Author: Vasilian Manouk

TURKISH-ARMENIAN RELATIONS: TO BE FAIR AND RESPONSIBLE

RIA Novosti
17:1927/04/2010

By Huseyin Bagci, Professor of International Relations at Middle East
Technical University, Ankara; TV and Radio Commentator in Turkey and
а columnist for The New Anatolian

Turkish-Armenian relations entered a new stage last October. The main
question now is how far these two countries can go hand in hand under
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davudoglu’s foreign policy principle
of "zero problems with the neighboring countries." Of the total ten
neighbors that Turkey has, the Armenian border is the only one that
has remained closed since the early 1990s. Previously, the border
was open, until Turkey decided it had enough reason to close it,
thus reacting to the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenian troops
and the ensuing exodus of thousands of Azerbaijani nationals from the
region. From the very first moments of the conflict Turkey adopted a
pro-Azerbaijani stance, which remains unchanged at present. However,
there is a question: what Turkey intends to do in the context of its
"zero problems with the neighboring countries" policy?

Turkey is undoubtedly facing a dilemma. On the one hand, it has assumed
international commitments when on October 10, 2009 it signed the
Armenia-Turkey Protocols in front of not only the world’s major powers
but also the entire international community. Also, the reality is that
that the international community has been following with great interest
Turkey’s policy and strategy, particularly in the last 8 years.

Turkey has a government that holds an absolute majority in the
parliament, a president who kick-started the process in his personal
diplomatic effort two years ago, and a prime minister who has been
surprising both friends and "enemies" with his statements. There is a
"new Turkey," as some experts claim, and it is crucial to dispel the
fear of Turkey held by the neighboring countries. We can already see
that our relations with Bulgaria, Greece, Iran and Syria have turned
from enmity to friendship within a decade.

But why is it so difficult for Turkish politicians to sign and ratify
the protocols that are a real milestone in Turkish-Armenian relations,
both diplomatically and politically?

As it stands, the answer lies in Baku, not in Ankara. The widely
accepted view in Turkey is that it should support Azerbaijan under
any circumstances. This has been the case since Azerbaijan gained
independence, and it is Turkey’s state policy. But the Tayyip Erdogan
government claims to be different from the previous governments in
many areas. Is it really true? In theory, yes. But there are also
some critics among Turkish experts who say that Turkish foreign
policy has become hostage to Azerbaijan and has lost the freedom it
has in other cases. There is a new policy in both countries because
the main players have changed. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
is an experienced politician, who plays on Turkey’s neighbor status
to use the muscle that Turkey has as a regional power to carry out
its policy towards Armenia. The problem is, therefore, that Turkey is
not a directly involved party in this conflict and President Aliyev
knows this. Turkey also knows that it doesn’t play the main role
in this conflict. Given this, why does Turkey feel obliged to side
with Azerbaijan? Is it the "two states – one nation" approach that
is forcing Turkey to remain a hostage of Azerbaijani politics?

The fact is that Armenia today needs Turkey more than ever before and
Turkey needs Armenia just as much. Opening the border would not mean
that Turkey has changed sides and has turned "against Azerbaijan." On
the contrary, opening the border would expand horizons and bring
a new vision to both countries. It is impossible to explain to the
international community and other neighboring countries why the border
remains closed. Opening the border would bring thousands of people
together, the regional economy would flourish and Armenia would be
able to open itself to the world much faster via Turkey. It was late
president Turgut Ozal in the 1980s who proposed closer relations
with Armenia and was instrumental to opening the border. He invited
Armenia to participate in Black Sea Cooperation with Azerbaijan in 1992
to create a forum for both countries. In the wake of a devastating
earthquake that Armenia suffered in late 1980s, it was his decision
for Turkey to send trains with food and other aid to Armenia.

