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Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 - 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 - 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website: www.acnis.am
April 22, 2009
ACNIS Holds Seminar on "Armenian-Turkish Diplomacy: An Update"
Yerevan, April 22, 2009--Just two days before the annual April 24
commemoration of the Armenian genocide, the Armenian Center for National and
International Studies (ACNIS) convened a special roundtable seminar
discussion today entitled "Armenian-Turkish Diplomacy: An Update," providing
the latest information regarding the outlook for the current effort to reach
a new "normalization" of Armenian-Turkish relations.
Welcoming the participants and attendees, ACNIS Director Richard Giragosian
introduced the speakers and guests, and noted the presence of noted
prominent Armenian-American historian and scholar Richard G. Hovannisian,
Professor of Armenian and Near Eastern History at the University of
California, Los Angeles. Giragosian also noted that this month's seminar,
devoted to Armenian-Turkish diplomacy and the outlook for the normalization
of relations, reflected one of the most pressing issues in Armenian foreign
policy.
For his part, ACNIS Founder Raffi K. Hovannisian also welcomed the
participants and presented an overview of the issue in broader terms of
regional development, citing the fact that Armenia has always pursued a
policy toward Turkey with no preconditions, but not failing to acknowledge
the burden and legacy of genocide. He further dismissed the recent attempts
by Turkey to artificially link the Karabagh issue to its position toward
Armenia and hailed the irresponsibility of recent Turkish threats to label
Armenia as guilty of occupation of Azerbaijani lands within the United
Nations Security Council.
The discussion featured four main presentations, with ACNIS Director Richard
Giragosian offering an update from his recent visit to Turkey and an
assessment of the current stage of Armenian-Turkish negotiations, Professor
David Hovannisyan, the Director of the Center for Civilization and Cultural
Studies at Yerevan State University, presenting "An Overview of
Armenian-Turkish Relations," Ms. Vercihan Ziflioglu, a reporter with the
Istanbul-based "Hurriyet Daily News," offering her unique perspective on
"Armenian-Turkish Relations: The View from Istanbul," and Ashot Soghomonyan
of Yerevan State University, who offered a concluding "Overview of the
Challenge of Armenian-Turkish Relations."
ACNIS Director Richard Giragosian explained that there was a "prevailing
sense of skepticism" after repeated announcements by Turkish officials
trying to link the Karabagh issue to the Turkish-Armenian normalization
process. He defined this as rooted in the "asymmetry of power" between
Turkey and Armenia and also explained that it seems likely that Turkey had
"changed the course of its policy" toward Armenia, away from its earlier
engagement and has possibly "surrendered to Azerbaijani pressure."
Giragosian went on to say that while "there is still a chance for
normalization, the window of opportunity was narrower than before, with a
possible breakthrough agreement only likely between September and November
of this year." After which, he said, "if the process remains unresolved
into next year, any real chance for normalization would be more vulnerable
to new complications and renewed pressure." He stressed that there were
"three important lessons from the process: the fact that an opening of the
closed border should not be misinterpreted as any kind of reward or gift to
Armenia, as it represents merely the basic minimum of what is expected of
Turkey. Second, there is "no linkage between the normalization process and
the Karabagh issue, and, in fact, Turkey can not and should not have any
direct role in the Karabagh issue or in the OSCE Minsk Group's mediation
effort." Third, Giragosian noted that Armenia has already gained in terms
of a weakening of the earlier Turkish-Azerbaijani policy of "one nation, two
states," and from the deterioration in relations between Ankara and Baku.
Professor David Hovannisyan, a retired senior Armenian diplomat and former
Armenian Ambassador to the Syrian Arab Republic, reflected on his experience
as a member of the former Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission (TARC),
adding that although he remains optimistic over the long term, he was also
pessimistic in the short term. He also stressed three main factors
explaining the timing of the normalization process: the war in Georgia in
August, which speeded up the process; a shift in Turkish policy away from
the Balkans to the Caucasus as a priority, as well as a new impetus in
Turkish-Russian relations; and the election of US President Obama, as a new
catalyst for US policy in support of normalized relations between Armenia
and Turkey.
