TURKISH SOCIETY NOT UNITED IN ITS OPINION ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA
Lena Badeyan
"Radiolur"
21.11.2008 16:01
A Turkish delegation has arrived in Armenia to try to discuss the
problems existing in the Armenian-Turkish relations. The meetings
are unofficial and take place on the level of NGOs.
Expert of the Turkish TESEF organization, engaged in international
political programs, Aybars Gorgulu told "Radiolur" that much
propaganda and work is needed for the opening of the border, because
the Turkish society is not united in its attitude towards the warming
of Armenian-Turkish relations.
Aibash Gyorgulu presented his book titled "Turkish-Armenian Relations:
The Vicious Circle." It’s worth mentioning that melting ice is depicted
on the cover of the book. Gorgulu noted that the Armenian-Turkish
relations depend on three important factors: settlement of the Karabakh
issue, opening of the border and recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Agreeing with 95% of what the Turkish expert said, Director of the
Caucasus Institute Alexander Iskandaryan does not think, however,
that the above-mentioned three reasons and the problems deriving from
them are a real obstacle to the improvement of the Armenian-Turkish
relations.
"For example, Syria lays territorial claims to Turkey, but the border
between the two countries is open, and people can move freely. The
Karabakh issue is not a reason, either. Speaking about the improvement
of relations, Armenia does not demand from Turkey to first solve
the problem existing in a third sate, i.e. the Cyprus issue. As for
the Armenian Genocide issue, it will always remain in the minds of
both peoples, but that factor should not be politicized, Alexander
Iskandaryan said.
"The lack of will can be easily explained with uncertainty. Armenians
and Turks do not trust and are afraid of each other," Alexander
Iskandaryan noted. Turkish colleagues told him about a public opinion
poll in Turkey, according to which Turks sometimes think about Armenia
as a country "from sea to sea," which claims Turkish lands and wishes
to invade those.
Experts of both sides realize that the active propaganda should
be constant, because the improvement of relations brings about new
problems. For example, the Turkish villages near the Armenian border
are very poor, and in case the border is opened, they will immediately
try to find job or do business in Armenia. The reactions to these
steps should be predictable.
The second probable issue is connected with mass tourism. The Director
of the Caucasus Institute tells that when traveling to the ruins of
the Armenian capital of Ani, he never saw the word Armenia or Armenian
on any plaque. "I have seen only Kars. I have not seen Van, Erzrum,
Akhtamar, but I have heard in what condition the20Armenian historic
monuments are," Alexander Iskandaryan noted, predicting that Armenian
tourists will not give a calm reaction when they see those facts.