‘Border issue’ defines Turkish lawmaker’s Armenian visit

Journal of Turkish Weekly
June 13 2005

ANKARA – The opening of the Turkey – Armenia border became the main
issue of ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party deputy Turhan
Comez’s visit to Armenia over the weekend.

Comez suggested that Armenian lawmaker Hacat Sukyasian and himself
should deliver speeches at their respective Parliaments and ask them
to find further solutions to the so-called genocide claims and the
opening of borders between the two countries.

During his meeting with Sukyasian, Comez exchanged views on the
development of Turkish-Armenian relations and asked the Armenians to
renounce their allegations.

“Let’s both make a joint study,” Comez said. “When I deliver a speech
at my Parliament on the opening of the border gate, you too address
your Parliament and say that the events of 1915 were not “genocide”
but that the issue will be researched by historians. This would be
a little step but an important beginning,” he said.

Sukyasian stated that problems should be left aside but that the
border gate should be opened immediately.

“Those events have made us enemies. Once the border is open we may
have the chance of joint expansion and growth. Let’s develop this
region together,” he proposed.

Turkey closed the border in 1993 after Armenian forces occupied 20
percent of Azerbaijan. Armenian troops also threatened the Turkey
and Iran borders. A 1994 truce largely ended hostilities but a final
settlement has not been reached. Yerevan rejects to withdraw from
the occupied territories.

Armenia considers the ending of the ‘Turkish trade embargo’ on Armenia
the key to better relations, but the heart of their estrangement
is Turkey’s refusal to accept Armenia’s charge that Ottoman Turks
committed “genocide” against Armenians. Armenia says as many as 1.5
million Armenians died violently or of disease and hunger in the period
1915-1923, as they were relocated from eastern Ottoman Empire. Turkey
maintains that the figures have been inflated and that the deaths
resulted from efforts to secure the Ottoman Empire’s border with
Russia, and defend it against Armenian militants. 523,000 Turkish
people were masscred by the Armenian militants during the last years
of the Ottoman Empire. The Armenian terrorists killed more than 40
Turkish diplomats and statesmen after the 1915 events.

Turkey says both sides first have to focus on the current issues
instead of the historcial disputes. Ankara further urged the Yerevan
to set a joint commission to discuss the historcial problems.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress