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IS IT ENOUGH FOR TURKEY TO SAY SORRY TO THE ARMENIANS?
New Europe, EU
April 27, 2014 Sunday 9:49 PM EST
Apr 27, 2014
by Monnet Matters
Last week, Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan issued an unexpected
written declaration.
He said that 'We wish that the Armenians who lost their lives in the
context of the early 20th century rest in peace, and we convey our
condolences to their grandchildren'.
For decades, every effort on the part of Turkey to move towards
democracy and any discussion about its European future were
overshadowed by the question: When will Turkey recognise the genocide
of the Armenian people that was committed by the Ottoman Empire
in 1915?
Erdogan's statement may not be a clear recognition of the Armenian
massacre, but it is something. It is something important without
question. For anyone who is knowledgeable of Turkish historical,
sentimental and political background, this declaration was a very
serious step for Erdogan.
But to whom is it addressed to and for what purpose?
At the domestic level, the Armenian issue isn't a first-class
political issue. The Turks of Armenian origin, although a minority,
live without problems in the Turkish Republic and they enjoy the
same rights as other citizens. They do not represent a powerful lobby
and have no impact on the decisions of the Turkish government on an
international level.
That said, the Turks of Armenian origin couldn't do anything against
Turkey's alignment with Azerbaijan on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue or
have any impact on any Turkish position related to Caucasus affairs.
If this is the case, then why did the Turkish PM make this now-famous
statement?
The most probable explanation is that the statement has two directions,
both far away from the Turkish land.
The latest political movements of Tayyip Erdogan, as well as the
general atmosphere in Turkish politics, have rendered serious damage
to his profile. Erdogan worked hard for decades to build an image of an
incorruptible, religious man who has a modern vision for his country.
But the latest corruption allegations against him, as well as his
anti-democratic behaviour against protesters and political rivals,
presented another face - an ugly one.
In Europe, mainly in France, as well as in the United States, the
Armenian issue has considerable weight in politics.
The Armenian Diaspora with powerful lobby groups has worked and has
managed to put up obstacles to Turkeys diplomacy in the West.
Erdogan's statement is exactly what Western leaders would like to
hear. It is also an opportunity to show he is not as cruel as the
media present him to be.
Ukraine's crisis, which has endangered the lives of Turkish origin
Tatars of Crimea, has given Erdogan an opportunity to partly regain
his popularity among nationalist elements inside Turkey. But any
serious exposure on the subject represents another danger, that of
Turko-Russian relations.
Russia is home to the largest concentration of Armenian Diaspora and
Armenia is the privileged partner of Moscow in the Caucasus region.
Armenia will become member of the Eurasian Economic Union this summer.
Turkey was in a certain way also invited to join by the Kazakh side,
to cooperate strictly with the Moscow backed economic community.
So, it is easy to understand why Erdogan issued the statement, which
was directed especially to the international community.
However, despite the fact that it is a very important step, Turkey
must reconsider its recent political period and recognise that it must
work harder to rebuild friendships in Europe by condemning all the
anti-democratic methods applied by Erdogan and to combat corruption
at any level.
New Europe, EU
April 27, 2014 Sunday 9:49 PM EST
Apr 27, 2014
by Monnet Matters
Last week, Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan issued an unexpected
written declaration.
He said that 'We wish that the Armenians who lost their lives in the
context of the early 20th century rest in peace, and we convey our
condolences to their grandchildren'.
For decades, every effort on the part of Turkey to move towards
democracy and any discussion about its European future were
overshadowed by the question: When will Turkey recognise the genocide
of the Armenian people that was committed by the Ottoman Empire
in 1915?
Erdogan's statement may not be a clear recognition of the Armenian
massacre, but it is something. It is something important without
question. For anyone who is knowledgeable of Turkish historical,
sentimental and political background, this declaration was a very
serious step for Erdogan.
But to whom is it addressed to and for what purpose?
At the domestic level, the Armenian issue isn't a first-class
political issue. The Turks of Armenian origin, although a minority,
live without problems in the Turkish Republic and they enjoy the
same rights as other citizens. They do not represent a powerful lobby
and have no impact on the decisions of the Turkish government on an
international level.
That said, the Turks of Armenian origin couldn't do anything against
Turkey's alignment with Azerbaijan on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue or
have any impact on any Turkish position related to Caucasus affairs.
If this is the case, then why did the Turkish PM make this now-famous
statement?
The most probable explanation is that the statement has two directions,
both far away from the Turkish land.
The latest political movements of Tayyip Erdogan, as well as the
general atmosphere in Turkish politics, have rendered serious damage
to his profile. Erdogan worked hard for decades to build an image of an
incorruptible, religious man who has a modern vision for his country.
But the latest corruption allegations against him, as well as his
anti-democratic behaviour against protesters and political rivals,
presented another face - an ugly one.
In Europe, mainly in France, as well as in the United States, the
Armenian issue has considerable weight in politics.
The Armenian Diaspora with powerful lobby groups has worked and has
managed to put up obstacles to Turkeys diplomacy in the West.
Erdogan's statement is exactly what Western leaders would like to
hear. It is also an opportunity to show he is not as cruel as the
media present him to be.
Ukraine's crisis, which has endangered the lives of Turkish origin
Tatars of Crimea, has given Erdogan an opportunity to partly regain
his popularity among nationalist elements inside Turkey. But any
serious exposure on the subject represents another danger, that of
Turko-Russian relations.
Russia is home to the largest concentration of Armenian Diaspora and
Armenia is the privileged partner of Moscow in the Caucasus region.
Armenia will become member of the Eurasian Economic Union this summer.
Turkey was in a certain way also invited to join by the Kazakh side,
to cooperate strictly with the Moscow backed economic community.
So, it is easy to understand why Erdogan issued the statement, which
was directed especially to the international community.
However, despite the fact that it is a very important step, Turkey
must reconsider its recent political period and recognise that it must
work harder to rebuild friendships in Europe by condemning all the
anti-democratic methods applied by Erdogan and to combat corruption
at any level.