In fact, Turkey has been interested for decades in having close
relations with Armenia. Now Turkey has asked Armenia to be patient
with the process. The recent visits of Foreign Undersecretary Feridun
Sinirlioglu to Yerevan and Baku and last week’s visit by Turkish
foreign minister to Baku could be viewed as "political therapy"
towards Azerbaijan, explaining why Turkey should open the Armenian
border. It seems that Turkey is trying to convince the Azerbaijani
president, but he is not moving one inch from his position. The
response could be, "Why should he?" He is aware of Turkey’s major
weakness and the strength of Turkish nationalism in matters of domestic
politics. However, in the face of history he appears to be the obstacle
to Davudoglu’s "zero problem policy."

What should be expected next? Not the genocide debate popping up
randomly these days. President Obama is not going to touch upon the
genocide issue, although this is what the Armenian diaspora expects.

Too much is at stake between Turkey and the United States. However,
time is also running out for the Turkish government. In one year,
Turkey will hold general elections. It is not certain whether the
Justice and Development Party will remain in power, which means the
protocols should be ratified by the Turkish parliament as soon as
possible, if the "zero problem policy" is to be implemented under
this government.

Turkey’s foreign policy has changed without losing track of the main
principle, which is to stay in the West and with the West. In order
to achieve this Turkey should deliver on the promise it made last year.

To blame Armenia would not help Turkey. Turkey took the lead in
this effort and should bring it to conclusion. Whether Azerbaijan
is unhappy with this is a different problem. But history is forcing
Turkey to take action in this process despite the opposition of
Azerbaijan. Turkey cannot fail to open its borders, as it will take
the relations between the two countries to a new social, political,
diplomatic and even psychological (the genocide debate) stage. In
short, Turkey is expected to open the borders because it has promised
to the world to do so. Turkey does not have the luxury to be "unfair"
to its small neighboring country while being "fair" to all its other
neighbors. The visit of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to Turkey in
two weeks’ time could prove helpful in resolving this issue. From the
historical point of view, Turkey is obliged to open the borders and
to be fair at home and abroad, including in its relations with Armenia.

ARMENIA STOPS TO REMEMBER 1915 MASSACRE
Tamsin Carlisle

The National
rticle?AID=/20100426/FOREIGN/704259878/1135
April 26 2010
UAE

Armenia’s president Serzh Sarkistan, centre right, his wife Rita
and the Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II attend the ceremony
marking the anniversary. Davit Hakobyan / AFP / Panarmenian Photo

YEREVAN // It nearly always rains on April 24, say residents of
the Armenian capital who host an annual pilgrimage of hundreds of
thousands of their countrymen and international visitors to a monument
on a hilltop overlooking the city.

The pilgrims come to pay respect to the victims of mass killings of
Armenians by Ottoman Turks, as Armenia marks its Remembrance Day as
a solemn anniversary of the beginning of the 1915 massacre.

True to form, the overcast sky on Saturday contributed bone-chilling
drizzle to the sombre mood of the massacre’s 95th anniversary. This
failed to deter rain-soaked visitors from depositing a mass of red and
white flowers in the inner sanctum of the starkly sculpted monument.

Most of those paying tribute bore umbrellas. A few carried banners
with messages such as "Nobody and nothing will be forgotten!"

One elderly woman stood by the "eternal flame" at the monument’s
heart while holding a placard featuring a portrait of Hrant Dink. The
Turkish-Armenian newspaper editor was murdered in Istanbul in 2007
after criticising the Turkish government’s denial of the massacre and
the Armenian diaspora’s campaign for its international recognition as
"genocide". The placard’s slogan "1.5 million + 1" referred in turn
to the 1.5 million Armenians whom historians estimate were killed
nearly a century ago and Dink’s alleged assassination at the hands
of Ogun Samast, 17, a Turkish nationalist.

The steady stream of international dignitaries, ordinary Armenian
citizens and diaspora visitors who filed past the flame during the
24-hour remembrance period underscored the depth of feeling still
stirred by the memory of the genocide itself and Turkey’s refusal to
recognise it.

On the equally rainy eve of the commemoration, thousands of
torch-bearing demonstrators in Yerevan streamed uphill on an annual
eight-kilometre march to the monument. They chanted "Janavin!" –
Armenian for "recognition".

"This is a huge part of history that the world should recognise,"
said Zak Valladian, 31, a Dubai-born Armenian from the diaspora who
moved back to Yerevan last year.

