John, are you working? for THINK_THANK AMERICAN OR WESTERN ORGINAZITIONS IN ORDER TO SHAPE ARMENIAN PUBLIC OPINION IN FAVOUR OF AMERICAN OR WESTERN GEOPOLITICAL INTERESTS IN ARMENIA UNDER THE COVER OF DEMOCRATIC TRANSPARENCY OF COURSE AT THE EXPENSE OF ARMENIANS' LEGITIMATES HISTORICAL RIGHTS.BECAUSE ALL YOUR SO_CALLED "BALANCED" ARTICLES SUFFERS OF SOME KIND OF AMBIGUITY ABOUT ARMENIANS HISTORICAL RIGTS,ARE YOU BEING FINANCIED BY SOROS FOUNDATION OR AMERICAN EMBASSY ? I EXPEXT YOUR ANSWER

To my good fellow diasporan Armenian Hunchak. You hit the nail right on the head.There are individuals out there that fully agree with you but can't put it to words as well as you have.I spent time in Armenia every year and willingly finance the rest of my wife's family so I know exactly how it feels. Well done and well said.

C'mon people!! Its easy to see how Hillary and the EU tried to pull a fast one on Serge by having the Turks try to sneak Karabagh in to the final statement. What a beautiful day it was in YErevan yesterday. Streets were closed everyone was participating in the Yerevan festivities. Now, the only way Parliament doesn't sign off is if 200,000 protest in Hrabarag against the protocols. This is the only way!!

To:(Arand, 2009-10-11 02:30:16) "This is the right thing to do, for Armenia and Armenians in Armenia. Its easy to critisize when you are diaspora living in Glendale or France. Armenians in Armenia need better standard of living now " / " Its too bad diaspora care so much about history and so little about life today in Armenia.") well my Fellow Armenian brother who lives in Armenian & I the Diaspora Armenian living in better standards, yes your right that your hungry & the economical situation is very bad in Armenia, but do you think your gonna get better by opening the border with Turkey? think hard about it, your hungry because your government wants you to be hungry, you have the most corrupt Armenian government that keeps you in this situation so when elections come around & they "mafiosi government" pays you $10 fore your vote so that way they say it was a legal election, why don't you first clean house, fix your economy by making sure an end to corruption & corrupt government. make sure when your fellow Diasporan Armenian want to invest in Armenian there not harassed then driven to bankruptcy so your Mafiosi cousins make a fast few bucks, if you have done all this you would have been in a better place & you wouldn't complain about that your hungry today. see the diaspora is not just concern about the genocide only, so many Glendelians & Parisians Armenian work hard, some times 2 jobs to support 2 families one where they live, the other you know where it is, your next door neighbor, it is a shame that you think this way, I remember when the founder of our modern Armenia's Army Hero Vasgen Sarkisyan during his visit to LA in a speech spoke about the time of Artsakh war " in the future our next generation is not going to remember the cold the hunger of the early days, no one is gonna say I was hungry or cold, but if we didn't win the war & liberated our land, they gonna say why didn't you defend our nation", so in the future what are you gonna say to your next generation to come when you lose the other half of our land, that it was economically great decision to take because I was hungry. shame on our sold out so called Armenian government for signing this worthless paper, shame S.S. & R.K. to bringing us in to this situation, Bravo Turkey, the score of the "political game" between turkey & Armenia is Armenia 0 - Turkey 1,500,000 + & counting I say one thing no matter what happens Ararat, Ani, Sasoun, Urfa, Marash, Jeitun, Hajin, Adana, Kilis, Aintab, Everek will be in our heart & mind for ever, no one can take our rights away.

