SITUATION IN NORTH CAUCASUS RESULT OF PAN-TURKISM, EXPERT SAYS

EuropeNews
9
April 21 2010
Denmark

The current explosive situation in the North Caucasus is, to a
great extent, the result of Pan-Turkism, Vladimir Zhakharov PhD,
Coordinator of the Center for Caucasian Studies, Moscow State
Institute of International Relations (MGIMO-University), stated during
a Yerevan-Moscow space bridge on the occasion of the 95th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey.

According to him, Pan-Turkism remains a real threat even now. "Nothing
‘more real’ could exist, and it is spearheaded against Russia,"
the expert said.

Speaking of the Armenian Genocide, Zhakharov stressed that not only
the tragic events in Turkey in 1915, but also the Armenian massacres in
Shushi in 1918 and in Baku in 1920, as well as the events that occurred
in Azerbaijan 20 years ago, can be termed as genocide. The expert,
however, did not dwell on the events in Azerbaijan – he reported
that the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Russia showered MGIMO with letters
of protest at his statements. "We received the last note from the
Embassy of Azerbaijan this Monday," he said.

As regards the reasons for Turkey’s unwillingness to admit the
Armenian Genocide, the expert said that in private talks Azerbaijani
politicians expressed their fears. "Ankara is afraid of the financial
and territorial responsibility should it admit the Armenian Genocide,"
Zakharov said.

Commenting on Russia’s assistance to the Armenians that survived the
Genocide, the expert pointed out that Russia helped the Armenians that
survived and settled down there, but "it might have done more." Russia
must not forget the sacred and tragic date, the expert said. He
also proposed the organization of an international conference on the
Armenian Genocide and the Nagorno-Karabakh problem.