Mr Valladian, who made an annual Remembrance Day pilgrimage to Yerevan
while living in the UAE, said Armenians from the republic regard
the commemoration differently from their diaspora cousins. "Before,
I was angry. But here, it’s a way to celebrate that we are still here,
and hopefully will soon get some closure."

To date, 18 countries, of which Russia, Cyprus and Lebanon are
geographically the closest to Armenia, have recognised the killings
as genocide. Sweden was the latest, after its parliament narrowly
passed a resolution on the issue in March.

The US president, Barack Obama, promised during his 2008 election
campaign to refer to the Armenian genocide as such.

For the past two years, however, he has stopped short of that. On
Saturday, Mr Obama again described the slaughter as "one of the worst
atrocities of the 20th century", referring to it as "Meds Yeghern",
an Armenian phrase usually translated as "Great Crime" or "Great
Catastrophe".

"The indomitable spirit of the Armenian people is a lasting triumph
over those who set out to destroy them," Mr Obama added in a statement.

Turkey, which closed its border with Armenia in 1993, has warned
Washington of diplomatic repercussions if the US Congress passes a
resolution to brand the incident a genocide.

The full House of Representatives has yet to schedule a vote.

In an address to the nation, the Armenian president, Serzh Sarkisian,
described the mass slaying as "unprecedented in its scope, monstrosity
and graveness of its consequences".

"We are grateful to all those in many countries, including Turkey,
who understand the importance of averting crimes against humanity,"
he said.

Remembrance Day is a public holiday in Armenia, and most shops and
restaurants are closed until 1pm. As businesses were starting to open
in Yerevan, the sun broke through the clouds.

BAKU POGROMS OF ARMENIANS TO BE RAISED AT PACE SESSION

news.am
April 26 2010
Armenia

Armenian parliamentary delegation left for Strasburg to participate in
PACE spring session on April 26. No issues regarding Armenia are on the
agenda, however Armenian MPs will take active part in the discussions.

In particular, delegation member Naira Zohrabyan (Prosperous Armenia)
will touch upon pogroms of Armenians in Baku in January, 1990 in a
report covering role of women in conflicting and post-conflicting
regions.

Armenian and Azerbaijani MPs scheduled to meet with PACE President
Mevlut Cavusoglu to discuss the appointment of PACE co-rapporteur
on Nagorno-Karabakh.

SOS SARGSYAN: WE FAILED TO MAKE GENOCIDE A UNIVERSAL PAIN

PanARMENIAN.Net –
April 26, 2010 – 13:43 AMT 08:43 GMT

We failed to make the Armenian Genocide a universal pain, what
is partially explained by Soviet Union’s attitude to the issue,
according to renowned Armenian actor Sos Sargsyan.

Commenting on the role of art for the Genocide recognition, Sos
Sargsyan emphasized that "the great power of art is capable of forming
mentalities, advancing international recognition of Genocide."

ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS REMAIN IN THE "BIG AGENDA" OF THE ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT.
By YerevanReporter

AllVoices
m/contributed-news/5683450-armenianturkish-protoco ls-remain-in-the-big-agenda-of-the-armenian-parlia ment
April 26 2010

Armenian-Turkish protocols remain in the big agenda of the Armenian
Parliament, said today in Yerevan chairman Natsionalnogo Assembly of
Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan.

He noted that the documents removed from the agenda of plenary
meetings. In an interview with reporters deputy Viktor Dallakyan noted
that protocols, thus found themselves in limbo and the Parliament
may at any time to return to the resumption of the ratification
procedures as directed by the president. According to him, the reason
for the withdrawal of documents from the plenary agenda could serve
as a presidential decree on suspension of the ratification procedure
protocols, as well as a statement of the ruling political coalition.

COMMEMORATION AT THE ARMENIA MARTY’S MONUMENT IN MONTEBELLO

Tert.am
26.04.10

With collaborative efforts by the Armenian Genocide United
Commemorative Committee and various Armenian organizations, the 95th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide remembrance ceremony on April 24,
featured notable elected officials, community leaders, advocates and
the Armenian Archbishops along with the clergy.