As an Armenian from Istanbul, Ms. Ziflioglu noted that as a journalist she
expected the borders to be opened, arguing that the world now expected
Turkey to fulfill expectations of progress with Armenia. She also spoke of
her experience as an Armenian growing up in Istanbul, noting the differences
she felt compared to her Turkish classmates and friends. She also called
for a "change in mentality beyond simply opening borders."
Finally, Yerevan State University Professor Ashot Soghomonyan then closed
the seminar by comparing the competing stereotypes held by each side. He
stated that the Armenian perception of the Turk is as "murderer and as a
nation guilty of genocide," while most Turks perceived Armenia in three
different ways: in terms of the terrorism of ASALA in the 1980s, second,
within the context of the ARF, as nationalists, and third, reflecting their
perception of the "dangerous diaspora" that Turkey sees as threatening
Turkey with territorial demands and compensation for the genocide.
Closing the session, parliamentarian and Heritage Party member Stepan
Safarian and ACNIS Senior Analyst Manvel Sargsian then provided concluding
comments, which were then followed by a series of questions and answers, as
well as a lively exchange among many leading Armenian analysts, experts and
journalists.
---------------------------------- -----------------------------------
The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) is a
leading independent strategic research center located in Yerevan, Armenia.
As an independent, objective institution committed to conducting
professional policy research and analysis, ACNIS strives to raise the level
of public debate and seeks to broaden public engagement in the public policy
process, as well as fostering greater and more inclusive public knowledge.
Founded in 1994, ACNIS is the institutional initiative of Raffi K.
Hovannisian, Armenia's first Minister of Foreign Affairs. Over the past
fifteen years, ACNIS has acquired a prominent reputation as a primary source
of professional independent research and analysis covering a wide range of
national and international policy issues.
For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or 27-48-18; fax
(37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected] or [email protected]; or visit
www.acnis.am.
From: Baghdasarian
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 - 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 - 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website: www.acnis.am
April 22, 2009
ACNIS Holds Seminar on "Armenian-Turkish Diplomacy: An Update"
Yerevan, April 22, 2009--Just two days before the annual April 24
commemoration of the Armenian genocide, the Armenian Center for National and
International Studies (ACNIS) convened a special roundtable seminar
discussion today entitled "Armenian-Turkish Diplomacy: An Update," providing
the latest information regarding the outlook for the current effort to reach
a new "normalization" of Armenian-Turkish relations.
Welcoming the participants and attendees, ACNIS Director Richard Giragosian
introduced the speakers and guests, and noted the presence of noted
prominent Armenian-American historian and scholar Richard G. Hovannisian,
Professor of Armenian and Near Eastern History at the University of
California, Los Angeles. Giragosian also noted that this month's seminar,
devoted to Armenian-Turkish diplomacy and the outlook for the normalization
of relations, reflected one of the most pressing issues in Armenian foreign
policy.
For his part, ACNIS Founder Raffi K. Hovannisian also welcomed the
participants and presented an overview of the issue in broader terms of
regional development, citing the fact that Armenia has always pursued a
policy toward Turkey with no preconditions, but not failing to acknowledge
the burden and legacy of genocide. He further dismissed the recent attempts
by Turkey to artificially link the Karabagh issue to its position toward
Armenia and hailed the irresponsibility of recent Turkish threats to label
Armenia as guilty of occupation of Azerbaijani lands within the United
Nations Security Council.
The discussion featured four main presentations, with ACNIS Director Richard
Giragosian offering an update from his recent visit to Turkey and an
assessment of the current stage of Armenian-Turkish negotiations, Professor
David Hovannisyan, the Director of the Center for Civilization and Cultural
Studies at Yerevan State University, presenting "An Overview of
Armenian-Turkish Relations," Ms. Vercihan Ziflioglu, a reporter with the
Istanbul-based "Hurriyet Daily News," offering her unique perspective on
"Armenian-Turkish Relations: The View from Istanbul," and Ashot Soghomonyan
of Yerevan State University, who offered a concluding "Overview of the
Challenge of Armenian-Turkish Relations."
