Diaspora expansion takes priority to borders

Sabah-Tr
16 April, 2010 03:25:00

With just days left before April 24th rolls around, Turkey has
decided to take a surprising step. DavutoÄ?lu met with the Ambassadors
and Consuls based in North America in order to deliver the message;
`The normalization of relations with Yerevan will only be possible if
it includes the diaspora.’

As the international community awaits the Turkish-Armenian borders to
open, Turkey has decided to open the door to the diaspora first.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu made an announcement to
the mission chiefs in North America where the diaspora is most
prominent. "Normalization is only possible if it includes the Armenian
diaspora. This process will be completed with the diaspora.’ Minister
DavutoÄ?lu was joined by the ambassadors in the North American
continent as well as consuls from Toronto, Chicago, New York, Houston,
Los Angeles and Boston to receive detailed information regarding the
differences between the diaspora. During the meeting, in which mission
chiefs from the United States as well as Canada were in attendance,
DavutoÄ?lu expressed that the normalization process with Yerevan would
soon be coming up. Emphasizing that the process will be successful if
the diaspora is included, DavutoÄ?lu made the following requests:

Open the mission doors to the Armenian diaspora, and invite them in.
Attend meetings and events held by the diaspora and explain our
position to them¦
Invite the diaspora to come to Turkey, including even those who are
opposed to Turkey.
Try to attend meetings with Armenian diplomats¦
Explain our position to almost everyone, including Macedonia, Albania
and the Palestinians¦

ATHENS EXAMPLE FOR YEREVAN

Minister DavutoÄ?lu delivered these requests to diplomats following
Prime Minister ErdoÄ?an’s recent meetings in Washington with US
President Barack Obama and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan. During
ErdoÄ?an’s meetings in Washington and with the United States’
initiative, it was decided to; `prepare the public psychologically for
the normalization process.’

Stating, `We do not want to have to deal with a poor neighbor,’
DavutoÄ?lu reminded of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council
meeting with Greece in May and mentioned; `Why can’t we do what we do
with Greece with Armenia?’