The Journal of Turkish Weekly
2005-02-04 08:09:40

Dr. Laciner: “Turkish-Armenian Alliance is not Impossible”

Jan SOYKOK, ANKARA – Dr. Sedat Laciner told JTW that Turkey-Armenia alliance
is possible. Laciner said Armenian state cannot survive in a hostile region
and has to solve its problems with Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Laciner further continued:

“As a matter of fact that neither the Western States nor the Armenian
Diaspora radicals see Armenia’s national interests as their priority.
Armenia’s and Diaspora’s interests are not the same. As Dr. Nilgun Gulcan
pointed out Armenia and Diaspora has contrary interests. Diaspora needs more
dispute between Turks and Armenians, because many Diaspora Armenian enjoy
from the ‘genocide industry’. If Turkey and Armenia solve their problem they
could not abuse the past for their individual interests. Many diaspora
institutions are dependent on ‘genocide donations’. Many Armenian actors,
businessmen, politician etc. in Northern America and Europe see
Turkish-Armenian problems as source of power. When the both side put an end
to the historical misunderstandings many militants will lose their financial
and political power over the ordinary Armenians in diaspora. Similarly some
of the Diaspora institutions argue that the 1915 Legacy is the most
important thing uniting Armenians. According to this approach, Diaspora
Armenians need a uniting cause in order to resist assimilation. Otherwise,
they think, Armenian identity would be diminished in front of the strong
Western cultures.

However Armenian state needs Turkey and other Turkic peoples.

Armenia is surrounded by more than 100 million Turkish people (Turkey,
Azerbaijan and Iran Azerbaijan). Georgia is an ally of Turkey and has good
relations with the Western states though Armenia stayed the only Russian
ally in the region.

Armenia is a relatively small and poor country, it is land-locked. If
Armenia can solve its problems with Turkey the life would be easier for the
Armenians.

In my opinion Turkey, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan could establish an
economic regional integration in Caucasus. Turkey could be a European door
for the Armenian businessmen and people. Turkish universities can open their
doors to Armenian youth. Armenia cannot survive in a hostile region.
So-called Russian support or relations with Iran cannot substitute relations
with Turkey. A strong Turkish-Armenian regional ally would change a lot in
the region. If Turkey and Armenia can establish a strong friendship, foreign
direct investment would boom, security problems down, and the region would
become a trade centre for the Central Asia, Black Sea and the Middle East”.

JTW, 4 February 2005

Turkish – Armenian Relations
2005-02-04 08:09:40