ARMENIAN PROTESTERS CONDEMN TURKISH THAW
Hasmik Lazarian
Reuters
April 23 2009
UK
YEREVAN, April 23 (Reuters) – Protesters in Armenia burned a Turkish
flag and condemned moves to normalise relations with Ankara on Thursday
during a traditional march to recall the 1915 mass killing of Armenians
by Ottoman Turks.
Several thousand protesters, mainly supporters of a nationalist junior
partner in the government, held their annual protest march through
the capital holding flaming torches on the eve of the national
commemoration of the World War One killings, which Armenia says
was genocide.
Turkey and Armenia announced they had agreed on a road map to normalise
ties — believed to include the opening of their border — in a step
that would boost Turkey’s relations with the EU and United States
but could upset its oil-producing ally Azerbaijan.
In a small sign of backlash, the protesters’ party — the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (ARF) — said it would reconsider its
participation in government if the deal goes ahead without Turkey
recognising the killings as genocide.
"I am categorically against establishing relations with Turkey,
because Turkey hasn’t even asked forgiveness for the genocide,"
said 64-year-old Armenian-American Bella Grigorian.
Analysts say the protesters represent a minority in Armenia, where
they say most people support the opening of the border in the hope
it will improve trade and help isolated and landlocked Armenia fight
the effects of the global economic crisis.
GENOCIDE MEMORIAL
But the 1915 killings remain a defining element in Armenian national
identity, and thousands are expected to lay flowers on Friday at the
Genocide Memorial in Yerevan.
Turkey accepts that many Christian Armenians were killed by Ottoman
Turks but denies that up to 1.5 million died in what amounted to
genocide, and says many Muslims also died.
Protesters on Thursday carried banners calling for "Recognition,
Restitution, Remembrance."
Others read: "1.5 million deaths will never be forgiven."
The ARF condemned the announced deal without Turkish recognition of
the killings as genocide, and said it would consider pulling out of
the government over the coming days.
"The release of the statement at this time and in these circumstances
is a blow to the interests of Armenia and the Armenian people,"
it said.
The ARF has 16 seats in the 131-seat parliament. The government would
still hold a majority without its support.