September 29, RA Presidential Public Council discussed a document with doubts and conclusions on the Armenia-Turkey Protocols, that is to be presented to RA President Serzh Sargsyan today. The draft document partly reads: “The Public Council is for ratification of the Protocols”, however, certain provisions of the document cause concern. Here belong: plans to create a historians’ sub-commission, economic expansion, migration and other threats connected with NKR, etc.

Indeed, heated debates on the issue were held at the PC sitting. Participants attempted to forward their amendments into the document. Particularly hot discussion was opened up on the proposal of Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, Chairman of Civil Society Commission of the PC. His concern was once the borders are recognized, Armenia will be unable to dispute the borders formed after the Genocide.

Answering a question in this context, Vazgen Manukyan countered: “To date it is unclear how our borders were fixed. I do not think we should be overhasty and declare that if tomorrow Turkey recognizes Armenian Genocide, we will be eligible also for claiming territories. We can say just about anything, but I guess it will be incorrect to move all this as precondition into the document.”

Manukyan pointed out that many states, including Turkey, long for driving a wedge between Armenia and Diaspora. PC members deem the only way to avoid this is to inform public of the issues raised in the documents and study all problems profoundly.