ARMENIAN EXPERT: 80% OF TURKS HAVE ANTI-AMERICAN MOODS

ArmInfo
2009-01-21 14:14:00

ArmInfo. 80% of Turks have anti-American moods, that will be
undoubtedly used by the Turkish authorities if US recognizes the
Armenian Genocide, Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of
the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, turcologist, Professor
Ruben Safrastyan told journalists today.

"In case the USA recognizes the Armenian Genocide, the Turkish
authorities will have to take certain measures with respect to the
USA taking into account the fact that the population of Turkey is
very discontent with US policy in the region. However, these measures
will not be of the radical nature as sharp action of Turkey against
its ally on NATO may disrupt the in the region", the expert said.

He thinks that the threatening statements of the Turkish authorities
to the USA are part of a standard policy carried out by Ankara
with respect to the countries that want to recognize the Armenian
Genocide. However, he said, this policy takes a real shape very rarely.

"Everyone remembers what a dust was raised by Turkey regarding
adoption of a bill by France on criminal prosecution of the persons
denying the Armenian Genocide – even the French goods in Turkey were
boycotted. However, Turkey and France presently cooperate in economy
even more actively than before this boycott", Safrastyan resumed.