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THE ROLE OF THE DIASPORA ON ANKARA-YEREVAN RAPPROCHEMENT
Hurriyet
Monday, July 06, 2009 15:25
It has been more than two months since Turkey and Armenia have
announced their agreement on a road map, a key document that was not
yet made public but is supposed to detail the modalities and timetable
of the much-expected normalization process between the two countries.
Due to growing unease in Azerbaijan, Turkey had to declare
that the road map would enter into force Ð open the border and
establish diplomatic ties Ð only after Baku and Yerevan agree on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Recent statements from Baku and Yerevan
indicate that the parties are getting closer to an interim agreement
in months, if not weeks. The issue will also be on the agenda of
U.S. President Barack Obama who will pay an important visit to Moscow
this week. Such an agreement will not only constitute a major step
for stabilizing the entire region but also a relief for Turkey to
save itself from the pressure of Baku.
It is obvious that Turkey will even not lift a finger before an
agreement is reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan. But is it a
correct stance? Wouldn't Turkey use this time to work to prepare a
more suitable environment, inside and outside the country, for the
normalization of ties?
There is a lot to do with his regard. At home, in fact, the government
seems more ready as it is about to launch special television and radio
channels that will broadcast in Armenian under the Turkish Radio and
Television Corporation, or TRT. Distributing free textbooks to the
minority schools is another positive step taken in this regard.
Abroad, however, there are important challenges that Turkey has
to deal, especially when considered that the Armenian diaspora Ð
especially in France and the United States, where the diaspora is
most powerful Ð has not yet been convinced for the historic deal.
Some French officials and experts I had the opportunity to talk to
during a visit to France mid June said that the people of Armenia
were in fact afraid that the diaspora could block the rapprochement
process between Turkey and Armenia.
"To keep the diaspora out of the process is a demand we hear quite
often in Yerevan," an expert stated. "Turkey and France could
co-operate to eliminate this risk in France. Because there is a big
interest for France to deal with this issue. They would be supporting
the process."
It would be considered as a legitimate and realistic concern but do all
members of the diaspora think the same way? "The most vocal Armenian
diaspora is anti-Turkey, anti-rapprochement and super-extremist on
the genocide. But we don't know what the rest is thinking about the
process. Therefore we can't really say what French Armenians do think
about it," said Dorothe~N Schmid, head of the Turkish Studies Program
at French Institute of the International Relations.
That indicates that instead of trying totally keeping the diaspora
out of the process, through dialogue with the moderate groups, they
could be taken within the rapprochement. Of course, Turkey cannot do
it alone; in France it needs the support of French government and in
the United States of both the administration and the influential top
ranking figures, like former politicians, diplomats. In France, it
won't be an easy job. France recognized the alleged genocide in 2000
and tried hard to punish its denial, which still effects bilateral
ties with Turkey. That's why contributing to Ankara-Yerevan process
in a concrete way could also be in the benefit of France. It's not
to our information whether there is a sort of initiative taken by
Turkish Embassy in France, though I have heard that some international
non-governmental organizations and think tanks applied to the embassy
for offering joint projects to this end. Some of them already submitted
projects papers detailing ways!
to help the reconciliation of the peoples of Turkey and Armenia.
My observation is that the embassy should be much more open and
receptive to all different groups of the French society. I don't say
merely just because a request of mine for a meeting at the embassy
was refused but a number of people who are closely watching Turkey
have the similar complaints.
Our embassy would have not much difference than the North Korean
Embassy in Paris if it does not change this behind-closed-doors course.
Hurriyet
Monday, July 06, 2009 15:25
It has been more than two months since Turkey and Armenia have
announced their agreement on a road map, a key document that was not
yet made public but is supposed to detail the modalities and timetable
of the much-expected normalization process between the two countries.
Due to growing unease in Azerbaijan, Turkey had to declare
that the road map would enter into force Ð open the border and
establish diplomatic ties Ð only after Baku and Yerevan agree on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Recent statements from Baku and Yerevan
indicate that the parties are getting closer to an interim agreement
in months, if not weeks. The issue will also be on the agenda of
U.S. President Barack Obama who will pay an important visit to Moscow
this week. Such an agreement will not only constitute a major step
for stabilizing the entire region but also a relief for Turkey to
save itself from the pressure of Baku.
It is obvious that Turkey will even not lift a finger before an
agreement is reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan. But is it a
correct stance? Wouldn't Turkey use this time to work to prepare a
more suitable environment, inside and outside the country, for the
normalization of ties?
There is a lot to do with his regard. At home, in fact, the government
seems more ready as it is about to launch special television and radio
channels that will broadcast in Armenian under the Turkish Radio and
Television Corporation, or TRT. Distributing free textbooks to the
minority schools is another positive step taken in this regard.
Abroad, however, there are important challenges that Turkey has
to deal, especially when considered that the Armenian diaspora Ð
especially in France and the United States, where the diaspora is
most powerful Ð has not yet been convinced for the historic deal.
Some French officials and experts I had the opportunity to talk to
during a visit to France mid June said that the people of Armenia
were in fact afraid that the diaspora could block the rapprochement
process between Turkey and Armenia.
"To keep the diaspora out of the process is a demand we hear quite
often in Yerevan," an expert stated. "Turkey and France could
co-operate to eliminate this risk in France. Because there is a big
interest for France to deal with this issue. They would be supporting
the process."
It would be considered as a legitimate and realistic concern but do all
members of the diaspora think the same way? "The most vocal Armenian
diaspora is anti-Turkey, anti-rapprochement and super-extremist on
the genocide. But we don't know what the rest is thinking about the
process. Therefore we can't really say what French Armenians do think
about it," said Dorothe~N Schmid, head of the Turkish Studies Program
at French Institute of the International Relations.
That indicates that instead of trying totally keeping the diaspora
out of the process, through dialogue with the moderate groups, they
could be taken within the rapprochement. Of course, Turkey cannot do
it alone; in France it needs the support of French government and in
the United States of both the administration and the influential top
ranking figures, like former politicians, diplomats. In France, it
won't be an easy job. France recognized the alleged genocide in 2000
and tried hard to punish its denial, which still effects bilateral
ties with Turkey. That's why contributing to Ankara-Yerevan process
in a concrete way could also be in the benefit of France. It's not
to our information whether there is a sort of initiative taken by
Turkish Embassy in France, though I have heard that some international
non-governmental organizations and think tanks applied to the embassy
for offering joint projects to this end. Some of them already submitted
projects papers detailing ways!
to help the reconciliation of the peoples of Turkey and Armenia.
My observation is that the embassy should be much more open and
receptive to all different groups of the French society. I don't say
merely just because a request of mine for a meeting at the embassy
was refused but a number of people who are closely watching Turkey
have the similar complaints.
Our embassy would have not much difference than the North Korean
Embassy in Paris if it does not change this behind-closed-doors course.