY A PRICE” FOR THE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE FROM PRESIDENT OBAMA WHEN HE SAID “RUSSIA SHOULD PAY A PRICE FOR INVADING CRIMEA”. (ALTHOUGH RUSSIA HAVE NEVER COMMITTED ANY MASSACRES OR GENOCIDE).
IN MY OPINION THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD PLACE SANCTIONS ON TURKEY UNTIL THEY RECOGNIZE AND APOLOGIZE FOR THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMBINED WITH SOME LAND RESTITUTIONS TO ARMENIA WHICH INCLUDES AT LEAST MOUNT ARARAT AND CITY OF ANI.