US AWARE OF PROBLEM OF ILLEGAL MIGRATION IN TURKEY

news.az, Azerbaijan
March 25 2010

News.Az interviews Azer Allahverdiyev, president of the Azerbaijani
non-governmental organization, the Eurasian Civil Initiatives Platform.

What can you say about Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan’s comment in
an interview to the BBC about the possible deportation of 100,000
illegal migrants from Armenia if Armenia does not shake off the
‘control of the Armenian diaspora’?

Protecting the interests of one’s own citizens, especially in a
period of world financial and economic crisis, has become a pressing
problem for all developed countries. In other words, every state has
the right to fight illegal migration, which is what the Turkish prime
minister was referring to when he mentioned the presence of 100,000
illegal migrants in Turkey from a country that does not recognize the
territorial integrity of a fraternal state. This reaction was to be
expected from the Turkish leadership to the continuation of the policy
of the US Armenian diaspora whose main goal is the recognition of the
fictional ‘Armenian genocide’ in the United States and elsewhere. The
latest stage in the process was the recognition of the ‘Armenian
genocide’ in the US congressional committee on 4 March and Swedish
parliament on 11 March. There is nothing wrong in the PM’s statement.

Let’s admit that it would be illogical to turn a blind eye to the
presence of such a great number of Armenians who send the money earned
to their relatives in Armenia, make territorial claims on Turkey and
demand the recognition of the mythical ‘Armenian genocide’.

The US government itself deports a great many illegal migrants. Isn’t
this proof that Turkey is right to tackle illegal migration?

You are right, the United States deports a great number of illegal
migrants. The world understands these actions by the USA. This shows
that the problem is urgent for all countries.

Do you mean that the United States should support Turkey on this?

At least, the US government understands the problem of illegal migrants
raised by the Turkish prime minister and it will not yield to the
attempts of the Armenian lobby and Armenian diaspora in the United
States to profit from the issue. To block any attempts to profit from
the migration issue, the Turkish leadership should primarily explain
that illegal migration will be tackled in phases and refer to the
illegal migrants from all countries that currently reside in Turkey.

Where can these illegal migrants go if they are deported?

Primarily, to the countries where the Armenian diaspora is quite
strong. For example, to Syria or France. In addition, a small part
of the Armenian citizens deported from Turkey may return to Armenia
from where they can go on to Russia or any other CIS states.

Akper Hasanov News.Az