GLENDALE–Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau member Dr. Viken Hovsepian told a gathering of press representatives and community activists that Turkey’s current tactic on Turkish-Armenian relations was to influence international opinion in order to persuade Armenia to accept its proposal for establishing a historical commission to determine the veracity of the Armenian Genocide.
“We say YES to Armenian-Turkish Relations, but NO to forsaking national interests,” declared Hovsepian, adding that the ARF is convinced that if all elemen’s of the issue are described properly, not only the Diaspora but a vast majority of all Armenia’s will have an approach that seeks to preserve our national interests.
Hovsepian provided a lengthy overview of the current phase of Armenia-Turkey relations, emphasizing recent efforts by foreign governmen’s to pressure Armenia into accepting the proposal to form a commission and recognize Turkey’s territorial integrity, a step that, if accepted by Armenia, would effectively end Armenia’s territorial deman’s stemming from the Genocide.
“These two deman’s are unacceptable for the ARF, as are any efforts to tie the resolution of the Karabakh conflict with the normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations. Any precondition or suggestion that would, in one way or form, deter us from the Armenian Genocide recognition agenda is absolutely unacceptable,” said Hovsepian.
He described the proposed commission as a trap that aimed at delaying or hindering any and all efforts to attain international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
In conclusion, Hovsepian urged those gathered to utilize their media outlets to speak against Turkey’s efforts and to shape public opinions based on the position articulated at the meeting.