ACNIS Director Richard Giragosian explained that there was a "prevailing
sense of skepticism" after repeated announcements by Turkish officials
trying to link the Karabagh issue to the Turkish-Armenian normalization
process. He defined this as rooted in the "asymmetry of power" between
Turkey and Armenia and also explained that it seems likely that Turkey had
"changed the course of its policy" toward Armenia, away from its earlier
engagement and has possibly "surrendered to Azerbaijani pressure."
Giragosian went on to say that while "there is still a chance for
normalization, the window of opportunity was narrower than before, with a
possible breakthrough agreement only likely between September and November
of this year." After which, he said, "if the process remains unresolved
into next year, any real chance for normalization would be more vulnerable
to new complications and renewed pressure." He stressed that there were
"three important lessons from the process: the fact that an opening of the
closed border should not be misinterpreted as any kind of reward or gift to
Armenia, as it represents merely the basic minimum of what is expected of
Turkey. Second, there is "no linkage between the normalization process and
the Karabagh issue, and, in fact, Turkey can not and should not have any
direct role in the Karabagh issue or in the OSCE Minsk Group's mediation
effort." Third, Giragosian noted that Armenia has already gained in terms
of a weakening of the earlier Turkish-Azerbaijani policy of "one nation, two
states," and from the deterioration in relations between Ankara and Baku.
Professor David Hovannisyan, a retired senior Armenian diplomat and former
Armenian Ambassador to the Syrian Arab Republic, reflected on his experience
as a member of the former Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission (TARC),
adding that although he remains optimistic over the long term, he was also
pessimistic in the short term. He also stressed three main factors
explaining the timing of the normalization process: the war in Georgia in
August, which speeded up the process; a shift in Turkish policy away from
the Balkans to the Caucasus as a priority, as well as a new impetus in
Turkish-Russian relations; and the election of US President Obama, as a new
catalyst for US policy in support of normalized relations between Armenia
and Turkey.
As an Armenian from Istanbul, Ms. Ziflioglu noted that as a journalist she
expected the borders to be opened, arguing that the world now expected
Turkey to fulfill expectations of progress with Armenia. She also spoke of
her experience as an Armenian growing up in Istanbul, noting the differences
she felt compared to her Turkish classmates and friends. She also called
for a "change in mentality beyond simply opening borders."
Finally, Yerevan State University Professor Ashot Soghomonyan then closed
the seminar by comparing the competing stereotypes held by each side. He
stated that the Armenian perception of the Turk is as "murderer and as a
nation guilty of genocide," while most Turks perceived Armenia in three
different ways: in terms of the terrorism of ASALA in the 1980s, second,
within the context of the ARF, as nationalists, and third, reflecting their
perception of the "dangerous diaspora" that Turkey sees as threatening
Turkey with territorial demands and compensation for the genocide.
Closing the session, parliamentarian and Heritage Party member Stepan
Safarian and ACNIS Senior Analyst Manvel Sargsian then provided concluding
comments, which were then followed by a series of questions and answers, as
well as a lively exchange among many leading Armenian analysts, experts and
journalists.
---------------------------------- -----------------------------------
The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) is a
leading independent strategic research center located in Yerevan, Armenia.
As an independent, objective institution committed to conducting
professional policy research and analysis, ACNIS strives to raise the level
of public debate and seeks to broaden public engagement in the public policy
process, as well as fostering greater and more inclusive public knowledge.
Founded in 1994, ACNIS is the institutional initiative of Raffi K.
Hovannisian, Armenia's first Minister of Foreign Affairs. Over the past
fifteen years, ACNIS has acquired a prominent reputation as a primary source
of professional independent research and analysis covering a wide range of
national and international policy issues.
For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or 27-48-18; fax
(37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected] or [email protected]; or visit
www.acnis.am.
From: Baghdasarian