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  • Interview on Yerkir's web site

    Interview on Yerkir's web site

    Yerkir/arm
    February 04, 2005

    The Yerkir online has initiated a series of interviews with
    politicians, statesmen and public figures. You can address your
    questions to them by visiting www.yerkir.am.

    Between January 24 and 31, questions were addressed to Kiro Manoyan,
    the director of the ARF Bureau's Central Hai Dat Office. Below is an
    excerpt of that interview. The full interview will be posted on the
    site on February 7.

    Sargis.- What do you think Turkey's place is in the new US plan of
    the Greater Middle East, and is it possible that the US would take
    steps for an Armenian-Turkish reconciliation or at least a dialogue?

    Kiro Manoyan.- First it should be noted that the US plan of the Greater
    Middle East is still in the stage of elaboration, and the initial
    plans and perceptions could be changed depending on what the real
    players would do. However, it is apparent that Turkey's role will be
    changed according to the American understanding of the Greater Middle
    East. In the military aspect, due to its negative stance in the Iraq
    issue, Turkey has already become less important than it was before the
    Iraq war, though even today, the Americans are trying to use Turkey's
    territory and military infrastructure for their "war on terror."

    Regardless of the American plan for the Greater Middle East, the United
    Sates have a goal of normalizing the relations between Armenia and
    Turkey due to other concerns, one of them being the reduction of the
    Russian influence in the South Caucasus. If Turkey is no more seen
    as a threat to Armenia, the American strategists say there will be
    less need for the Russian troops in Armenia. Due to this and other
    reasons, the US is trying to normalize the relations between Armenia
    and Turkey, seeing the opening of the border as a first step.

    Shamil Rashidov, Istanbul. Given that Armenia is not going to drop
    the Armenian Genocide claim and Turkey is not going to recognize it,
    is it possible to find some solution in the middle to satisfy both
    sides. If yes, what in your opinion are the solutions and when can
    they be reached?

    K.M. - Armenia is not going to and cannot drop the â~@~Genocide
    claim,â~@~] because Turkey closed the border and refused to
    establish diplomatic relations with Armenia when it was ruled by an
    administration which did insist on the Armenian Genocide issue in
    the international arena and especially before Turkey.

    This means that Turkey has proved that it expects from Armenia to
    completely forget its history because Turkey is not satisfied by
    merely not raising the issue in the international arena: however, no
    Armenian administration that considers itself to be really Armenian,
    will do that.

    The truth has no middle way; it is not a subject for a bargain. A
    middle way can be only considered in terms of the future plans and
    only after the truth has been admitted. Turkey cannot avoid its history
    forever, it will recognize the Armenian Genocide sooner or later.

    Aram. - Taking into account that the official Turkish history denies
    the Armenian Genocide, do you think a dialogue with historians denying
    the Genocide is possible?

    K.M. - A so-called dialogue between the Armenian and Turkish historians
    is largely dangerous because it would mean the disagreement over the
    Armenian Genocide is only between the historians.

    A great number of non-Armenian historians and genocide experts admit
    that the Armenian Genocide is the first genocide of the 20th century.

    Any dialogue between historians â~@~S even with those who admit
    the fact of the Genocide â~@~S would reduce the issue to an
    Armenian-Turkish dispute over history.



    --Boundary_(ID_98m1vrqU/LWfsaO30/gmDw)--
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