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VIEW FROM TURKEY: SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES OF COUNTRIES IN THE REGION
Tert
Sept 18 2009
Armenia
The situation of these three countries -- Armenia, Turkey and
Azerbaijan -- is similar in a way. Tert.am's correspondent in Istanbul
recently spoke with a representative of an NGO working in Turkey,
who deals with issues of Armenian-Turkish and Turkish-Greek relations.
According to the NGO representative, who didn't wish to have his name
published, the situation in Armenia and Turkey is more similar.
"Though in terms of the level of democracy, these two countries have
issues, the situation can't be compared with that of Azerbaijan. If
there is pressure in our two countries, if there is the issue of
people imprisoned for their political views, which is unacceptable,
then in Azerbaijan the situation is worse," he said.
According to him, in Azerbaijan there is dictatorship, and cases of
human rights violations and repression are more frequent-- but those
issues simply aren't voiced by the mass media.
"There is opposition in Armenia, which is active, there is political
activity, with which your country differs favourably from its
neighbouring country," he stated.
As for the Nagorno-Karabakh issue in the context of Armenian-Turkish
relations, the NGO representative said that, in Turkey, they have
finally begun to understand that it's difficult to connect the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue with Armenian-Turkish negotiations.
The issue of Nagorno-Karabakh is actively used by the Turkish
opposition, but taking into account Turkey's numerous issues, the
country will have to do its best to settle each problematic issue.
Tert
Sept 18 2009
Armenia
The situation of these three countries -- Armenia, Turkey and
Azerbaijan -- is similar in a way. Tert.am's correspondent in Istanbul
recently spoke with a representative of an NGO working in Turkey,
who deals with issues of Armenian-Turkish and Turkish-Greek relations.
According to the NGO representative, who didn't wish to have his name
published, the situation in Armenia and Turkey is more similar.
"Though in terms of the level of democracy, these two countries have
issues, the situation can't be compared with that of Azerbaijan. If
there is pressure in our two countries, if there is the issue of
people imprisoned for their political views, which is unacceptable,
then in Azerbaijan the situation is worse," he said.
According to him, in Azerbaijan there is dictatorship, and cases of
human rights violations and repression are more frequent-- but those
issues simply aren't voiced by the mass media.
"There is opposition in Armenia, which is active, there is political
activity, with which your country differs favourably from its
neighbouring country," he stated.
As for the Nagorno-Karabakh issue in the context of Armenian-Turkish
relations, the NGO representative said that, in Turkey, they have
finally begun to understand that it's difficult to connect the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue with Armenian-Turkish negotiations.
The issue of Nagorno-Karabakh is actively used by the Turkish
opposition, but taking into account Turkey's numerous issues, the
country will have to do its best to settle each problematic issue.