RUBEN SAFRASTYAN: EVENTS IN TURKEY MAY GROW IN TO A MILITARY COUP
Anna Nazaryan

"Radiolur"
23.02.2010 16:48

The recent events in Turkey may grow into a military coup, although
it’s not very probable today, Director of the Oriental Studies
Institute of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences Riben
Safrastyan told a press conference today. "Turkey will try to use
this situation and continue dragging out the process of ratification
of the Armenian-Turkish protocols," he said.

According to Ruben Safrastyan, there is an internal war taking place in
Turkey although there are still no victims. He said the tension between
the Kemalists and the Islamists affects the Turkish authorities, and
this can lead to some changes. "The possibility of a military coup
is not great, but if there is one, there will be a lot of victims,"
he said.

More than ten retired high-ranking servicemen were arrested in Turkey
yesterday. The Turkish authorities accuse them of preparing a military
coup. The Turkish military is not united any more, Safrastyan said.

Under these circumstances will the US continue pressuring Turkey
to ratify the protocols? "The United States is closely watching
the developments in Turkey. The US still considers that nothing
extraordinary is taking place in that country. Besides, the events in
Turkey have not reached the final stage. Americans may understand that
the Armenian-Turkish relations may further strain the situation and
I do not rule out that they may refuse from the policy of pressure,"
Ruben Safrastyan said.

The processes are still developing, and today it’s hard to say what
is going to happen. However, there will be some clarity within a month.