JUST TO SHOW GOOD MANNERS

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on July 09, 2008
Armenia

Currently there are many people who are interested in the developments
that may follow Mr. A. Gyull’s visit to Armenia. Whether everything
will end in watching the Armenia-Turkey football match or …?

In the estimation of ALVARD PETROSYAN, "The RA President’s invitation
to the Turkish President is a normal attitude displayed on the state
level. As to whether or not he will come, it’s up to him. I just
consider it as a manifestation of good manners, nothing more."

According to Ms. Petrosyan, "the invitation of the President insults
neither our national feelings nor history and nor even demands for
justice.

As to the conversations about some committees, I consider it a wrong
formulation.

By the way, the same opposition-run press which used to support
the idea of setting up a Turkish-Armenian committee, has now become
‘more Catholic than the Pope’. It is just timeserving. I know that
Mr. Gyull may just come here, watch the football match and go. But
his visit may also have some continuation."

Doesn’t A. Petrosyan have fears of such continuation? The Armenian
market is flooded with cheap Turkish products, low-quality Turkish
music and tastelessness as it is.

Our interlocutor is convinced that all this results from the lack of
education. "If the bazaar (the Armenian-Turkish trade is currently on
this level) and the practice of filling the pockets of some people
are going to have more weight than our historical recollection, the
recollection of our losses and the demands for justice, that will
mean that this is our true nature. But I am sure that it isn’t so.

The majority viewpoint is different; it is aimed at the protection of
their motherland. No one has asked them about their opinion, but if
it weren’t for the majority, we wouldn’t be a nation with a history
of 5000 years.

That’s why I am optimistic."