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CANCELLATION OF ERDOGAN'S ARGENTINA TRIP IS THE PRICE TURKEY PAYS FOR GENOCIDE
By Harut Sassounian Publisher, The California Courier
Noyan Tapan
Not satisfied with its neo-Ottoman policies of regional domination,
Turkey has decided to extend its influence far and wide, to the four
corners of the globe.
While making inroads into the Islamic world by pretending to
sympathize with Palestinian suffering, Turkey has alienated Israel,
its long-standing political and military partner, and its NATO allies.
Encouraged by his much publicized recent visit to Iran with Brazil's
President, and anxious to counter growing recognition of the Armenian
Genocide by South American countries, Prime Minister Erdogan embarked
last week on his first trip to Argentina, Brazil and Chile.
In paving the way for that visit, Turkey's Ambassador in Argentina had
worked diligently with local officials to allow Erdogan, accompanied
by seven ministers and 300 businessmen, to inaugurate the installation
of Kemal Ataturk's bust in a major Buenos Aires park.
ã~@~@ In response to the Turkish Ambassador's lobbying efforts,
the local Armenian community launched a counter-attack, placing paid
announcements in two major newspapers and asking Buenos Aires City
officials not to honor Ataturk, blaming him for continuing the genocide
initiated by the previous Young Turk regime. Armenians also objected
to Erdogan's visit, accusing him of heading a denialist government.
ã~@~@ Buenos Aires officials responded positively to Armenian concerns,
because of long-standing cordial ties with the local community.
Moreover, in recent years, the city government had published two
textbooks on the Armenian Genocide, which are used in city schools.
Importantly, these books include references to Ataturk's role in
continuing the genocidal activities of his predecessors.
ã~@~@ Ultimately, what caused the collapse of the Turkish scheme
was the discovery that Turkey's Ambassador had attempted to deceive
Buenos Aires City officials. He had falsely claimed that he was
merely requesting permission to replace Ataturk's bust, which had
been supposedly missing for several years. The Ambassador had asked
for a prompt decision from city officials in order to have Ataturk's
bust unveiled during Prime Minster's visit to Argentina on May 31.
ã~@~@ Upon review of the Turkish Ambassador's demands, Buenos Aires
officials discovered that there had never been a bust of Ataturk in
that park. The missing bust actually was that of a well-known Egyptian
human rights activist. Argentina's large Arab community was extremely
unhappy learning that the Turkish Ambassador, using false pretenses,
was trying to replace their beloved hero's missing bust with that
of Ataturk.
ã~@~@ Turkey's envoy must have intentionally misrepresented the facts,
knowing full well that city officials would not agree to pass a law
allowing the installation of Ataturk's bust. The Ambassador tried to
trick them by requesting a permit simply to replace the "missing" bust.
ã~@~@ When Erdogan found out that there would not be an installation
of Ataturk's bust, he asked Argentina's President Cristina Kirchner
to overrule city officials. However, Kirchner explained that she
was not empowered to take such action, because Buenos Aires had an
autonomous government and any attempt to interfere in local matters
would violate Argentina's democratic constitution.
ã~@~@ Despite the fact that Erdogan is an Islamist and not an Ataturk
admirer, he had no choice but to defend "the honor" of Turkey's revered
founder and national hero. Otherwise, the Prime Minister would have
come under severe attack back home from Turkish nationalists and
the powerful military. Recent polls show that his party (AKP), for
the first time since coming to power, has fallen slightly behind the
opposition Kemalist Party (CHP), which could spell trouble for the
Prime Minister in next year's parliamentary elections. Under these
circumstances, Erdogan was forced to cancel his much-touted trip
to Argentina, after visiting Brazil. Not surprisingly, the Turkish
foreign ministry angrily denounced the Armenian community of Argentina
for undermining Prime Minister's critical visit.
ã~@~@ This is the first time that the Prime Minister of Turkey has been
forced to cancel an overseas trip due to the vigilance of an Armenian
community. Argentinean-Armenians must be commended for their effective
activism. Armenian communities worldwide should follow their footsteps
by taking legally appropriate actions to cause cancellation of visits
by Turkish officials, annulment of military and commercial contracts,
and disruption of diplomatic relations with Turkey, including the
recall of its ambassadors.
ã~@~@ Turkey's leaders should be constantly reminded of the massive
crimes committed by their predecessors. As long as the Turkish
government does not acknowledge the Armenian Genocide and make
appropriate amends, it should be made to pay a heavy political and
economic price for years to come!
