DIPLOMATIC NOTE GIVES TURKISH ENVOYS 10 WAYS TO’DEAL’ WITH GENOCIDE, DIASPORA

Asbarez
Apr 21st, 2010

ANKARA (ArmRadio)-Official Ankara has prepared a 10-point diplomatic
note outlining talking points and protocols of action for Turkish
diplomats to follow when discussing or dealing with issue of the
Armenian Genocide, the BBC’s Russian service has learned.

The document prepared by the Turkish Foreign Ministry lists rules
and recommendations that Turkish embassy staff must adhere to
when responding to journalists’ questions on the genocide. It
also encourages a pro-active approach to co-opt Armenian Diaspora
communities and organizations.

According to the BCC, Turkish officials should emphasize the importance
of Turkish-Armenian relations, as well as focus on Turkey’s proposal
to establish a historical commission to discuss "the mutual history
between Armenia and Turkey."

The commission, considered a pre-condition by Ankara for establishing
relations with Yerevan, would seek to question the veracity of the
Armenian Genocide analysts close to the issue warn.

The guidelines will also serve as diplomatic protocol for Turkish
officials on foreign trips or on government assignment, the Turkish
Hurriyet Daily reported.

We provide the 10 directives below as they were reported by Hurriyet:

1) Contact and maintain ties with representatives of the Armenian
lobby in your country of residence. Invite them to your events.

2) Visit their events and try to explain Turkey’s position.

3) Representatives of the Armenian Diaspora abroad are divided into
three groups. The first has made business on the issue of genocide
and the second group includes people who arrived from Turkey and
still have ties with our country and the third group is a category
of people who are hostile against Turkey. Contact the representatives
of all these groups and invite them to visit Turkey.

4) In the country of residence, also contact Armenian diplomats and
invite them to your events

5) Do not avoid contacts with the Armenian and pro-Armenian press
and try to explain them Turkey’s position in your statements.

6) Also contact the community of your country of residence to explain
the 1915 events.

7) Be in a constant contact with the diplomats of the Balkan, Central
Asian, Middle Eastern and other countries close to Turkey and try to
resist Armenian propaganda through joint efforts.

Concentrate on the protocols signed with Armenia and remind the point
of creation of the historical commission to study genocide.

9) Also explain the essence of the Turkish policy in the Caucasus
which wants to establish peace in this region.

10) Speak of the need to settle the Karabakh conflict to establish
peace in the region in your country of residence.