WHO LOSES, WHO WINS OVER ARMENIAN ALLEGATIONS?
Hurriyet
March 24 2010
Turkey
According to the Armenian press, the UK, Spain, Ukraine and Bulgaria
will follow the Swedish parliament’s approval of a ‘genocide’
resolution as a result of a worldwide campaign. Both Turkish and
Foreign diplomats deny the reports. ‘Such made-up reports are promoted
on purpose ahead of April 24,’ says a high-ranking Turkish diplomat
The normalization protocols signed last October encouraged many to
hope it was time to acknowledge that a genuine historical controversy
could be resolved by scholars rather than politicians.
Nowadays, recent debates in third countries’ parliaments might endanger
this picture although Turkish and Armenian politicians had finally
agreed to establish a historical committee to examine the 1915 events.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Burak Ozugergin advocated that such moves
by third countries would damage both bilateral relations and the
normalization process with Armenia. "As you saw with recent examples
[in the United States and Sweden], we reject the content and our
bilateral relations are harmed," he said.
Without giving details, Ozugergin said Turkey would take new steps
seeking its rights on the global scene and "applying to international
courts" was among the options.
According to Armenian press, the United Kingdom, Spain, Ukraine and
Bulgaria will follow the Swedish parliament’s approval in an attempt
make the Armenian campaign worldwide. "Such made-up reports are
promoted on purpose ahead of April 24," said a high-ranking Turkish
diplomat speaking on condition anonymity. Both Sweden’s Prime Minister
Fredrik Reinfeldt and Foreign Minister Carl Bildt apologized and
criticized their parliaments’ decisions, the source reminded.
"The U.K. is our stronghold as Prime Minister (Gordon Brown) assured
the national assembly will not hold such a resolution," the source
said. "The Spanish government is against such a resolution and will
not allow it to be discussed in the national parliament."
Spain’s government is working to torpedo efforts by its legislature
to pass a resolution recognizing the Armenian "genocide," reported
the Spanish ABC newspaper, according to Armenian news portal Asbarez
on Tuesday.
The regional assembly of Catalonia recognized the "Armenian genocide"
on Feb. 26, but Catalan President Jose Montilla sent an apology letter
to Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on March 9, saying he
found the allegations baseless.
Neither Bulgarian nor Ukrainian diplomatic sources confirmed that
the Armenian "genocide" would be discussed in parliamentary sessions
in coming weeks. "Our political cooperation with Turkey is vital for
us, and we will not let such an outsider affect or deteriorate it," a
Bulgarian diplomat told the Daily News. "The political system in Sofia
is different than Washington, and there is no powerful Armenian lobby.
Only some far-rights welcome such allegations."
In an interview with the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review,
Ukrainian Ambassador to Ankara Sergey Korsunsky denied the claim. ‘We
are not going to consider it in parliament, so this information is
totally false. It is not on the agenda and will not be discussed."
Asked if the Ukrainian parliament may consider it in the future as a
result of the Armenian lobby, Korsunsky firmly replied, "No chance. It
is not our issue."
Yerevan claims the Ottoman army carried out genocide against more
than a million Armenian citizens, but Ankara rejects "systematic
genocide" and asserts mass killings happened on both sides under
warlike conditions. The Turkish administration has long suggested
opening archives to all researchers seeking the truth.
Although Turkey was absolved of further responsibility for the
consequences of the policies of the former Ottoman Empire according to
the 1923 Lausanne Treaty, Armenians worldwide have initiated efforts
for national and international recognition of an alleged genocide.
The efforts began with the introduction of commemorative resolutions
in the U.S. Congress in 1975, and in 1987 broader recognition was
achieved with the adoption of a resolution by the European Parliament,
which stated "the tragic events of 1915-1917 … constitute genocide."
In the following years, parliaments in a number of countries, including
Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, France, Greece and Russia adopted resolutions
recognizing "genocide."
The U.S. is a stronghold of the Armenian lobby, and 42 of 50 states
have recognized the "genocide," but the lobby has so far failed to
have a resolution pass through Congress. As a result of strategic
interests in the Middle East and a NATO alliance with Turkey, U.S.
presidents to date have avoided using the word "genocide" on April
24 when extending official condolences to the Armenian people on the
day the events are annually commemorated.
President Barack Obama made no exception last year despite his promises
during the election campaign and asserted that any external effects
might harm the normalization talks between Armenia and Turkey.
Washington’s pressure on Turkey to ratify protocols in the Turkish
Parliament before April 24 faced a backlash in Ankara, and politicians
vowed not bow to "U.S. blackmail."