Armenian nation deserves better leaders ! Accourding to Turkish media: ” Davutoğlu said in a televised interview, while explaining what happened Saturday night. “Be sure that while you were experiencing a three-hour crisis, I, together with my delegation, was drinking tea. We were sure that the protocols would be signed,” said the minister... The statements of President Sarkisyan and party of power so called “Republicans” are of NO value and not even paper worth written on it! Authorities have organized successfully just a 6 week “theater” for the Armenian nation, even during the “signing ceremony” ! Unfortunately, the administration of Sarkisyan is using every kind of tricks, lies, cheap propaganda and dissimulation to mislead and cheat the nation! All these were not so catastrophic if we had: - A country of rule and law - Independent constitution court - Free elected parliament - And above all a system of “Checks and Balances”!!! Unfortunately, if tomorrow these authorities start “implementing” plans to open a corridor between Turkey and Azerbaijan- this would “selling out of Mergi-Syunic/zangezur” for the highest price. So called “public council” , AAA, Catholicos and AGBU will welcome the “courageous move of the authorities, And Levon´s ANC will say: " "We don’t want to abuse the situation and hinder the process..."!

One way to scuttle the protocols is for Armenia to immediately recognize Karabagh officially (or annexation to Armenia) prior to starting the ratification process in Yerevan. The Turks would never ratify the protocols if Armenia takes this step. This is one of two remaining trump cards Armenia has in its hand in this "great game" being played by the west. The second is throwing "Northern Cyprus" in the face of Turkish policy makers any time they make demands for Karabagh's return (or the liberated territories) to Azerbaijan. Armenia needs to flex some of its remaining muscle now and show the world that we too have our own foreign policy. To push the boat out a little further, Armenia could consider recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia in return for Russia recognizing Karabagh or its annexation to Armenia. The time to circle the wagons has come.

Reckognition of Armenian genocide is related to its juridical and political effects,wich means that Turkey should hand over all occupied Armenian lands to its real owner,Armenian people and finançial compensation to Armenian heirs living all over the world (10 millions)for having destroyed a civilization of 3000 year in Western Armenia,now under Turkish occupation.

I want to start to point out that I am not an expert on this subject but I've heard a lot of it from different sources. I would really like an recognition of the Armenian genocide before they open the borders between Armenia and Turkey. I think all Armenians want it, as much as we want all of our lands back. But I think we should be reasonable. Every single day, three aircraft goes from Armenia to Turkey / Turkey to Armenia. It is also said that Armenians spend a lot of their vacation in Turkey. Wherever I go in Armenia, things are imported from Turkey. So what is the point of keeping the borders closed? And also, in 1993, TURKEY closed the borders because the invading of Nagorno Kharabakh by the Armenians. How can we have any say in this? It is Turkey who can decide if they want to open the borders or not. We can close our borders too, but it wasn't us who closed it, but they. As I said earlier, I would really like recognition and a lot of other things, but to be realistic, I don't think this will ever happen. Just my point of view.

If you want to help Armenia..Leave your privilidged life in Europe or in america or Canada and go and live in armenia..Thenafter lets speak...As in turkish "Davulun sesi uzaktan hoş gelir"The drums voice comes good when you are far away"... With this protocol practically Turkey wins none...Even we have a danger to loose Azerbaijan because in this stupid protocol there is nothing about karabag and 20% of Azerbaijan land under armenian invasion..So the protocol is not good for us as well...

Dear fellow Armenians, I call upon Diaspora Armenians that want historic Armenian lands back to go back and settle newly liberated historic Armenian lands in Artsakh. What difference does it make, do you really just need the village that your ancestors were from? Armenian lands are Armenian lands. Today we had a power to return those in Artskah, maybe tomorrow we will have enough power to do lands in Western Armenia. Lands can only be returned by war and blood and it is delusional to believe that Turkey can be pressured to surrender us our lands. Further more, if in the wildest dream Turkey gives Armenia back those lands, it would automatically become Kurdistan and not Hayastan with its 10 million Kurdish population.

I think now a Committee (the name is not important) must be founded from representatives of Armenian organisations in Disapora AND The Opposition in Armenia. This Committee must stay in Armenia till the protocols are NOT ratified and/or the regime is put down. Yes, kind of revolutionary committee, if necessary. If necessary, this committee must declare the president and his regime illegal. And go from this point, if it comes to this, and if S.S. does not resign peacefully.

