ARTAK SHAKARYAN: TURKEY’S LEFT USE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AS WEAPON AGAINST TURKISH FASCISM

PanARMENIAN.Net –
April 26, 2010 – 14:12 AMT 09:12 GMT

Turkish intellectuals recognizing the Armenian Genocide can stimulate
its public acknowledgment, with creating a proper atmosphere, according
Turkologist Artak Shakaryan.

"Nevertheless, these intellectuals speak out not for the Genocide
recognition but against the Turkish military and leadership," he said
when answering a PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent’s question during a
press conference in Yerevan.

"Turkey’s left use the Armenian Genocide as a weapon against Turkish
fascism," he added.

At the same time, he noted that some changes occurred in Turkish
perception of the issue.

"Holding of an event on the Armenian Genocide seemed unthinkable
in Istanbul ten years ago," he said, adding that Istanbul can’t be
taken for the whole Turkey, as nationalism and Islamism prevails in
the country’s east.