Highlighting the event were speakers Congressman Adam Schiff,
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Assembly Majority Leader
Charles Calderon and Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krikorian
and many others.

"Its important that we join together as a community and collaborate,"
said Lena Manoukian, Board Member of the Armenian Council of America.

"We have many important decision makers here in attendance and there
presence is testament that justice will prevail and we are getting
closer and closer to passage of Armenian Genocide legislation,"
she added.

Majority Leader Charles Calderon, who spearheaded the movement to
place the "Armenian Genocide Marty’s Monument" sign on Highway Route
60, discussed the importance of the Armenian Genocide recognition and
assured those in attendance that the people in his district support
the Armenian Cause.

"It’s a matter of unmistakable fact, it’s a question of principle,
not a matter of debate," said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
when referring to the Armenian Genocide. He expressed his honor to
be a part of the ceremony and acknowledged those in attendance.

Before Congressman Adam Schiff took the stage, master of ceremonies
Osheen Keshishian read a letter written by the Congressman on April
22 addressed to President Obama urging him to "properly characterize
the murder of 1.5 million men, women and children as ‘genocide’" in
his April 24 address on the issue which Obama failed to do earlier
in the day during his address.

Congressman Schiff stated that by refusing to use the proper term
and recognize what happened 95 years as Genocide the United States
looses moral ground when dealing with human rights issues along with
Genocide in the world today.

"We will continue to fight; we will prevail for the proper
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, because we have the strongest
moral imperative to do so for the memory of the victims and for the
survivors to see justice done in their name."

Riccardo Migliori: Europe urges Turkey to admit its mistakes

April 24, 2010 – 15:29 AMT 10:29 GMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

The Armenian community of Italy organizes Armenian Genocide memorial
events every year and Italians also take part in them, Italian
Ambassador to RA Bruno Scapini said.

`Italy was one of the first countries to condemn the Armenian
Genocide. We stand for international recognition and condemnation of
the Genocide to prevent similar crimes in future,’ Amb. Scapini told
reporters in Tsitsernakaberd on April 24.

Head of the Italian delegation to OSCE PA, Mr. Riccardo Migliori said
for his part, `The 1915 events refer not only to Armenia-Turkey
relations but to the entire mankind.’

Commenting on Turkey’s possible accession to the EU without
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Mr. Migliori said that Europe
urges Turkey to admit its mistakes.

Des milliers d’Arméniens marquent le 95e anniversaire du génocide (AP)

ARMENIE

samedi24 avril 2010, par Stéphane/armenews
Plusieurs centaines de milliers d’Arméniens ont déposé samedi des
fleurs sur un monument dédié aux victimes des tueries perpétrées sous
l’Empire ottoman, marquant le 95e anniversaire du génocide arménien.

Les historiens estiment que jusqu’à 1,5 million d’Arméniens ont été
tués entre 1915 et 1917 par les Turcs de l’Empire ottoman. La Turquie
affirme que ces massacres ne constituent pas un génocide, que leur
bilan a été exagéré, et que ceux qui sont morts ont été victimes d’un
conflit civil.

Les habitants d’Erevan et d’autres régions du pays, ainsi que des
représentants de la diaspora arménienne, se sont rendus jusqu’à un
monument situé sur une colline surplombant la capitale. Certains
brandissaient des banderoles sur lesquelles on pouvait notamment lire
: "Personne et rien ne sera oublié".

En s’adressant à la nation, le président arménien Serge Sarkissian a
qualifié ce massacre de "sans précédent dans son envergure, sa
monstruosité et la gravité de ses conséquences". AP

Obama dénonce le génocide arménien sans prononcer le mot

USA

dimanche25 avril 2010, par Stéphane/armenews

Le président américain Barack Obama a marqué samedi le 95e
anniversaire du massacre des Arméniens par l’Empire ottoman, dénonçant
"l’une des pires atrocités" du XXe siècle sans toutefois aller jusqu’à
prononcer le mot de "génocide" qui fche la Turquie.

Ankara a pourtant critiqué cette déclaration, accusant les Etats-Unis
d’ingérence "aux motivations politiques" dans ses relations avec
Erevan.