I dont understand why Obama was pushing for this accord. What's in it for him. It was not what Armenian American's wanted, so why push it? who is behind this ? or I should say which company has paid Obama to make this one of his priority? Here is from Washington post: A day earlier, Obama called Armenian President Serge Sarkisian to "commend him for his courageous leadership" on the issue, according to a White House statement -- yet another gentle push. Clinton has made 29 calls to the parties involved this year in her efforts to promote a settlement. Here is the link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/10/AR2009101002300.html

Noble Prize winner President Theodore Roosevelt said "The Armenian Massacre was the greatest crime of the War"..(Oyster Bay, NY, May 11, 1918)..is his statement now open to debate? There are more then 70 millions in Turkey and barely 3 millions in our Armenia....who do you think will have the advantage if the economic ties are resumed?

Capitulation,only that word can describe that political mascarade orginased by POWERS AND AS INSRUMENTS OF THAT CRIMINAL ACT SARKISIAN'S mafia. aryune aghdoduadz bornigi zavagner

Hera and others: I do understand your feelings, as I share it too. BUT let's NOT quarrel BETWEEN OURSELVES, as it is a sign of WEAKNESS. We need action and strategy. The first goal is very simple and doable: PUT the regime of S.S.down. We need to support the opposition in Armenia in every possible away to do this. Remember S.S. and his regime might seem powerful, but it are NOT. People without principles are very scared people.He would sell his mother for his life and money. So, the bottom line is this: stop quarelling between ourselves, STOP getting pesimistic and overemotional and let PUT DOWN this regime: they are few, and we are millions.So,action.Do what you can do. Who, the hell, they think there are.There are just bunch of cowards. They were never challenged in a real way, till now.

turkey will never open borders with Armenia. But this government should be solved as soon as possible,befor they go further.All armenians around the world together hand in hand ask the resignation for sarksyan/nalbandyan xoujannerin.

vahe: Thank you. You make a good point. Note that the headline has changed. Thanks for reading.

As a citizen of a country I do understand the motive and the need against having a diplomatic relation between two neighboring countries, but as an Armenian this signed Protocol for opening the boarder is simply recognizing turkey's border, simply recognizing that Ararat is not ours, is simply recognizing that our lands are not ours anymore, that Van is no more to sing for, Erzurum is no more to pledge for,...that our ancestors and grandparents were not and massacred and their land confiscated and their families deported! Armenian government will not realize the game that was played against him from the powers of the world who think and act based on their governments interest of the game of power until the persecutions of the game hits back. Shame Shame- i can’t even look at the photo above with Armenia's flag and turkey's flag attached as brotherly one nation one people ties. My dream for Armenia and that for Diaspora Armenians has faded today....Armenian government made a very clear stand today that their definition of being an Armenian is very much different that of the Diaspora Armenians. And for what reason.....MONEY, TRADE, and Political Interests.... Today the Armenian Government committed a White Genocide against the Identity and conscious of the Armenian people!

Arand: I do understand what you want to say: people are poor in Armenia and they want to improve their living standards: it is understandable. But you have to think what will happen in a LONG term. Because Hayastan belongs to the generations to come TOO. Hungry people want to eat first-it is natural. But DOES IT MATTER when they cut your throat after you have eaten or before you have eaten? And it is highly UNsure, if along this road you will find food. You THINK you MIGHT find food,which means that you ARE NOT SURE there will be any food there.

Mr GAMBLER, MAY YOU BURN IN HELL FOR EVER. THE NATION WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU! TAVAJAN!

This is the right thing to do, for Armenia and Armenians in Armenia. Its easy to critisize when you are diaspora living in Glendale or France. Armenians in Armenia need better standard of living now and to start working to improve relations with the Turks. All this will work toward resolving the only issue that seems to concern the Armenian diaspora: recognition of the genocide. Its too bad diaspora care so much about history and so little about life today in Armenia.

Please correct your title: No 'deal' is done yet! This was just an agreement for starting the normalization. Don't present it as if everything is finished.

Its rather ironic how diaspora who reside outside of Armenia and have good lives consistently work to inhibit the improvement of the extremely poor standards of living of actual Armenian residents of Armenia. Improved relations and an open border with Turkey are necessary first steps in eventually working towards getting the only thing that Diaspora seem to be concerned about: recognition of the genocide. As diaspora live the good life in Glendale, France and other developed countries, Armenians in Armenia suffer because of their "cousins" selfish single issue stance. Open the border, open dialogue with the Turks and start from there. Armenians must maintain the moral high ground. Lets improve the lives of Armenians in Armenia now!

