TURKISH SPECULATIONS OVER ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CARRY ON

Will EU Press on Turkey to Open the Border-Gate?

Azg/arm
16 Nov 04

Discussions over Armenian-Turkish relations gathered new momentum
recently. Armenia’s pushy policy in achieving international
acknowledgement of Armenian Genocide and footless conclusions about
removing the issue from Armeniaâ=80=99s foreign agenda where in the
center of discussions.

Turkish Haber Analiz and Aksham online editions were actively involved
in the debates. While Haber Analiz was publishing opinions of
employees of Ankara Eurasian Military Research Center, Aksham
mentioned names of Armenian Diaspora representatives in order to
confirm Center’s opinions.

In response to Turkish press, Azg Daily voiced an opinion that Turkey
wants to disorient the world community in the face of EU accession
talks as well as signaling to Armenia to reconsider its Turkish
policy.

Though the press office of Foreign Ministry of Armenia officially
stated that “there is no change in Armenia’s foreign policy as regards
Genocide acknowledgement” and Turkish Foreign Ministry’s indirect
confirmation of the fact, Turkish press still continues its
speculations. Even more, Reuter’sinterview with Kars mayor Naif
Alibeyoghlu held in support of border-gate opening became a reason for
speculations.

On November 11 Gyunduz Aktan, ex-ambassador and member of
Armenian-Turkish Reconciliation Commission spoke out of Reuter’s
interview from the pages of Radical. According to Milliet’s November
11 issue, Reuter considered Kars mayor “purposeful man” and noted
about his dream of quitting the blockade set up 11 years ago as well
as about 50 thousand signatures collected in support of this purpose.

According to Radical, Alibeyoghlu underscored the importance of
Armenian-Turkish border opening for region’s peace and prosperity, and
Reuter added that Ankara does not share Kars mayor’s optimism. Aktan
who heads the Eurasian Military Research Center told Radical that the
problem is not merely the border-gate opening but “Armenia’s demand of
Armenian genocide recognition”.

Armenia never made such demand to Turkey but instead continuously
displays readiness to improve Armenian-Turkish relations without any
precondition and even emphasized that Genocide acknowledgement is not
obligatory. As Armenia’s readiness has to be known to Aktan, then his
concern is to make Armenia give up Genocide recognition claims in
exchange for open border.

This means that Turkey’s political circles consider EU’s pressures to
be real if not in the sphere of improvement of relations with Armenia
then in the sphere of border opening. In search of ways to ease the
pressure, Turkey resorts to means of confusing the world community,
meanwhile misleading the Turkish society.

By Hakob Chakrian

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress