Zaman, Turkey
June 19 2005
‘Ankara Should Show US It is not Alone’
By Suleyman Kurt
Published: Sunday 19, 2005
zaman.com
Professor Georgi Derlugiani, of Armenian-origin, of the Northwestern
University, US, claimed that US need for Turkey in possible operations
against Iran and Syria in addition to pressure policies it implements
on them after Iraq is “very clear”. Derlugiani said if Ankara wants
to resist against this, it should show it is not alone.
Attending the Istanbul Conference on Democracy and Security last week,
Professor Derlugiani answered Zaman’s questions. He described rejection
of the March 1 deployment motion, which aimed to permit US troops pass
to Iraq, as a “brave and brilliant decision that showed Turkey was an
independent country even in the most difficult situation”. The Armenian
academic suggested to Turkey that it belonged to Europe and should
form more close relations with countries such as Russia, Eurasian
countries, Armenia, China, even Brazil, Mexico, and South African
countries through a “strong balance policy”. He said this would show
that Turkey is not alone when a super power applies pressures on it.
Expressing his approach to the Armenian issue, Derlugiani drew to
the attention to difficulty of a solution. Stressing that academic
discussions should be continued, Derlugiani urged forming of close
connections between the two peoples as well.