By Harut Sassounian Publisher, The California Courier Pres. Kocharian delivered a tough speech at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) meeting in Strasbourg on June 23. He defended his government's actions against both domestic and foreign detractors, and going on the offensive, blasted his internal critics and Armenia's external enemies. In a speech delivered in Russian, Pres. Kocharian covered three main topics: 1) the recent demonstrations by the opposition seeking his resignation; 2) the Karabagh conflict; and 3) Armenian-Turkish relations. While the leaders of the opposition in Armenia disputed the President's characterization of their activities, they grudgingly praised, for the first time, his bold position on the Karabagh conflict. DOMESTIC ISSUES Pres. Kocharian openly admitted that Armenia has not yet "achieved the desirable level of democratic freedoms." He said, "Democracy has a long way to go in a country with high poverty indicators." Yet, the President added, "despite the blockade implemented by two fellow members of this very organization" [Turkey and Azerbaijan], the "annual GDP growth has averaged 12% for the last three consecutive years." Kocharian rhetorically asked: "what fostered the activity of the opposition to replace parliamentary work with revolutionary rallies? ...Double-digit economic growth figures and budgetary surpluses are not fertile ground for revolution." He said that the opposition was trying to emulate Georgia's "Rose Revolution," ignoring "the fact that Armenia's economy, as opposed to Georgia's, is undergoing a dynamic advance. Our government is efficient and our democratic achievements are safeguarded by institutional structures, including a law enforcement system capable of protecting public order. History has often demonstrated that inspiration from foreign revolutions never results in positive outcomes." KARABAGH NEVER A PART OF AZERBAIJAN Pres. Kocharian took the position that Karabagh's independence does not undermine Azerbaijan's territorial integrity because Karabagh historically was never a part of Azerbaijan. When the Soviet Union was collapsing, the Karabagh autonomous region, under the then existing Soviet laws, declared its independence from the USSR, just as Azerbaijan had done. Therefore two separate states emerged. Declaring that the "independence of Karabagh today has a 16 year history," the President emphatically said: "an entire generation grew up there that can think of no other status for the country. The Nagorno-Karabagh Republic today is an established state, in essence meeting all the Council of Europe's membership criteria." GENOCIDE AND TURKISH-ARMENIAN RELATIONS Pres. Kocharian then said: "I would like to comment on Armenian-Turkish relations, or rather, on their absence. Those relations are shaded by the memories of the past: the Genocide, its consequences, and the lack of repentance. Nowadays, the situation is worsened by the blockade of Armenia by Turkey. I would like to outline two principles which in my view are crucial to finding the way out of this impasse: First, the development of practical ties and deliberations over the inherited problems must take place in different dimensions, and one must not influence the other. Secondly, Armenian-Turkish relations must not be conditioned by our relations with a third country. No prizes for guessing that I am referring to Azerbaijan." Pres. Kocharian then answered questions from various Parliamentarians. When asked by a French representative about the closed Turkish-Armenian border in view of Turkey's desire to join the European Union (EU), he responded: "Turkey's desire to enter the EU must assume the fulfillment of norms that are required of all member states and from all states that desire EU membership. Having open borders and resolving conflicts with neighboring states should be a pre-condition for Turkey's accession to the EU. That would provide an incentive for this problem to be resolved." In response to a question from an Azeri Parliamentarian on whether "returning" to Azerbaijan the 7 territories surrounding Karabagh could be viewed as a confidence-building measure, Kocharian said that Armenia is wary of a piecemeal approach. It prefers a package deal. "If Azerbaijan had signed the document prepared in Key West, Florida, the fate of most of these territories would have been resolved." Kocharian bluntly told the Azeri representative, "Karabagh was never yours." In response to a question on the Armenian Genocide from a Turkish representative, Kocharian said: "the past should be studied, particularly since the consequences of the past have not been eradicated. ...It is not understandable to Armenians why Turkey is maintaining the blockade? Why is Turkey isolating Armenia in various international institutions? Didn't 1915 happen, in the last century? There is a problem. Instead of taking certain steps, establishing normal relations, overcoming that psychological obstacle, you are exacerbating the already complex relations by blockading Armenia. What has Turkey done to remove that obstacle? After [Armenia's] independence, the Armenian-Turkish border is blockaded and diplomatic relations are rejected. If you think that we can't survive without you, you are mistaken. We can survive; we are developing in a normal manner. But as neighbors, I do not consider such relations normal." The most explosive exchange took place when an Azeri representative asked Pres. Kocharian about his personal involvement in the Karabagh war. Kocharian said: "regarding my participation in military activities, yes, I am from Karabagh by birth. I must tell you that since 1988 my kids have not had a childhood. I have three children. The oldest was 7 years old at the time. From 1991 to 1994 they were living in cellars due to attacks by Azeri jets. Yes, I am proud of the results we have today." It is noteworthy that Pres. Kocharian's tough statements come on the heels of two other recent bold moves: The President's refusal to go to Istanbul to participate in the NATO Summit meeting, and Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian's announcement on June 14 that Armenia intends to veto Turkey's upcoming OSCE chairmanship. Armenians worldwide should support these moves for two reasons: 1) to strengthen the Armenian government's ability to withstand the counter-pressures by Armenia's opponents; and 2) to help Armenian policymakers correctly assess their country's capabilities in vigorously pursuing foreign policy objectives without taking undue risks.

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