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TURKISH POLICY WILL NOT BE SWAYED BY ARMENIAN 'TERROR THREATS'
news.az
May 17 2011
Azerbaijan
News.Az interviews Prof Dr Tayyar Ari, head of the Department of
International Relations at Uludag University, Bursa.
What are the prospects for Turkish-Armenian reconciliation while the
Armenians are trying to get the "genocide" recognized worldwide?
As usual, the Armenian diaspora will maintain its position as this
is its only bargaining chip to make the Turkish government concede
a solution in favour of the Armenian side. But as is the nature of
the political balance of power in the world, even as Western public
opinion continues to listen to the Armenians, most of the leading
powers will be less enthusiastic about accepting the Armenian claims
on Turkey for the political reason of not spoiling relations with
Ankara any more. Therefore, considering the difficulty of changing
Western public opinion in favour of the Turkish approach, Turkey
will take peaceful and positive steps for stability and peace in the
Caucasus without giving any concessions on the occupying policy of
the Yerevan government. So, on this issue Turkey has shown that even
with the Turkish side taking positive steps towards reconciliation,
neither Yerevan nor the Armenian diaspora have the will to solve the
problems, including Karabakh.
Turkish embassies in Georgia and other countries received threats
from ASALA (the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia)
saying that, if Turkey supports Baku in the event of an Azerbaijani
attack on Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, "then the list
will be finished" - a clear reference to the list of Turkish diplomats
murdered by ASALA. How serious is this threat?
This kind of threat has been made several times in the past, but
Turkey has not built its foreign policy upon these so-called threats
by Armenian terrorists.
Turkey's peaceful policy is very obvious against the backdrop
of the groundless Armenian allegations and occupation policy in
Nagorno-Karabakh. So, the threats are not realistic. Even if they
were, no-one would expect any change in Turkish policy on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
On the other hand, this kind of threat should remind the world
community of ASALA's barbarous attacks against Turkish diplomats.
Some people say that the Turkish side is not active enough (at
least not as active as the Armenians) in providing the international
community with the real facts about events in 1915. Do you agree and,
if so, what should be done to change the situation?
Indeed the Turkish side is more active than it used to be, but this is
not the issue. There is a Turkish image constructed for historical,
political and religious reasons in the Western world and people were
more ready to accept the claims of the Armenians.
Even Turkey opened its Ottoman archives and called on the parties
to establish a board of historians from both sides, but only a small
portion of the people were ready to change their prejudices. I mean,
yes, the Turkish side is ready to allow the world community to examine
the facts about the 1915 events but not the events as reflected and
propagandized by the Armenians.
To get to the real events, this issue has to be considered without
prejudice and with the will to face the truth. On the other hand,
policy changes may occur. For instance, Turkey's image as a rising
power in the world may transform the international community's
stance on the anti-Turkish claims. The Western world, particularly
politicians, will eventually ignore the Armenian claims against Turkish
governments when they see that this would harm their interests. But
of course it's like a fictional political race. In other words, the
Armenian side will work hard. That's why even the Turkish side is
more active than in the past. It should not relax and should always
be cautious about these allegations and call on the international
community to examine the Turkish archives without prejudice.
Are you sure that Turkey will maintain the linkage between
reconciliation with Armenia and the Karabakh problem?
Turkish policy is very clear and has been stated several times by
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan: until the occupation ends, it is not
possible to continue the reconciliation process, so it now depends on
the behaviour of the Armenian government. If they are really willing
to make the Caucasus a very secure area for all sides, then they must
cease their occupying policy. In short, everyone must be safe and
no-one will challenge the Turkish position that links the occupation
of Karabakh with the reconciliation with Armenia.
It is a supra-governmental concern that every political party,
regardless of its origin, support this Turkish stance.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
news.az
May 17 2011
Azerbaijan
News.Az interviews Prof Dr Tayyar Ari, head of the Department of
International Relations at Uludag University, Bursa.
What are the prospects for Turkish-Armenian reconciliation while the
Armenians are trying to get the "genocide" recognized worldwide?
As usual, the Armenian diaspora will maintain its position as this
is its only bargaining chip to make the Turkish government concede
a solution in favour of the Armenian side. But as is the nature of
the political balance of power in the world, even as Western public
opinion continues to listen to the Armenians, most of the leading
powers will be less enthusiastic about accepting the Armenian claims
on Turkey for the political reason of not spoiling relations with
Ankara any more. Therefore, considering the difficulty of changing
Western public opinion in favour of the Turkish approach, Turkey
will take peaceful and positive steps for stability and peace in the
Caucasus without giving any concessions on the occupying policy of
the Yerevan government. So, on this issue Turkey has shown that even
with the Turkish side taking positive steps towards reconciliation,
neither Yerevan nor the Armenian diaspora have the will to solve the
problems, including Karabakh.
Turkish embassies in Georgia and other countries received threats
from ASALA (the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia)
saying that, if Turkey supports Baku in the event of an Azerbaijani
attack on Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, "then the list
will be finished" - a clear reference to the list of Turkish diplomats
murdered by ASALA. How serious is this threat?
This kind of threat has been made several times in the past, but
Turkey has not built its foreign policy upon these so-called threats
by Armenian terrorists.
Turkey's peaceful policy is very obvious against the backdrop
of the groundless Armenian allegations and occupation policy in
Nagorno-Karabakh. So, the threats are not realistic. Even if they
were, no-one would expect any change in Turkish policy on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
On the other hand, this kind of threat should remind the world
community of ASALA's barbarous attacks against Turkish diplomats.
Some people say that the Turkish side is not active enough (at
least not as active as the Armenians) in providing the international
community with the real facts about events in 1915. Do you agree and,
if so, what should be done to change the situation?
Indeed the Turkish side is more active than it used to be, but this is
not the issue. There is a Turkish image constructed for historical,
political and religious reasons in the Western world and people were
more ready to accept the claims of the Armenians.
Even Turkey opened its Ottoman archives and called on the parties
to establish a board of historians from both sides, but only a small
portion of the people were ready to change their prejudices. I mean,
yes, the Turkish side is ready to allow the world community to examine
the facts about the 1915 events but not the events as reflected and
propagandized by the Armenians.
To get to the real events, this issue has to be considered without
prejudice and with the will to face the truth. On the other hand,
policy changes may occur. For instance, Turkey's image as a rising
power in the world may transform the international community's
stance on the anti-Turkish claims. The Western world, particularly
politicians, will eventually ignore the Armenian claims against Turkish
governments when they see that this would harm their interests. But
of course it's like a fictional political race. In other words, the
Armenian side will work hard. That's why even the Turkish side is
more active than in the past. It should not relax and should always
be cautious about these allegations and call on the international
community to examine the Turkish archives without prejudice.
Are you sure that Turkey will maintain the linkage between
reconciliation with Armenia and the Karabakh problem?
Turkish policy is very clear and has been stated several times by
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan: until the occupation ends, it is not
possible to continue the reconciliation process, so it now depends on
the behaviour of the Armenian government. If they are really willing
to make the Caucasus a very secure area for all sides, then they must
cease their occupying policy. In short, everyone must be safe and
no-one will challenge the Turkish position that links the occupation
of Karabakh with the reconciliation with Armenia.
It is a supra-governmental concern that every political party,
regardless of its origin, support this Turkish stance.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress