TURKISH CITIZENS ADVISE ANKARA TO FOLLOW SERBIA’S EXAMPLE AND APOLOGIZE TO ARMENIANS

Tert.am
16:46 ~U 01.04.10

Some people in Turkey believe that Ankara should follow Serbia’s
example (as it retains to the Srebrenica massacre) and apologize to
Armenians for the Armenian Genocide so that Turkey can become a full
member of the European Union.

Earlier this week, Serbia’s parliament passed a landmark resolution
offering an apology for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre – the worst
incident of the Bosnian War – but stopped short of calling it genocide.

In an interview with Turkish paper Haberturk, columnist Soli Ozel, who
specializes in international relations, said that since Serbia was on
the path toward EU membership, it was necessary to implement measures
addressing those accusations of genocide directed at the country.

"That is, that decision is directly related to EU membership. Serbian
authorities, though it was a difficult decision, made it, while facing
harsh criticism and counter-reaction from nationalists … But as
for what concerns Turkey, on the issue of the Armenian Genocide,
it has not yet reached that point. But it will be easier for Turkey
from now on to take such initiatives. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry needs
to work on that issue," said Ozel.

Maya Arakon, a professor of Turkey’s Yeditepe University, in turn,
told Haberturk that with that apology Serbia is trying to whitewash
its history in accordance with EU standards, as its aim is to be a
member of the EU.

"We too, having before us the Armenian Genocide issue, can take
such an initiative… For the EU, such an apology means progress in
democracy… As we know, we are surrounded by the Armenian Genocide
issue on all four sides. Following Serbia’s example, Turkey can
also apologize, without qualifying the 1915 events as genocide,"
said Arakon, adding that it would strengthen Turkey’s positions in
the domain of foreign policy.