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RICHARD GIRAGOSIAN: TURKEY'S PRO-ISLAMIC REGIME REASON FOR TURKEY-ISRAEL COOL-DOWN
Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Oct 19 2009
A pro-Islamic regime in power in Turkey is the reason for he rapid
cool-down in the Turkish-Israeli relations, Richard Giragosian,
Head of the Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS), told NEWS.am.
According to him, the pro-Islamic regime's efforts to enhance Ankara's
role in the Middle East and in the Islamic World makes cooperation with
Israel unnecessary for Turkey. "The latest developments are striking
evidence of problems in the Turkish-Israeli relations, which is not
at all a new tendency. The situation has reached its climax now,
Ankara does not even want to allow Israel to take part in the NATO
maneuvers in Turkey," Giragosian said. He stressed Turkey is not
seeking a leading role in the Islamic World, nor will it get it even
"with the best will in the world" - at least because of internal
conflicts. "Turkey is not an Islamist state, but pro-Islamic forces
came to power there, which is the cause of internal conflicts. On
the other hand, Turkey can serve as a bridge between parts of the
Islamic World, between Iran and Syria," the expert said. Giragosian
pointed out that the intensifying cooperation between Ankara, Teheran
and Damascus is making Israel "jealous and suspicious."
As regards the prospects for more active Azerbaijani-Israeli
cooperation amid the cool-down between Azerbaijan and Turkey following
the signing of the Armenian-Turkish protocols, Giragosian stressed
that, irrespective of the Turkish factor, Israel has always maintained
close cooperation with both Azerbaijan and Georgia. Considering the
latest developments, this cooperation is likely to intensify. In
this context, responding to a question as to whether Israel will
seek the role of a third player in the region, Giragosian said: "I do
not forecast such developments. First, Russia and United States will
not allow it. Secondly, Israel's regional interests are restricted
to Iran."
As to the possibility of Tel Aviv stopping its diplomatic support for
Turkey's policy of denying the Armenian Genocide, Girgosian said:
"It is possible, but unlikely. The Turkish factor is not the only
reason for Israel's opposing the international recognition of the
Armenian Genocide - it is jealousy as well. Israel wants the Holocaust
to remain, as it were, the Jewish people's exclusive tragedy."
Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Oct 19 2009
A pro-Islamic regime in power in Turkey is the reason for he rapid
cool-down in the Turkish-Israeli relations, Richard Giragosian,
Head of the Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS), told NEWS.am.
According to him, the pro-Islamic regime's efforts to enhance Ankara's
role in the Middle East and in the Islamic World makes cooperation with
Israel unnecessary for Turkey. "The latest developments are striking
evidence of problems in the Turkish-Israeli relations, which is not
at all a new tendency. The situation has reached its climax now,
Ankara does not even want to allow Israel to take part in the NATO
maneuvers in Turkey," Giragosian said. He stressed Turkey is not
seeking a leading role in the Islamic World, nor will it get it even
"with the best will in the world" - at least because of internal
conflicts. "Turkey is not an Islamist state, but pro-Islamic forces
came to power there, which is the cause of internal conflicts. On
the other hand, Turkey can serve as a bridge between parts of the
Islamic World, between Iran and Syria," the expert said. Giragosian
pointed out that the intensifying cooperation between Ankara, Teheran
and Damascus is making Israel "jealous and suspicious."
As regards the prospects for more active Azerbaijani-Israeli
cooperation amid the cool-down between Azerbaijan and Turkey following
the signing of the Armenian-Turkish protocols, Giragosian stressed
that, irrespective of the Turkish factor, Israel has always maintained
close cooperation with both Azerbaijan and Georgia. Considering the
latest developments, this cooperation is likely to intensify. In
this context, responding to a question as to whether Israel will
seek the role of a third player in the region, Giragosian said: "I do
not forecast such developments. First, Russia and United States will
not allow it. Secondly, Israel's regional interests are restricted
to Iran."
As to the possibility of Tel Aviv stopping its diplomatic support for
Turkey's policy of denying the Armenian Genocide, Girgosian said:
"It is possible, but unlikely. The Turkish factor is not the only
reason for Israel's opposing the international recognition of the
Armenian Genocide - it is jealousy as well. Israel wants the Holocaust
to remain, as it were, the Jewish people's exclusive tragedy."