Bern, 24 April 2009
The following statement is a declaration of disaccord whereby the Switzerland-Armenia Association (SAA) expresses its deep concern over the perfunctory joint statement issued by the Foreign Ministries of Armenia, Turkey and Switzerland late on the evening of April 22nd, 2009. The undue haste with which the statement was drafted, and its lack of transparency, can only be met with grevious reservation and skepticism.
The vague nature of the alleged gagreed basish, and the disadvantaged position from which the Armenian government was obliged to negotiate from, leaves no alternative but to immediately renounce any agreement which relinquishes the fundamental rights of Armenians world-wide.
The April 22, 2009 Armenian – Turkey – Switzerland joint statement is unacceptable for the following reasons:
1. The statementfs timing is grossly inopportune as it falls just two days before April 24 the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide: on this day, Armenians worldwide commemorate the Genocide perpetrated by the government of Young Turks in 1915 against the unarmed, civilian population of Armenians within the Ottoman Empire.
2. The urgency in announcing said joint statement, feeds further suspect that Armenia has been pressured to make concessions which could compromise the Armenian Republicfs national security. Such concessions are unacceptable, most especially with regards to the process of recognizing the right of Karabakhfs self-determination.
3. The government of Armenia was put under pressure by major powers seeking to advance their own (narrow) interests; presently Armeniafs leadership is struggling to establish its legitimacy at a time of political, economic and financial crisis.
The Switzerland – Armenia Association is in full favor of normalization of ties between Armenia and Turkey, but, along with other Armenian communities within the Diaspora, Republic of Armenia and Karabakh, unequivocally rejects any agreement that compromises the fundamental rights of the Armenian nation. This is a formal declaration to the officials of the Republic of Armenia who engage in the alarming and undeniably questionable settlements leading to the mentioned joint statement.
