Since the signing of the protocols between Armenia and Turkey in Zurich the topic has entered a new phase of discussion at a new level. Since that time the political parties and MPs have been discussing the issue and saying that the parliament should not approve this document. The ARF are insisting on preventing the approval by all means, the other nationalistic parties and core opposition power ANC are against the protocol too. The ANC announces that it is unacceptable but does not provide any comments. It means that the processes are developing to the direction of preventing the approval of the document on part of the parliament. The government has the same mood too. The pro-government RPA party representatives say that before discussing the issue in the parliament Armenia should wait for the Turkish parliament because now the ball is in Turkey’s field of game. On the other hand, it is possible that the approval of the document in the parliament may be the most beneficial step for Armenia in this period. If we take into consideration that the government’s assurances that the protocols don’t contain any risks to Armenia as the truth, then the parliament should be hurry to approve the protocols. If the allegations of the ARF and the oppositions that the protocols are very dangerous are true, then we should approve the protocols first and do our best to make Turkey reject this document to put the blame of failure on Turkey. Certainly it is a very difficult but maybe the only opportunity to go out of this dangerous situation with minimum loss. Notwithstanding whether it is good or bad for Armenia, the parties have gone so deep in the process that Armenia cannot step back any more. Anyway the best option is to approve the document as soon as possible, of course if it is followed by diplomatic work. On the one hand, speaking of the importance of approving the document is not “nationalistic”, on the other hand the best picture of our diplomacy is the expression of foreign affairs minister Edward Nalbandyan’s face when signing the protocol. In other words, the situation does not seem to be in favor of our positions and it seems that both the government and the opposition are relying on a virtual hope. The authorities hope they will be able to work it out, and the opposition believes they will not work it out and they may take the power. Both parties have their own interests and of course they “are governed by the interests of the state”.
