ARMENIA’S PRIORITY IS NOT RECOGNITION OF GENOCIDE BUT OPENING OF BORDER WITH TURKEY
By H. Chaqrian

AZG Armenian Daily
17/04/2007

The issues of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and of the
adoption of the Resolution by the US Congress remain the most important
topics of discussions in Ankara, capital of Turkey, in despite of
threatening statements of Masoud Barzanee, President of the "Iraqi
Kurdistan" and political insinuations of Prime Minister Tcep Tayyip
Erdogan on the eve of presidential elections

On April 13 co-chair of the Armenian-Turkish Business Union Kaan
Soyak in an interview to "Cihan" new agency commented the political
situation and the relations between Armenia and Turkey.

Mr. Soyak said that the adoption of the US Congress Resolution on the
Armenian Genocide will have negative consequences both for Armenia and
Turkey. He assured that the Resolution is lobbied by political powers
interested in preventing reconciliation between the two states. To
Soyak’s opinion recognition of the Genocide is not a priority for the
Republic of Armenia, although it has became an industry – a theme for
various films and books, and a means of persevering national identity
for the Armenian Diaspora. He stated that Armenia’s real priority is
the opening of the border with Turkey.

Soyak expressed an opinion that Armenia is merely unable to prevent
the discussion of the Resolution, as its economy essentially depends
on foreign capital.

"By now Armenia has not done anything so as to aid passing the
Resolution. Neither did any Armenian politician come to the USA in
order to start lobby activity," he said. To Soyak’s opinion the
Armenian authorities are interested in establishing diplomatic
and economical relations with Turkey irrespective of Diaspora’s
position. He stressed that the Diaspora does not need Armenia. Turkey,
coming to agreement with Armenia will weaken the positions of the
Diaspora. That is why the Armenian Diaspora is doing everything
possible to prevent reconciliation between the two states and keep
the border close.

Soyak also referred to the murder of Hrant Dink and the "We Are All
Armenians" slogan, which was proclaimed on the funeral. He considers
that the slogan revealed that there is no contradiction between
the Armenian and Turkish people. He reminded that after the great
earthquake of 1999 in Turkey Armenia rendered considerable humanitarian
aid. He noticed that the Turkish American community donated $600.000
to the victims of the earthquake and famous Armenian philanthropist
Kirk Kirkorian alone – $1.000.000.

Kaan Soyak said that when meeting with his Armenian colleagues he never
speaks about history. Both the nations need peace, he thinks. "Gestures
are made by great states. Opening the border is such a gesture.

And a s a great state Turkey will determine the conditions, " he
said. Soyak refused to elaborate what are those "conditions", although
the Turkey’s demands of Armenia are well known from 1991. Instead he
tried to create illusion that the Republic of Armenia is against the
Resolution on Armenian Genocide, as if forgetting about obviously
offensive position of the Turkish authorities against Armenia and
its pre-conditions for establishment of diplomatic relations.

Speaking of the Armenian-Turkish relations, Soyak never used the
word "genocide" whjen referring to the events of 1915 as if urging
to forget about them. He said nothing of the activity of Turkes,
called by the press "the founder of neo-fascism in Turkey" and the
"Turkish Furher". Turkes in the 70’s organized a number of numbers
of progressive and prominent Turkish social and political workers. In
the early 90’s, during the war in Nagorno-Karabakh he sent 3 thousand
militants to aid the Azerbaijani aggressors. After the World War II
Turkes started close cooperation with terrorist organizations from
the USA and "Mossad" from Isreal, organizing terrorist acts against
the peaceful Armenian population of Beyrut in the late 80’s.

Soyak’s words would be of little importance, unless "Zaman" had
reported that he, being equally respected both by the Armenian
and Turkish authorities, is working for rapprochement between the
countries.

However it is obvious that the efforts of Mr. Soyak remain fruitless.