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THE FRENCH IMPASSE IN TURKISH-ARMENIAN RELATIONS
by Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu*
Today's Zaman
Dec 22 2011
Turkey
The most important thing that French President Nicolas Sarkozy
emphasized during a visit to Yerevan in October 2011 was that France
will introduce sanctions against Turkey if it fails to recognize the
Armenian genocide by the end of the year.
The Russian media published a number of comments on this move, which
was entirely unexpected for many, including the Armenians, because the
French's eagerness to play an ambitious role in the problem between
Turkey and Armenia meant they ignored Russia. Advancing France's
investments in Armenia, contributing to the construction of a nuclear
plant and attracting the support of the Armenians in France for the
upcoming presidential election were the reasons for this bold move.
Unlike American presidents, Sarkozy has been successful at giving
the impression that he is a leader who has honored his promises,
and despite possible tension with Turkey, he made the move to make
the genocide legislation that is seeking to criminalize denying that
the forceful deportation of Armenians by Ottoman rulers in 1915 was
genocide. Even though Turkey's reaction was directed at France, this
reaction also concerns the normalization process of Turkish-Armenian
relations.
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan noted during a visit to Marseille
that Turkey considered itself a European state, and argued that just
as Germany bowed to Poland, Turkey, as a European state, could also
kneel before the genocide memorial in Yerevan and that this depended
on the willingness of the Turkish people, adding that France was
a country that best understood their sufferings and that they were
grateful to this nation.
The attitudes of the parties during this process give some hints as
to the content of the probable solution to this problem and for this
reason, they should be carefully analyzed. Sargsyan's remarks, during
his Marseille visit, unlike regular discourse about the genocide,
are more inspired by the ongoing change in Armenian foreign policy
and the increased role and influence of European states in the
region. As the US appears to be more influential in the Caucasus,
we have also witnessed that the EU is playing a more aggressive role
in the region through intergovernmental negotiations and concrete
projects. This means closer contact for Armenia with the EU member
states and improvement of bilateral relations. The steps taken towards
this end confirm the rapprochement between Armenia and the EU. In
November, Armenia opened embassies in the Netherlands, the Czech
Republic, Denmark and Latvia and made contact with countries that
it was to establish bilateral relations with for the first time. In
visits by Armenian diplomats to European states, the need to improve
relations has been stressed. Sargsyan has also paid a visit to the
Pope, underlining that relations between the Vatican and Echmiadzin
should be established.
Turkey's attitude
Armenia's economic cooperation in different fields with European
countries aims to address the concerns held by Armenia with respect to
Turkey and Iran. Armenia, which has declared it will remain neutral
in case of an operation against Iran, has also made additional moves
in light of the possibility that its southern border as well may be
closed. Former Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has also underlined
that measures should be taken against this danger and that the
relevant actors should be called upon. In addition, relations with
Georgia are being improved through joint initiatives to make progress
in economic cooperation. Recent developments have made Europe focus
on the region; and now many experts frequently note that despite it
being a former Soviet Union state, Armenia is being influenced by
Western lobbyism. Turkey was a popular matter of discussion on the eve
of the Armenian parliamentary elections, and the discussions visibly
influenced the preference of the voters. Reflections of the criticisms
in Armenia and France directed at Turkey are entirely different in the
Turkish media because the current Armenian administration is viewed
in Armenia as a responsible actor that has done everything it can to
make peace with Turkey. However, Turkey's reactions are presented as
Turkish stubbornness and that it does not want peace, which gives
the impression that Turkey is the aggressive side. The reaction
by Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen BagıÅ~_ to
Sargsyan's speech in Marseille was portrayed as aggressive in the
Armenian media, and Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek's criticisms were
condemned by the Republican Party of Armenia, which stated that this
was the cliché Turkish discourse that has remained unchanged.
Turkey now needs to change its attitude and produce alternative
arguments that will confirm it is not the aggressive party. The first
thing to do is to understand and know Armenia better. For Turkey,
Armenia should not be a country that is associated with April 24 and
the French political moves anymore. The internal and external dynamics
of this country should be carefully assessed and a new style should be
developed. It is also essential to be aware of the domestic balance of
this country as well. Mutual unconstructive statements should also be
abandoned for the establishment of a process of dialogue between the
parties. Following this, Turkey should also take bold steps to ensure
that it is not perceived as the aggressive state. This is the only
way to make sure that other states are not involved in the process.
*Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu is a strategic outlook expert with the Yerevan
European Regional Academy.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
by Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu*
Today's Zaman
Dec 22 2011
Turkey
The most important thing that French President Nicolas Sarkozy
emphasized during a visit to Yerevan in October 2011 was that France
will introduce sanctions against Turkey if it fails to recognize the
Armenian genocide by the end of the year.
The Russian media published a number of comments on this move, which
was entirely unexpected for many, including the Armenians, because the
French's eagerness to play an ambitious role in the problem between
Turkey and Armenia meant they ignored Russia. Advancing France's
investments in Armenia, contributing to the construction of a nuclear
plant and attracting the support of the Armenians in France for the
upcoming presidential election were the reasons for this bold move.
Unlike American presidents, Sarkozy has been successful at giving
the impression that he is a leader who has honored his promises,
and despite possible tension with Turkey, he made the move to make
the genocide legislation that is seeking to criminalize denying that
the forceful deportation of Armenians by Ottoman rulers in 1915 was
genocide. Even though Turkey's reaction was directed at France, this
reaction also concerns the normalization process of Turkish-Armenian
relations.
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan noted during a visit to Marseille
that Turkey considered itself a European state, and argued that just
as Germany bowed to Poland, Turkey, as a European state, could also
kneel before the genocide memorial in Yerevan and that this depended
on the willingness of the Turkish people, adding that France was
a country that best understood their sufferings and that they were
grateful to this nation.
The attitudes of the parties during this process give some hints as
to the content of the probable solution to this problem and for this
reason, they should be carefully analyzed. Sargsyan's remarks, during
his Marseille visit, unlike regular discourse about the genocide,
are more inspired by the ongoing change in Armenian foreign policy
and the increased role and influence of European states in the
region. As the US appears to be more influential in the Caucasus,
we have also witnessed that the EU is playing a more aggressive role
in the region through intergovernmental negotiations and concrete
projects. This means closer contact for Armenia with the EU member
states and improvement of bilateral relations. The steps taken towards
this end confirm the rapprochement between Armenia and the EU. In
November, Armenia opened embassies in the Netherlands, the Czech
Republic, Denmark and Latvia and made contact with countries that
it was to establish bilateral relations with for the first time. In
visits by Armenian diplomats to European states, the need to improve
relations has been stressed. Sargsyan has also paid a visit to the
Pope, underlining that relations between the Vatican and Echmiadzin
should be established.
Turkey's attitude
Armenia's economic cooperation in different fields with European
countries aims to address the concerns held by Armenia with respect to
Turkey and Iran. Armenia, which has declared it will remain neutral
in case of an operation against Iran, has also made additional moves
in light of the possibility that its southern border as well may be
closed. Former Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has also underlined
that measures should be taken against this danger and that the
relevant actors should be called upon. In addition, relations with
Georgia are being improved through joint initiatives to make progress
in economic cooperation. Recent developments have made Europe focus
on the region; and now many experts frequently note that despite it
being a former Soviet Union state, Armenia is being influenced by
Western lobbyism. Turkey was a popular matter of discussion on the eve
of the Armenian parliamentary elections, and the discussions visibly
influenced the preference of the voters. Reflections of the criticisms
in Armenia and France directed at Turkey are entirely different in the
Turkish media because the current Armenian administration is viewed
in Armenia as a responsible actor that has done everything it can to
make peace with Turkey. However, Turkey's reactions are presented as
Turkish stubbornness and that it does not want peace, which gives
the impression that Turkey is the aggressive side. The reaction
by Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen BagıÅ~_ to
Sargsyan's speech in Marseille was portrayed as aggressive in the
Armenian media, and Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek's criticisms were
condemned by the Republican Party of Armenia, which stated that this
was the cliché Turkish discourse that has remained unchanged.
Turkey now needs to change its attitude and produce alternative
arguments that will confirm it is not the aggressive party. The first
thing to do is to understand and know Armenia better. For Turkey,
Armenia should not be a country that is associated with April 24 and
the French political moves anymore. The internal and external dynamics
of this country should be carefully assessed and a new style should be
developed. It is also essential to be aware of the domestic balance of
this country as well. Mutual unconstructive statements should also be
abandoned for the establishment of a process of dialogue between the
parties. Following this, Turkey should also take bold steps to ensure
that it is not perceived as the aggressive state. This is the only
way to make sure that other states are not involved in the process.
*Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu is a strategic outlook expert with the Yerevan
European Regional Academy.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress