Interview on Yerkir’s web site

Yerkir/arm
February 04, 2005

The Yerkir online has initiated a series of interviews with
politicians, statesmen and public figures. You can address your
questions to them by visiting

Between January 24 and 31, questions were addressed to Kiro Manoyan,
the director of the ARF Bureau’s Central Hai Dat Office. Below is an
excerpt of that interview. The full interview will be posted on the
site on February 7.

Sargis.- What do you think Turkey’s place is in the new US plan of
the Greater Middle East, and is it possible that the US would take
steps for an Armenian-Turkish reconciliation or at least a dialogue?

Kiro Manoyan.- First it should be noted that the US plan of the Greater
Middle East is still in the stage of elaboration, and the initial
plans and perceptions could be changed depending on what the real
players would do. However, it is apparent that Turkey’s role will be
changed according to the American understanding of the Greater Middle
East. In the military aspect, due to its negative stance in the Iraq
issue, Turkey has already become less important than it was before the
Iraq war, though even today, the Americans are trying to use Turkey’s
territory and military infrastructure for their “war on terror.”

Regardless of the American plan for the Greater Middle East, the United
Sates have a goal of normalizing the relations between Armenia and
Turkey due to other concerns, one of them being the reduction of the
Russian influence in the South Caucasus. If Turkey is no more seen
as a threat to Armenia, the American strategists say there will be
less need for the Russian troops in Armenia. Due to this and other
reasons, the US is trying to normalize the relations between Armenia
and Turkey, seeing the opening of the border as a first step.

Shamil Rashidov, Istanbul. Given that Armenia is not going to drop
the Armenian Genocide claim and Turkey is not going to recognize it,
is it possible to find some solution in the middle to satisfy both
sides. If yes, what in your opinion are the solutions and when can
they be reached?

K.M. – Armenia is not going to and cannot drop the â~@~Genocide
claim,â~@~] because Turkey closed the border and refused to
establish diplomatic relations with Armenia when it was ruled by an
administration which did insist on the Armenian Genocide issue in
the international arena and especially before Turkey.

This means that Turkey has proved that it expects from Armenia to
completely forget its history because Turkey is not satisfied by
merely not raising the issue in the international arena: however, no
Armenian administration that considers itself to be really Armenian,
will do that.

The truth has no middle way; it is not a subject for a bargain. A
middle way can be only considered in terms of the future plans and
only after the truth has been admitted. Turkey cannot avoid its history
forever, it will recognize the Armenian Genocide sooner or later.

Aram. – Taking into account that the official Turkish history denies
the Armenian Genocide, do you think a dialogue with historians denying
the Genocide is possible?

K.M. – A so-called dialogue between the Armenian and Turkish historians
is largely dangerous because it would mean the disagreement over the
Armenian Genocide is only between the historians.

A great number of non-Armenian historians and genocide experts admit
that the Armenian Genocide is the first genocide of the 20th century.

Any dialogue between historians â~@~S even with those who admit
the fact of the Genocide â~@~S would reduce the issue to an
Armenian-Turkish dispute over history.

–Boundary_(ID_98m1vrqU/LWfsaO30/gmDw)–