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OPINION: ARMENIAN POLITICAL EXPERT EVALUATES TURKISH-ISRAELI STAND-OFF
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
01.06.10 | 15:59
Analysis
Day-by-day worsening Turkish-Israeli relations will give Armenia
'surface victories', which will have no serious results, says analyst
Ruben Melkonyan, a specialist in Turkish studies and a professor at
Yerevan State University.
"The issue of the Armenian Genocide Recognition may be activated in the
Knesset of Israel, or the Jewish lobby will take a neutral position,
but it will be temporary," Melkonyan told ArmeniaNow.
The Turkish-Israeli tension, launched in 2009, reached its climax on
May 31, when a Turkish vessel (as part of pro-Palestinian aid flotilla)
bound for the Gaza Strip was seized by Israel, as a result of which,
due to preliminary data, 16 people died.
Armenians felt the first results of worsening of relations between
the strategic partners this March, when the Resolution on the Armenian
Genocide was being discussed at the House Committee of the US Congress,
when the Jewish lobby, which previously had opposed such resolution,
did not hinder it, and the resolution passed.
Melkonyan says the Turkish-Israeli clash will be settled, due to the
two nations' strategic partnership, "which cannot be annulled within
one day."
The analyst also foresees some possible threats.
According to Melkonyan, after Israel launched an attack on Turkish
vessels, Turkey took the role of a vanguard to unite the Muslim world,
raising its reputation.
"If the current authorities win in the upcoming general elections 2011
in Turkey, then the policy of Muslim consolidation will continue, and
it will be dangerous for us, resulting in new challenges," Melkonyan
says reminding how Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto,
(assassinated in 2007) appealed to the Muslim world to unite and to
support Azerbaijan against Armenia.
Melkonyan also warns that the anti-Semite moods burst in Turkey
recently may also do harm to the Armenian community in Turkey.
"Usually when some actions are taken against any national minority in
Turkey, other minorities also suffer from it. This happened in 1955,
when during fights against Greeks many Armenian died, Armenian churches
were destroyed, etc.," Melkonyan says.
From: A. Papazian
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
01.06.10 | 15:59
Analysis
Day-by-day worsening Turkish-Israeli relations will give Armenia
'surface victories', which will have no serious results, says analyst
Ruben Melkonyan, a specialist in Turkish studies and a professor at
Yerevan State University.
"The issue of the Armenian Genocide Recognition may be activated in the
Knesset of Israel, or the Jewish lobby will take a neutral position,
but it will be temporary," Melkonyan told ArmeniaNow.
The Turkish-Israeli tension, launched in 2009, reached its climax on
May 31, when a Turkish vessel (as part of pro-Palestinian aid flotilla)
bound for the Gaza Strip was seized by Israel, as a result of which,
due to preliminary data, 16 people died.
Armenians felt the first results of worsening of relations between
the strategic partners this March, when the Resolution on the Armenian
Genocide was being discussed at the House Committee of the US Congress,
when the Jewish lobby, which previously had opposed such resolution,
did not hinder it, and the resolution passed.
Melkonyan says the Turkish-Israeli clash will be settled, due to the
two nations' strategic partnership, "which cannot be annulled within
one day."
The analyst also foresees some possible threats.
According to Melkonyan, after Israel launched an attack on Turkish
vessels, Turkey took the role of a vanguard to unite the Muslim world,
raising its reputation.
"If the current authorities win in the upcoming general elections 2011
in Turkey, then the policy of Muslim consolidation will continue, and
it will be dangerous for us, resulting in new challenges," Melkonyan
says reminding how Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto,
(assassinated in 2007) appealed to the Muslim world to unite and to
support Azerbaijan against Armenia.
Melkonyan also warns that the anti-Semite moods burst in Turkey
recently may also do harm to the Armenian community in Turkey.
"Usually when some actions are taken against any national minority in
Turkey, other minorities also suffer from it. This happened in 1955,
when during fights against Greeks many Armenian died, Armenian churches
were destroyed, etc.," Melkonyan says.
From: A. Papazian