TURKISH TZUGTZWANG
Vardan Grigoryan

Hayots Ashkharh Daily
11 Dec 2008
Armenia

Ankara to be unmasked

The Armenian and Turkish intellectuals’ recent statements over
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide bring the official Ankara
face-to-face with serious problems.

The official circles of Turkey seemed to be accustomed to the
situation of constantly opposing the official Yerevan’s appeals
of starting a dialogue and restoring the relationship without
preconditions. And every time, they invented new and new fantastic
preconditions for Armenia. Now, however, neither the Turkish nor the
Armenian intellectuals have advanced any concrete issue of interstate
importance so as to give Ankara the opportunity of "bargaining".

On the contrary, both parties have put the emphasis on the Armenian
Genocide, an irrefutable fact that has separated the two peoples from
each other.

Moreover, the Turkish intellectuals have already recognized the fact;
they have apologized to the Armenians and called on our people to join
them. As to the representatives of the Armenian intelligentsia, they
have addressed their demand to Turkish President Abdullah Gul, one of
the vanguards striving for the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish
relations.

Of course, we may have no hopes and illusions as far as Gul is
concerned, because expressing the official stance of his country
A. Gul will either tr y to act from the vulnerable positions of those
denying the Armenian Genocide or will just have to remain silent. In
both cases, the Turkish leader will be "down in the dumps" because
he is used to adorning himself with the laurels of the champion of
"friendship" and "dialogue".

Moreover, unlike Armenia and the Armenian society which are unanimous
in their assessments of the fact of the Armenian Genocide, the
Turkish society has found itself entangled in internal discontent and
debates. The nationalistic circles condemn the bold step undertaken
by intellectuals like Baksyn Oran, whereas the official Ankara still
remains silent. Because to speak would mean to equalize oneself with
Devlet Bahcheli and the "grey wolves", and to remain silent would
mean to arouse doubts among the latter.

But the time passes and the inauguration of the US President
and the winter session of Congress are drawing near. Naturally,
instead of starting idle talks about the friendly relations between
the Armenians and the Turks, they expect the Turkish President to
undertake concrete steps towards lifting the blockade of Armenia and
establishing diplomatic ties with our country.

Whereas the Armenian side has no reason for making haste, therefore
it isn’t going to agree with the preconditions proposed by Turkey.

Therefore, during his upcoming visit to Israel, Abdullah Gul will
try to receive20the support of the Jewish lobby of the United States
so as to suspend the process of the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. Calculated to talk President-elect Barrack Obama out of his
intentions, such plans are undoubtedly conditioned by the expectations
from Ram Emmanuel, candidate for the Head of the Presidential staff,
and other figures representing the Jewish lobby.

We believe that an increased number of appeals and declarations
demanding that Turkey recognize the Armenian Genocide may be
strictly important for the present moment. It’s time the Armenian
intellectuals of the Diaspora addressed such Declarations to Turkey and
the pro-Armenian figures of Europe, United States and Russia. During
the upcoming months, it will be necessary to put the Turkish leaders
under a propaganda pressure, so as they will not be able to even
think about applying their primitive propaganda tools against Armenia.

Furthermore, while writing such appeals or declarations, it is
necessary to forget about the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border or
the establishment of diplomatic ties without any preconditions. These
are issues to be tackled only by the diplomats of the given countries,
because whenever being transferred to the political domain, such
issues are obviously speculated by Turkey. It is necessary to hit
the target that can make Turkey vulnerable and force the country to
change its current hostile policy in relation to Armenia.

In the course of the upcoming months, it will be necessary to
raise the issue of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide on
international arenas and in the pages of the press. And after all,
the American President is required to keep the promise he gave the
American-Armenians and start a process of collecting appeals and
declarations and organize rallies and marches.

The Turkish leaders should direct their persistent attempts of
pretending a dialogue against the official Ankara and mount a strong
wave of protest with a demand of recognizing the Armenian Genocide.