@A.M. from Switzerland: Yes, that is very serious. Please keep posted if you hear any (substantiated) details in this matter. The sooner the Armenian people know the truth, the better.

MAH davachannerin.

Armenia and Diaspora should unite and fight the government of traitors! We should never give up our struggle, they are selling our motherland.

Talu from New Jersey: You've made a large and illogical leap. Simply because "respected" is attached to describe one group does not de facto imply the others are not respected -- especially when activity of the other groups is equally represented in the reporting. Is it "impartial journalism"? You judge. Thanks for reading.

Yes Despicable is not the word to describe this traitors who signed this deal, they said on BBC it was also for economic reasons, what economic reasons? Armenia has been able to survive after the collapse of the USSR and before that during WWII and before that after the GENOCIDE and before that many many times. There should have been no talks until Turkey has recognized the Armenian Genocide. Interesting that all this is happening when OBama is nominated for Nobel. We did not need Turkey's border open so that the Turks can aid the azerees to try to take away Karabakh. Armenian people have not forgotten all the soldiers who have died for their country. Armenian people have not forgotten and still live with the consequences of the Genocide. It is only those who have signed their country away for money have forgotten everything that is close and dear to Armenia.

John, What do you mean by 'Respected Armenian institutions such as, etc. etc.?'Do you mean that institutions and organizations that oppose or opposed signing of the protocols are not respcted organizations? According to you and by default, institutions that are 'not respected' include the ANC, the AYF, the Hunchakian Party, the ARF, and many-many other political parties and organizations both in Armenia and the diaspora. Do you think that this language is considered impartial journalsim? I am a big fan of ArmeniaNow, but this section of your news article was very disappointing and disrespectful, to say the least. We don't need this kind of 'journalism.'

shame on us for not having united earlier to overthrow this government before getting to this point. the diaspora and armenia must unite to reject the ratification of these shameful protocols - we must rise up and charge our govt with treason!

touching on what vahagn said..this is mostly related to the nabucco project as well (a pipeline taking azeri oil from caspian to europe via turkey-romania-bulgaria etc..) and making armenia a transit route for it..originally planned to bypass armenia going north over it through georgia (last years russian-georgian war((which was a result of russias anger to the nabbucco project)) proved to be wrong route for the pipeline ! now most likely it will pass through armenia..ARMENIANS PLEASE FOR THE SAKE OF OUR COUNTRY'S FUTURE LOOK THE INTO THE INVENTION OF 'AZERBAIJAN' BY USSR-TURKEY AND OF IT'S SUPPORT FOR IT'S 'TERRITORIAL INTEGIRTY' BY ISREAL AND OTHERS ! GOOGLE 'THE REAL, THE FAKE AND THE ABSURD AZERBAIJAN' AND PLEASE READ THIS ARTICLE/ESSAY !! ON ANOTHER NOTE..YOU JUST GOT TO LOVE HOW OBAMA GETS A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE ! AND ON ANOTHER OTHER NOTE..SWASTIKAS ARE BANNED BECAUSE THEIR ASSOCIATED WITH HITLER AND THE DEATHS OF JEWS RIGHT ? OK..SO WHY IS THE TURKISH FLAG HUNG ALL AROUND THE WORLD WHEN IT WAS THE SAME FLAG USED BY THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE TO ERASE ALL ARMENIANS FROM THEIR ANCIENT LAND ?

dizzledizzle which parliament are you talking about - do we have a parliament ???? Sarkisyan has the parliament and the church in his pocket!

Dear Armenians, There are SERIOUS saurces which say that they made FM E.Nalbandian to sign Protocols with new text where Karabakh and other issues were mentioned. That's why it was delayed 3 hours. So, they showed people protocols with FAKE text, but E.Nalbadian signed a Protocol with a DIFFERENT text. This is very serious. That's why he was tense and blake.

