Protocols

Armenian President Serge Sarkisian has embarked on a week long diaspora tour to meet with Armenians living in Paris, LA, Rostov-ov-Don (a southern city in Russia), and Beirut. His goal - speak to his fellow Armenians about the importance of the protocols and to hear their concerns...and they have a lot of concerns.



High on the list of the detractors of the Turkish-Armenia protocols to normalization of diplomatic relations (ie opening up the border and establishing diplomatic representation) include fears that

1) Turkey is asking Armenia to question the veracity of the Armenian Genocide by setting up a joint historical commission to examine it

2)Turkey is forcing Armenia to recognize the joint border in a way that legally and psychologically renounces claims to western Armenia (modern day eastern Turkey)

3)The possibility that Nagorno Karabakh, though not directly linked to the normalization process, will become a sacrificial lamb -- that the Turks wont actually open the border until Karabakh is settled in a way that favors Azerbaijan's interests over the people of Karabakh.



In Yerevan there is debate and many of these points are being discussed, but I do not get a sense that the country is revolting against these protocols. The attached pictures are of the main protests coming from the Dashnak Party, the oldest Armenian political party, who for the past four weeks have had folks sit on the steps outside the Armenian Government protesting. I walk by almost every night and there are many old men singing and young teenagers distributing literature on the problems of the protocols.

I know its trite to talk about the potential economic benefits if the border opens -- it is what every booster of this issue says. It can even be insensitive when discussed at the expense of the deeper psychological and moral issues. IE -- when folks say, I know the Turkish government practices genocide denial, but we need to put the past behind us, roll up our sleeves and start doing business.

Maybe it's callous to think so much about the potential economic benefits, but it is difficult not to and it's the reality of day to day life not just in relatively well to do Yerevan, but outside the city. Armenia's economy contracted by 15% (so says the IMF by studying the country's GDP over the past year).

Like in America, the Armenian government needs to do some internal soul searching and reexamining of its economic structures. Looking outward is not the only solution and Armenia does not need Turkish markets.

But it does needs something, open borders wouldn't hurt.