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'ARMENIA READY, TARGET 2015'
by Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu
Today's Zaman
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-251131-armenia-ready-target-2015-by-mehmet-fatih-oztarsu*.html
July 20 2011
Turkey
Turkish foreign policy recently intensified its attention on the
Arab Spring, carrying out extensive diplomatic efforts to secure an
immediate resolution for the turmoil in the region.
In addition to developments in the region, the country's relations
with Israel have become part of the daily political agenda due to last
year's assault on the Mavi Marmara. On top of that, Turkey turned
its attention to the independence of Southern Sudan to make sure it
proceeded in compliance with international law. Lastly, Turkey looked
to its east and the impact of the state of war between Russia and
Georgia, analyzing the possible outcome thereof for Turkey.
Armenia dealt with all these issues from a different angle, but has
kept a close eye on Turkey's foreign policy. Experts in Armenia have
warned politicians to make sure they draft policies addressing the
most pressing and probable developments; whether Southern Sudan sets
a precedent for the Nagorno-Karabakh region, for instance, or whether
the Israeli Knesset recognizes the 1915 incident as genocide. Also,
and Turkey may not be aware of this, but the Vatican has commenced
a study in which it will document and compile the brutality of the
deportation by forced marches and the massacres of the Armenians in
the early 20th century, a project that should be completed by 2015.
This poses serious challenges for Turkey. It was also announced that
information gathered during this process will be publicized through
exhibitions and media publications.
Armenian politicians who concretized attempts at rapprochement with
the diaspora teamed up with the opposition to create an international
commission responsible for the commemoration of the centennial of the
Armenian genocide. The activities planned by this commission include
political pressure on Turkey to ensure that it clarifies its stance
towards the 1915 incidents by 2015. In the initial session of the
commission, Giro Manoyan, a member of the Dashnak Party's political
affairs bureau, noted that the matter should be handled from different
perspectives and that concrete policies should be drafted to this end.
Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan, on the other hand, noted that
as people victimized by genocide, they should not ignore the
victimizations and pains of other nations and that Turkey's policy
of denial should be addressed effectively. Sarksyan went on to state
that international politics should be cleared of such policies.
2015: a common ground for joint action
In addition to the 2015 goals being taken up pretty seriously by the
Armenian administration, we also witnessed politicians with a more
moderate stance towards Turkey. The 2015 goal merely serves as common
ground for joint action. So far, Sarksyan has made frequent calls for
the Armenians in the West to invest in his country, but these calls
were in vain. In the end, Armenia has been alienated from its region
and, as a consequence, it had to seek cooperation and alignment with
Russia. From now on, it is imperative for Armenia to establish close
relations with Turkey, which does not care for the diaspora at all,
and cherish it.
However, the attitudes of nationalist groups that hanged Sèvres maps
all around the streets of Yerevan on the 90th anniversary of the
Treaty of Sèvres preserve a dual approach. Even Manoyan, with whom I
spoke during my visit to his party, now holds moderate views. Noting
that relations with Turkey should be improved without preconditions,
Manoyan said Armenia has never demanded any Turkish territories so
far. He is confident that sincere relations will be established
between the two countries. Manoyan also recalled that his party,
which traditionally focuses on Eastern Armenians, seeks to gather
all Armenians in one single homeland and that his country will make
significant progress once the power of elites in Yerevan diminishes.
In addition, Manoyan believes that improved relations with Turkey will
have a great impact on the growth of national welfare and revenues.
"[The recognition of] genocide is not our priority, but an important
matter," Manoyan concluded.
In an interview with the speaker of the Republican Party, Eduard
Sharmazanov, I was told that, as a party, they pay great attention
to relations with Turkey, adding that the genocide issue is not
their priority but an important matter. He also added that they
are ready to hold negotiations and discussions without any prior
conditions. Noting that Turkey would do Armenia a great favor if
it stays out of the Karabakh issue, Sharmazanov argues that a link
between the Karabakh issue and relations with Turkey is not proper
and that Karabakh should be liberated and freed.
Noting that there is a lot of work to be done in making progress in
bilateral relations with Turkey and that this is indeed a difficult
task, Sharmazanov finds Russia's warm relations with both Azerbaijan
and Armenia a reasonable attitude because it is eventually necessary
to set a balance in the region. Sharmazanov further notes that
preconditions would not help anyone, that the Turkish side has frozen
the process [of rapprochement] and that Armenia has picked the easy way
out [of rapprochement] by asking for dialogue without any conditions.
The Armenian administration, which has maintained close ties with
the opposition and the diaspora, will secure support from a number of
influential actors, including the Vatican and Israel, for its goals to
be achieved by 2015. Turkey needs to talk directly to Armenia instead
of the diaspora to create a common ground and take constructive steps
to ensure rapprochement between the sides. In line with Turkey's
vision for 2023 that will ensure domestic development, relations with
the neighboring countries should be improved and problems minimized.
*Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu is a columnist at the Armenia-based Aravot daily.
by Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu
Today's Zaman
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-251131-armenia-ready-target-2015-by-mehmet-fatih-oztarsu*.html
July 20 2011
Turkey
Turkish foreign policy recently intensified its attention on the
Arab Spring, carrying out extensive diplomatic efforts to secure an
immediate resolution for the turmoil in the region.
In addition to developments in the region, the country's relations
with Israel have become part of the daily political agenda due to last
year's assault on the Mavi Marmara. On top of that, Turkey turned
its attention to the independence of Southern Sudan to make sure it
proceeded in compliance with international law. Lastly, Turkey looked
to its east and the impact of the state of war between Russia and
Georgia, analyzing the possible outcome thereof for Turkey.
Armenia dealt with all these issues from a different angle, but has
kept a close eye on Turkey's foreign policy. Experts in Armenia have
warned politicians to make sure they draft policies addressing the
most pressing and probable developments; whether Southern Sudan sets
a precedent for the Nagorno-Karabakh region, for instance, or whether
the Israeli Knesset recognizes the 1915 incident as genocide. Also,
and Turkey may not be aware of this, but the Vatican has commenced
a study in which it will document and compile the brutality of the
deportation by forced marches and the massacres of the Armenians in
the early 20th century, a project that should be completed by 2015.
This poses serious challenges for Turkey. It was also announced that
information gathered during this process will be publicized through
exhibitions and media publications.
Armenian politicians who concretized attempts at rapprochement with
the diaspora teamed up with the opposition to create an international
commission responsible for the commemoration of the centennial of the
Armenian genocide. The activities planned by this commission include
political pressure on Turkey to ensure that it clarifies its stance
towards the 1915 incidents by 2015. In the initial session of the
commission, Giro Manoyan, a member of the Dashnak Party's political
affairs bureau, noted that the matter should be handled from different
perspectives and that concrete policies should be drafted to this end.
Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan, on the other hand, noted that
as people victimized by genocide, they should not ignore the
victimizations and pains of other nations and that Turkey's policy
of denial should be addressed effectively. Sarksyan went on to state
that international politics should be cleared of such policies.
2015: a common ground for joint action
In addition to the 2015 goals being taken up pretty seriously by the
Armenian administration, we also witnessed politicians with a more
moderate stance towards Turkey. The 2015 goal merely serves as common
ground for joint action. So far, Sarksyan has made frequent calls for
the Armenians in the West to invest in his country, but these calls
were in vain. In the end, Armenia has been alienated from its region
and, as a consequence, it had to seek cooperation and alignment with
Russia. From now on, it is imperative for Armenia to establish close
relations with Turkey, which does not care for the diaspora at all,
and cherish it.
However, the attitudes of nationalist groups that hanged Sèvres maps
all around the streets of Yerevan on the 90th anniversary of the
Treaty of Sèvres preserve a dual approach. Even Manoyan, with whom I
spoke during my visit to his party, now holds moderate views. Noting
that relations with Turkey should be improved without preconditions,
Manoyan said Armenia has never demanded any Turkish territories so
far. He is confident that sincere relations will be established
between the two countries. Manoyan also recalled that his party,
which traditionally focuses on Eastern Armenians, seeks to gather
all Armenians in one single homeland and that his country will make
significant progress once the power of elites in Yerevan diminishes.
In addition, Manoyan believes that improved relations with Turkey will
have a great impact on the growth of national welfare and revenues.
"[The recognition of] genocide is not our priority, but an important
matter," Manoyan concluded.
In an interview with the speaker of the Republican Party, Eduard
Sharmazanov, I was told that, as a party, they pay great attention
to relations with Turkey, adding that the genocide issue is not
their priority but an important matter. He also added that they
are ready to hold negotiations and discussions without any prior
conditions. Noting that Turkey would do Armenia a great favor if
it stays out of the Karabakh issue, Sharmazanov argues that a link
between the Karabakh issue and relations with Turkey is not proper
and that Karabakh should be liberated and freed.
Noting that there is a lot of work to be done in making progress in
bilateral relations with Turkey and that this is indeed a difficult
task, Sharmazanov finds Russia's warm relations with both Azerbaijan
and Armenia a reasonable attitude because it is eventually necessary
to set a balance in the region. Sharmazanov further notes that
preconditions would not help anyone, that the Turkish side has frozen
the process [of rapprochement] and that Armenia has picked the easy way
out [of rapprochement] by asking for dialogue without any conditions.
The Armenian administration, which has maintained close ties with
the opposition and the diaspora, will secure support from a number of
influential actors, including the Vatican and Israel, for its goals to
be achieved by 2015. Turkey needs to talk directly to Armenia instead
of the diaspora to create a common ground and take constructive steps
to ensure rapprochement between the sides. In line with Turkey's
vision for 2023 that will ensure domestic development, relations with
the neighboring countries should be improved and problems minimized.
*Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu is a columnist at the Armenia-based Aravot daily.