‘TURKEY HAS BEEN NERVOUSLY PREPARING FOR 95TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE’: HARUT SASSOUNIAN

Tert.am
16:50 ~U 17.03.10

It is a well-known fact that Turkish leaders are exceptional
diplomats. However, as soon as they hear the words Armenian Genocide,
Greece, Cyprus or Kurdistan, these diplomats lose their "cool" and
resort to emotional outbursts and undiplomatic actions that harm
their own interests, writes Harut Sassounian in The California Courier.

Realizing that this is the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
Turkish officials have been nervously preparing themselves for the
upcoming tsunami of commemorations that would remind the international
community of the crimes against humanity committed by Ottoman Turks.

The first unexpected shot was fired on February 26 by the Parliament
of the Autonomous Government of Catalonia, Spain, when it unanimously
recognized the Armenian Genocide. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu immediately contacted his Spanish counterpart and Catalonian
officials venting his anger and demanding an apology.

Two days later, an expose of the Armenian Genocide was aired by
CBS’s 60 Minutes, showing bones of Armenian victims still protruding
from Syrian desert sands, almost a century later. The Turks were
livid, accusing Armenians of unduly influencing the CBS network and
questioning, as usual, the authenticity of the bones and the sand.

Four days later, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee adopted a
resolution acknowledging the Armenian Genocide. Turkey lost despite:

Pressuring the Obama administration to oppose the resolution;
Hiring multi-million dollar lobbying firms; Sending teams of Turkish
parliamentarians to Washington; E-mail campaigns by Turkish and Azeri
Americans; and Threatening to boycott US defense contractors if they
did not oppose the resolution.

Immediately after losing that vote, Turkey recalled its Ambassador from
Washington, indicating that he may be kept in Ankara until after April
24. State Minister Zafer Caglayan postponed his US visit, intended to
develop economic ties, "until the United States corrects its mistake."

A scheduled trip by the executive board of the Turkish Industrialists’
& Businessmen’s Association to Washington on March 16 and 17 was also
cancelled, and anti-American protests were held in Turkish cities.

More importantly, Prime Minister Erdogan indicated that he might
cancel his planned participation in the global summit on nuclear
security to be held in Washington next month.

Before Turkish passions had cooled down, Sweden’s Parliament dealt
a second devastating blow to Ankara on March 11, by reaffirming the
genocide of Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks, by a vote of 131-130.

Once again, Turkey recalled its Ambassador, and Prime Minister Erdogan
cancelled his upcoming trip to Stockholm which was to be accompanied
by a large trade delegation. And, anti-Swedish demonstrations were
held in several Turkish cities.

These overly dramatic reactions prompted Turkish and foreign
commentators to have a field day, speculating that if more countries
recognize the Armenian Genocide, Turkey won’t have ambassadors left
anywhere in the world, and Turkish officials won’t be visiting other
countries, having to cancel their overseas trips. Furthermore, Turkey
would be left without any imported goods and a weakened military,
having cancelled all purchases from the outside world. Turkey’s
isolation is a just retribution for its denialist policy. By trying
to punish others, Turkey is simply punishing itself.

The main reason why Turkish officials panic every time the Armenian
Genocide is acknowledged by yet another country is their fear of
being asked to pay compensation for Armenian losses and return the
occupied lands.

Prime Minister Erdogan and his colleagues don’t seem to understand
that Genocide recognition by itself does not lead to legal claims. How
many inches of land have Armenians managed to liberate from Turkey
as a result of such recognition by more than 20 countries? If Turkish
leaders would only understand that parliamentary resolutions have no
legal effect, maybe they would not get so excited over them.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress