TURKEY IN PANIC AND TRYING TO ATTACK FIRST

Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 27 2006

Turkey’s statements about transferring the discussion of the Armenian
Genocide issue to the International Hague Tribunal are attempts to
find ways out of a panic in the country, Director of the Oriental
Studies Institute of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences Ruben
Safrastyan said in an interview with "Armenpress." He said that
after the victory of Democrats in the US Congress and election of
pro-Armenian politicians to responsible positions those in Turkey
realize pretty well that the Democratic Party can pursue the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Turkey is trying to attack
first. In Ruben Safrastyan’s opinion, Turks realize that if the
Congress adopts a bill condemning the Armenian Genocide a new wave
of Genocide Recognition will rise in the world, and 1-2 dozens of
countries will follow the example of the US.

In Safrastyan’s words, despite the statements that Turkey has launched
a serious study of the opportunity to apply to the International Court,
it will not take this step. Instead, it will continue the policy
of denialism. Representatives of the Turkish elite also know that
the Armenian Genocide really occurred, but they will not question
the Turkish policy on this issue. The question of applying to the
International Tribunal was discussed in Turkey still in the year 2000.

Director of the Oriental Studies Institute considers that
Armenian should launch a serious preparation work. To transfer the
Armenian Genocide recognition issue from the political level to the
international legal field. In his words, we should create commissions
comprised of historians, lawyers and political scientists, which will
turn the great historical material on the Armenian Genocide into
a legal document, and Armenia, as a state, should prepare to apply
to the International Court, accusing Turkey as the successor of the
Ottoman Empire, of committing the Genocide and demand reimbursement.

"It is a question that should assemble the whole Armenian nation. As
the center of all Armenians, Armenia should take the initiative and
call a pan-Armenian forum, where all the political forces and NGOs
of Armenia and Diaspora will be represented.

"The Genocide is a heaviest international crime and the criminal
should be punished," Safrastyan assures. Armenia should decide what
kind of reimbursement it will demand. Forms of compensation should
also be correctly assessed.

It should be noted that up to now 18 states have recognized the
Armenian Genocide. Ruben Safrastyan emphasized the importance of
adoption of the bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide
by the French Parliament. Discussions of adopting similar bills are
underway in Belgium and Netherlands.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress