VIDEO: As a state, we did not exist back then, so we cannot be claimants: Aghazaryan

Perhaps this proposal was made in the sense of generational claims against the Turkish authorities. This was stated by the MP of the ‘Civil Contract’ faction, Hovik Aghazaryan, in an interview with NEWS.am, referring to the proposal of fellow party member Andranik Kocharian to list the names and data of the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide.

“If it is possible to do this and hold the Turkish authorities materially accountable through international courts, then that makes sense. However, if we view it as a horrific event, then the mathematics makes no sense. A genocide occurred, which is not only about physical annihilation but also about displacement, which is also considered genocide. The fact of genocide can never be denied,” he said.

Aghazaryan noted that Armenia cannot present any legal claims against Turkey. “Because the genocide occurred in the Ottoman Empire, where, due to state policy, a whole nation was annihilated and displaced. We, as a state, did not exist back then, and therefore we cannot be claimants. It is a different matter that any person living in various parts of the world can file a claim if they can substantiate all of this. I have never supported the idea that Armenia is a claimant in this sense. We cannot be claimants from Turkey. What should we claim? Should we say, ‘give those lands to the Republic of Armenia’? On what basis of international norms? And if Turkey suddenly takes and gives a few provinces to Armenia, what will happen? There will be a rally in Opera Square, we will lose power, and the authority will pass into the hands of another nation,” he stated.