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Neighborhood Watch: Eyes On Istanbul As Taksim Square Protests Sprea

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  • Neighborhood Watch: Eyes On Istanbul As Taksim Square Protests Sprea

    NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH: EYES ON ISTANBUL AS TAKSIM SQUARE PROTESTS SPREAD

    News | 04.06.13 | 16:06

    By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
    ArmeniaNow reporter

    Analysts in Armenia have their watchful eye on the dramatic events
    unfolding in Turkey. Political changes in the neighbor country with
    which Armenia has no diplomatic relations, can nonetheless have a
    direct tangible impact on the whole region.

    Enlarge Photo Ruben Melkonyan

    Expert in Turkish studies Ruben Melkonyan says the spontaneous small
    act of protest held by a group of young environmental activists last
    week in Turkey has turned into a large-scale political turmoil, which
    has even spread to Turkey's "younger brother" Azerbaijan. Melkonyan
    says all the developments in Turkey commonly find their reflection
    in Azerbaijan, although in a more provincial and primitive manner.

    Last week's peaceful sit-in to protect one of Istanbul's last public
    parks rapidly spread to 44 of Turkey's 80 states and became a huge
    wave of protest against the authorities. Malkonyan says the active
    leftist sector of Turkey's Armenian community is also part of it.

    Despite the fact that the movement against Turkish Prime Minister
    Recep Tayyip Erdogan does not have an obvious political leader,
    Melkonyan says, it clearly indicates the conflict and discord between
    the Islamist-rooted authorities and the ruling military and the
    supporters of more secular government.

    Analysts are cautious to call these developments a "Turkish spring
    or Turkish summer" (as in the "Arab spring"), however the revolt of
    people out in the streets now is met with rather brutal treatment by
    the police, with grave consequences: more than 3,000 demonstrators
    have been detained, hundreds more have been wounded, two young men
    (20 and 22 years old) have died.

    "Turkish 'democracy' has revealed its true face once again,"
    says Melkonyan, in reference to the actions of the policemen which
    have undergone numerous EU-sponsored trainings, but are now acting
    merciless, and adds with conviction that these events are a mighty
    card to play against Turkey for the countries opposing its potential
    EU membership.

    As opposed to President Abdulla Gul, who viewed the protest as an
    expression of democracy, premier Erdogan has demonstrated arrogance
    towards the protestors, calling them liars. Prior to leaving for
    Morocco on Monday, he said accusing outside forces in supporting the
    protest that the Turkish intelligence service is now searching for
    connections between the demonstrators and foreign forces.

    Melkonyan, in fact, does not rule out the role of western forces
    in the Turkish turmoil, as a restrictive measure against Turkey's
    aggressive policy.

    "Turkey has become too active in the region recently and even resorts
    to political unruliness, meaning it uses tough tones when talking
    not only to the region's other countries, but also to its sponsors -
    the West, the USA. Hence, I view this as the West's sobering blow
    against the Turkish authorities, by which it might be sending a
    message to restrain themselves a little bit, and to remind that the
    Turkish society has many weak spots and is vulnerable, and problems
    can arise at any minute," says Melkonyan.

    http://armenianow.com/news/46608/riots_turkey_taksim_erdogan_occupygezi

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