From: A. Papazian
By Harut Sassounian Publisher, The California Courier
Noyan Tapan
Not satisfied with its neo-Ottoman policies of regional domination,
Turkey has decided to extend its influence far and wide, to the four
corners of the globe.
While making inroads into the Islamic world by pretending to
sympathize with Palestinian suffering, Turkey has alienated Israel,
its long-standing political and military partner, and its NATO allies.
Encouraged by his much publicized recent visit to Iran with Brazil's
President, and anxious to counter growing recognition of the Armenian
Genocide by South American countries, Prime Minister Erdogan embarked
last week on his first trip to Argentina, Brazil and Chile.
In paving the way for that visit, Turkey's Ambassador in Argentina had
worked diligently with local officials to allow Erdogan, accompanied
by seven ministers and 300 businessmen, to inaugurate the installation
of Kemal Ataturk's bust in a major Buenos Aires park.
ã~@~@ In response to the Turkish Ambassador's lobbying efforts,
the local Armenian community launched a counter-attack, placing paid
announcements in two major newspapers and asking Buenos Aires City
officials not to honor Ataturk, blaming him for continuing the genocide
initiated by the previous Young Turk regime. Armenians also objected
to Erdogan's visit, accusing him of heading a denialist government.
ã~@~@ Buenos Aires officials responded positively to Armenian concerns,
because of long-standing cordial ties with the local community.
Moreover, in recent years, the city government had published two
textbooks on the Armenian Genocide, which are used in city schools.
Importantly, these books include references to Ataturk's role in
continuing the genocidal activities of his predecessors.
ã~@~@ Ultimately, what caused the collapse of the Turkish scheme
was the discovery that Turkey's Ambassador had attempted to deceive
Buenos Aires City officials. He had falsely claimed that he was
merely requesting permission to replace Ataturk's bust, which had
been supposedly missing for several years. The Ambassador had asked
for a prompt decision from city officials in order to have Ataturk's
bust unveiled during Prime Minster's visit to Argentina on May 31.
ã~@~@ Upon review of the Turkish Ambassador's demands, Buenos Aires
officials discovered that there had never been a bust of Ataturk in
that park. The missing bust actually was that of a well-known Egyptian
human rights activist. Argentina's large Arab community was extremely
unhappy learning that the Turkish Ambassador, using false pretenses,
was trying to replace their beloved hero's missing bust with that
of Ataturk.
ã~@~@ Turkey's envoy must have intentionally misrepresented the facts,
knowing full well that city officials would not agree to pass a law
allowing the installation of Ataturk's bust. The Ambassador tried to
trick them by requesting a permit simply to replace the "missing" bust.
ã~@~@ When Erdogan found out that there would not be an installation
of Ataturk's bust, he asked Argentina's President Cristina Kirchner
to overrule city officials. However, Kirchner explained that she
was not empowered to take such action, because Buenos Aires had an
autonomous government and any attempt to interfere in local matters
would violate Argentina's democratic constitution.
ã~@~@ Despite the fact that Erdogan is an Islamist and not an Ataturk
admirer, he had no choice but to defend "the honor" of Turkey's revered
founder and national hero. Otherwise, the Prime Minister would have
come under severe attack back home from Turkish nationalists and
the powerful military. Recent polls show that his party (AKP), for
the first time since coming to power, has fallen slightly behind the
opposition Kemalist Party (CHP), which could spell trouble for the
Prime Minister in next year's parliamentary elections. Under these
circumstances, Erdogan was forced to cancel his much-touted trip
to Argentina, after visiting Brazil. Not surprisingly, the Turkish
foreign ministry angrily denounced the Armenian community of Argentina
for undermining Prime Minister's critical visit.
ã~@~@ This is the first time that the Prime Minister of Turkey has been
forced to cancel an overseas trip due to the vigilance of an Armenian
community. Argentinean-Armenians must be commended for their effective
activism. Armenian communities worldwide should follow their footsteps
by taking legally appropriate actions to cause cancellation of visits
by Turkish officials, annulment of military and commercial contracts,
and disruption of diplomatic relations with Turkey, including the
recall of its ambassadors.
ã~@~@ Turkey's leaders should be constantly reminded of the massive
crimes committed by their predecessors. As long as the Turkish
government does not acknowledge the Armenian Genocide and make
appropriate amends, it should be made to pay a heavy political and
economic price for years to come!
From: A. Papazian