TURKEY NOT READY TO RECOGNIZE THE GENOCIDE OF ARMENIANS
Gevorg Harutyunyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on July 04, 2008
Armenia

Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy
of Sciences, Turkologist Ruben Safrastyan is the interlocutor of
"Hayots Ashkharh" daily.

"Mr. Safrastyan at this stage of the geo-political developments what
peculiarities do Armenian-Turkish relations have?"

"We must record that Turkey’s attitude towards Armenia is at
clarification stage in the condition of the aggravation of the
country’s internal-political situation. As we know the ruling party
"Justice and Development" is facing different charges.

Besides that, recently the sector of the Turkish secret organization
named "Ergenekon" was revealed. The goal of the organization is to
stage a military coup d’état in Turkey.

Ex-military-men, influential figures, Generals and representatives of
Turkish elite are the members of the before mentioned organization,
by the name of a Turkish epos.

In fact it is the regular attempt of the traditional Turkish kemaly
elite to maintain power. The thing is there is a struggle between
two pro-governmental groupings in Turkey. The newly formed elite
united with the pro-governmental "Justice and Development" party is
struggling against the kemaly elite that has been in power for decades.

This struggle has created great tension in Turkey’s internal political
life. In such conditions the government in power did certain steps
regarding Armenian Turkish relations, aimed at gaining the support
of the West, especially the USA. It is not a secret that for many
years the USA puts pressure on Turkey to open the borders with Armenia.

In this context, it’s worth mentioning that the victory of Democratic
Presidential Candidate Barrack Obama is becoming quite possible.

Turkish analysts preview that in this case it will be impossible to
avert the adoption of resolution 106 in the Congress.

It is not accidental that the representatives of Turkish Foreign
Ministry met with Obama’s counselors, during which according to
our information the Americans recommended their Turkish partners to
elaborate another program of Armenian-Turkish relations. The Turks
will most probably try to create delusion among American democracy
as if they are doing their best to improve relations with Armenia."

"Why delusion? Doesn’t Turkish people, society, or the authorities
want to have regular relations with Armenia?"

"In my view Turkey is not ready for principled changed in their policy
regarding Armenia. According to Turkey Armenia must announce that
it doesn’t have any territorial demands towards Turkey and that it
recognizes Kars agreement, that it is ready for unilateral concessions
regarding Karabakh, refuses the goal of the recognition of the Genocide
of Armenians and will remove this issue from its foreign policy.

Of course the latter is the most important issue for Turkey. But we
must also record that Armenian historians and the specialists have
already recognized the fact of the Genocide. American scientist’s
society doesn’t accept Turkish stance saying that the fact of the
Genocide is disputable.

The US leadership also accepts the fact of the Genocide, but not
officially, taking into account their state interests. But in
the very near future the USA will have to officially recognize the
Genocide of Armenians. In this regard Turkey intimidates that it will
break off with the USA and will use sanctions, but it is of course
ridiculous. And the USA in its turn recommends Turkey not to lose
face and to find serious solutions."

"Recently OSCE Parliamentary Assembly adopted Turkey’s proposal,
according to which the Parliaments of the member countries must
encourage the idea of the formation of the joint committees
of the countries with disputable issues, to conduct historical
investigations. Thus many issues will be solved."

"Still in 2005, when Erdoghan sent a letter to our President to set
up a committee of historians, Armenia officially responded that we
are ready to set up a committee to study all the spheres. In my view
this is the only way to bilaterally discuss, all the existing problems
and achieve results.

In case of setting up a committee of historians, believe me, Armenia
will never agree to making the issue of the Genocide of Armenians
a matter of discussion. We are ready to discuss the reasons and
consequences of the Genocide in the framework of historical facts. But
before the discussion there should be a certain consensus. For
scientific dispute there are certain principles that must be mutually
agreed upon. Otherwise the discussion is senseless."

–Boundary_(ID_iY6MBf9ai0WpR/6JI wEuKA)–