Quand il était candidat à la législature suprême, M. Obama avait à
plusieurs reprises promis de qualifier cet épisode de génocide, mais
depuis qu’il a prêté serment à la Maison Blanche en janvier 2009, il
s’y est déjà refusé par deux fois, bien qu’il affirme ne pas avoir
changé d’avis.

Les historiens estiment que jusqu’à 1,5 million d’Arméniens ont été
tués entre 1915 et 1917 par les Turcs de l’Empire ottoman. La Turquie
affirme que ces massacres ne constituent pas un génocide, que leur
bilan a été exagéré, et que ceux qui sont morts ont été victimes d’un
conflit civil. Le 19 janvier 2008, le candidat Obama avait déclaré :
"Je reconnaîtrai le génocide arménien."

Mais dans sa déclaration publiée samedi, le président Obama s’en tient
à "un chapitre dévastateur de l’histoire du peuple arménien" et "l’une
des pires atrocités du XXe siècle". "Nous devons en conserver vivante
la mémoire en honneur à ceux qui ont été tués et de façon à ce que
nous ne répétions pas les graves erreurs du passé", écrit-il.

Reconnaître le génocide risquerait de nuire aux efforts de Washington
pour renforcer ses relations avec la Turquie, membre de l’OTAN et
allié crucial des Etats-Unis dans la région. Barack Obama a cependant
assuré samedi que son opinion sur le massacre des Arméniens n’avait
pas varié depuis la campagne présidentielle.

"J’ai constamment exprimé ma vision personnelle de ce qui s’est passé
en 1915 et ma vision de cette histoire n’a pas changé", a-t-il
expliqué, jugeant qu’"il est de notre intérêt à tous de veiller à ce
que l’on parvienne à une reconnaissance complète, franche et juste des
faits". Il a également salué "les Turcs qui ont sauvé des Arméniens en
1915", appelant Turcs et Arméniens à "admettre leur histoire commune
et reconnaître leur humanité commune".

La Maison Blanche avait échoué en mars à empêcher la commission des
Affaires étrangères de la Chambre des représentants d’adopter une
résolution qualifiant le massacre de génocide. En représailles, la
Turquie avait momentanément rappelé son ambassadeur de Washington.

Ankara a de nouveau exprimé sa colère samedi. "Nous regrettons
profondément cette déclaration (de M. Obama), qui reflète une
perception politique incorrecte et partiale", a fait savoir le
ministère turc des Affaires étrangères. "Les plus grands ennemis des
faits historiques sont les souvenirs subjectifs", a-t-il poursuivi,
estimant qu’"aucun pays n’a le droit d’imposer ses souvenirs à un
autre pays" et que "les pays tiers n’ont ni le droit, ni l’autorité de
juger l’histoire des relations turco-arméniennes avec des motivations
politiques".

Ankara et Erevan ont signé des accords de réconciliation prévoyant le
rétablissement des relations diplomatiques et la réouverture de la
frontière en octobre mais ces textes attendent toujours l’approbation
des parlements. La Turquie a fermé sa frontière en 1993 pour protester
contre l’occupation par des troupes arméniennes du Haut-Karabakh,
enclave à majorité arménienne d’Azerbaïdjan.
d

Commemoration ceremony on 95th anniversary of Armenian Genocide held in Moscow

YEREVAN, APRIL 24, ARMENPRESS: Commemoration ceremony of the victims
of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 was held today in Moscow, near the
cross-stone erected in the territory of a church, which is currently
under construction.

Armenpress’s reporter to Moscow informed that the staff of the
Armenian embassy to Russia, headed by RA Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to Russia Oleg Yesayan, as well as members of the
Armenians Union of Russia and the President of the union Ara
Abrahamyan, representatives of Armenian NGOs of Russia and a lot of
Armenians living in Moscow attended today’s ceremony of putting a
wreath on the cross-stone.

During the ceremony the Holy Liturgy was served for the repose of the
souls of the victims of the Genocide. Leader of the Russian and
Nor-Nahichevan Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church His Holiness
bishop Ezras addressed a speech at the ceremony.