TURKEY IS LIKELY TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN COMING 5-10 YEARS, EDITOR OF AGOS CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan

Dec 10, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 10, NOYAN TAPAN. Turkey is likely to recognize
the Armenian Genocide in the coming 5-10 years. Bagrat Estukian,
the editor of Agos weekly’s Armenian department, expressed such an
opinion at the December 10 press conference. According to him, it will
become possible under some conditions, for instance, Armenia should
renounce land, material compensations. According to him, the issue
of recognition of the Armenian Genocide gradually becomes an issue of
dignity for Turkey. "Recognizing a genocide is not such an easy thing,
but is inevitable, as it is a historic truth," B. Estukian said.

According to him, it is sufficient that Turkey apologizes for the
Genocide.

"The psychology of a victim gradually has a harmful impact for the
Armenians. We cannot live from one generation to another with that
psychology. An apology will be a great psychological treatment for
the Armenian people," B. Estukian said.

Touching upon the Armenian-Turkish relations, he said that the
viewpoints and dispositions of Turkish society and state figures
differ in that issue.

However, according to him, the current Turkish government realizes the
senselessness of the borders’ being closed. In B. Estukian’s opinion,
it is done to please Azerbaijan.

B. Estukian also said that besides Istanbul, there is no other
well-organized Armenian community in other territories of Turkey with
the exception of the village of Vakvfle, Musa Dag. According to him,
mainly old people live there, who keep the unique Armenian identity.