This is horrible and unacceptable! This is the biggest mistake and it is truly like spilling salt on our open wounds. Do a little research and you will understand why our wounds still bleed and keep ripping deeper until this world recognizes that in 1915 the Turks committed the Armenian Genocide. And now our president just lets it all go and signs the protocols !!!! unacceptable

Ink on paper means nothing, will change nothing and will accomplish nothing! Nothing is going to change the turks and their mentality as long as they are not made to face the truth, look in the mirror to recognize the reality and come out of self delusions. Let's not fool ourselves. Ink on paper will not change the turks. Only blood on soil will, their blood!!!

Please allow me to make, as I see it, a very nuetral comment. The Spyurk and the Republic of Armenia are both one entity, the failure of one is the failure of the other, vice versa. There is a joke to this: Where one asks to an Armenian, "why is there an Armenian country with 2.5 million population, but Armenian communities around the world with so many Armenians?" The Armenian responds, "well the Republic of Armenia is the corporate offices and the Diapsora communities are the branches." Moral of the story: "Bankruptcy will claim us all!"

Vahagn, The fact that this was pushed by the US and Europe for their benefit has been clear ever since the protocols were made public. Pascal, I believe open borders is one of the requirements for EU membership. That said I'm sure Turkey will play all sorts of games with Armenia.

After decades of corruption, incompetence and state criminality Armenia is on its knees and was brought to sign this ‘capitulation protocol’. It is shame for Armenia and its people. It is miserable defeat. Sarkisyan has put his nation down on its knees it front of the international community.

a foolish act made by serge sarkissian and his government, but in the long run it will not pass..

If we say NO to this protocol, we wil get better ones offered, because they want the border to be opened. So, why not get the best ones?

Congratulations!!! I could not have imagined it better. That's exactly what is going to happen. Some think tanks in Turkey are already talking of integrating Armenia to Turkey, like North of Iraq etc...This is the only way for the survival of Armenia. Russia is now not in a position to dictate in the Caucasus. Remember nearly 20% of the Russian Federation consists of Turkic people. They can't mess with Turks anymore. Last 10 years officially more than 1 million Russian girls married with Turkish men. If you calculate that each girl nearly gave birth of 2 children you can do your maths. Turks are just getting to powerful with the day. The world is realising this and is actually acknowledging the Turkish power. After the protocols Turks will be much more powerfull in Armenia...it's highly likely that Armenian girls will follow the Russian Natasja's. Future is looking great ...I just love it...for being a Turk!!!

This article (it's in Russian) says that the real reason why the border is being opened is because the US wants to ensure a transit route Iraq-turkey-azerbajan-Armenia-Central Asia-Afghanistan. http://regnum.ru/news/1213710.html So now I understand. It's the needs of the American soldier that decide which borders will open and which will remain closed. If anyone was so naive to think that it was the interests of Armenia, well we are all wiser now. Obama didn't recognize the Genocide, but when he needs a transit open so that his soldiers in Afghanistan can get their Kelloggs corn flakes the border becomes open in an instant. So much for the greatest democratic regime on Earth and friend of all freedom-loving people in all countries. Despicable.

To All The Ignorant Armenians, local or diaspora, now it is you time to wake up and start working for your Armenia. THIS is also a result of your ignorance to your country!

Another diplomatic victory for Turkey. The Turks have informed the world, that they will establish diplomatic relations, BUT the border will still be closed. In another word, they got what they wanted, the coming membership in the European community. Next, they will have the much needed "veto" power to decimate Armenia. Such is the fate of our country. It is not serzhs fault, this man is corrupt to the core, it is the fault of the Armenian people, for allowing corrupt and thieving thugs sit at the helm of the country. I am here, I am not going anyplace. Those of you who think that the border will be opened anytime soon, you are living in the land of fairies. If the border is opened permanently, then come back and shame me. It will not happen, and if it does, it will be opened for a short time(symbolically) and closed immediately by Turkey. As for the Genocide, ha, serzh sealed the fate of 10 million Armenians. All responsibility is on this thug now. If this phoney baloney agreement fails, he will be held accountable for its failure. Time passes quickly, and we will see the results of these agreement very very soon. Even our leaders have betrayed us....

There is only one answer: To PUT DOWN this illegal regime as soon as possible. Armenians all over- STAND UP against this regime and help all those who struggle to put down this davachan gang in Armenia.

is there any chance that the parliament would not ratify this accord?