Journal of Turkish Weekly
April 26 2005
Radical Shift in Turkey’s Armenian Policy
The rigid Armenian approach and the Yerevan’s rejections to Turkish
dialogue offers cause radical change in Turkish Armenian policy,
Hurriyet reports.
Till now, Turkish governments have called the Armenian side to
establish a joint commission to discuss the historical disputes.
Ankara has argued that historians from both sides should discuss the
differences. However Turkish authorities shifted this `moderate
policy’ after the 24th April Demonstrations all over the world and
the Yerevan’s rigid rejections. After the Turkish Cabinet’s meeting
yesterday Turkish spokesman Cemil Cicek declared the radical change.
Cicek said `the time is to show the reality behind the lies’.
Cicek said that Turkey needs to follow a new policy. He added all
bodies of the Turkish state and Turkish society will do any effort,
will make a total struggle against the allegations.
Dr. Davut Sahiner from ISRO find the decision `understandable’:
`Turkey does not need Armenia or Armenian support in any area, while
Armenia needs to Turkey to survive and to develop. However the
picture is strange. Turkey calls Armenia for dialogue and for
co-operation, and the side in need rejects without any negotiations.
Armenia is an occupier country. 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories
have been Armenian occupation and the EU and OSCE named Armenia
`occupier’ and `aggressive state’. Armenia does not recognize Turkish
borders. Armenian diaspora always Turkish interests outside and makes
anything possible to harm Turkish policies in the EU or in the US.
The Armenian terrorists killed more than 40 innocent Turkish
diplomats, and Armenians call all Armenian terrorists murdered the
diplomats `hero’. They reject any Turkish, American or European offer
to dialogue with the Turkish side. They reject the withdrawal calls
from the EU and the US. So, Ankara can do nothing to normalize
relations with Armenia. It is understood that Armenia is happy with
the status quo. Armenians like to live in the past. We hope Armenian
diaspora will help Armenia to overcome all economic and political
problems as they did in the past (!). Kocharian accuse Turkey and
Turkish people for the current problems in Armenia. So he will
continue to accuse, but will do nothing more’.
JTW