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ETIENNE MAHCHUPIAN SEEMS TO BE FAR FROM ARMENIANS' GRIEVES - OPINIONS
11:26 * 05.11.14
The recent statements made by Etienne Mahchupian, the newly-appointed
senior advisor to Turkey's prime minister, demonstrate that he is
estranged from the common problems and grieves shared by the Armenians
worldwide, says an Armenian orientalist.
"The statements he has made since becoming a senior advisor to the
Turkish premier, as well as the other statements made before give
rise to many questions. He announced, for example, that Armenian
and Diaspora are in conflicts over the recognition and the 100th
anniversary of Genocide. This is definitely wrong, as being an
Armenian, he is obliged to know that this is the kind of problem over
which the Armenians cannot be split. And the same was later repeated
by the country's president, [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan," Ruben Safrastyan,
Director of the National Academy's Institute of Oriental Studies,
told Tert.am.
Citing Ermenihaber.am, a Turkish-language news website covering the
developments in Armenia, the Armenian service of RFE/RL (Azatutyun)
reported Mahchupian as saying recently that visiting Armenia on April
24, 2015 is a gesture which requires numerous other new gestures. "If
those gestures are made, the situation may mature, and the president
may go to Armenia. But if we are realistic, I don't find it possible.
As Armenia is expected to demonstrate an unusually tough stance in
2015, Turkey will not make that gesture," he was quoted as saying.
Mahchupian's approaches give ground to think that he is on the wrong
track, Safrastyan said, addressing his remark. "Erdogan's [decision]
whether or not to come to Armenia has nothing to do with Armenia's
position. If he comes, he will do so to raise his country's honor a
little bit; that's not for Armenia," he noted.
Turkologist Vahram Ter-Matevosyan had earlier told Tert.am that
he doesn't expect either positive or negative developments from
Mahchupian's appointment. He warned against attempts of searching
for hidden conspiracies behind the move or, on the contrary, getting
very enthusiastic.
Commenting on Mahchupian's recent statements, the expert said he
knows that the Turkish political system would never allow someone
with pro-Armenian positions to be appointed to a senior discretionary
government post.
"That man's activities will be pro-Turkish, first of all; all the rest
is a matter of comment. He cannot do anything beyond that framework;
he was appointed there for specific political activities. And his
activities do not have to have anything in common with the Armenian
factor. Hence it is better to avoid great expectations not to
be disappointed later. This is a process which we must use as an
opportunity," he added.
As for Erdogan's possible visit to Armenia, the expert agreed that
it isn't reasonable to jump conclusions months before the Genocide
centennial. "Armenia adopted the tough rhetoric in 2010, so there's
nothing new about it. And however tough Armenia's rhetoric, Turkey
is to blame for it. As to whether or not the viewpoint expressed is
realistic, I can add several factors to that, including the fact that
Turkey will be on the threshold of elections. So if there is a will,
everything else is of secondary importance," he added.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/11/05/Armenia-sarfrastyan-comment/
11:26 * 05.11.14
The recent statements made by Etienne Mahchupian, the newly-appointed
senior advisor to Turkey's prime minister, demonstrate that he is
estranged from the common problems and grieves shared by the Armenians
worldwide, says an Armenian orientalist.
"The statements he has made since becoming a senior advisor to the
Turkish premier, as well as the other statements made before give
rise to many questions. He announced, for example, that Armenian
and Diaspora are in conflicts over the recognition and the 100th
anniversary of Genocide. This is definitely wrong, as being an
Armenian, he is obliged to know that this is the kind of problem over
which the Armenians cannot be split. And the same was later repeated
by the country's president, [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan," Ruben Safrastyan,
Director of the National Academy's Institute of Oriental Studies,
told Tert.am.
Citing Ermenihaber.am, a Turkish-language news website covering the
developments in Armenia, the Armenian service of RFE/RL (Azatutyun)
reported Mahchupian as saying recently that visiting Armenia on April
24, 2015 is a gesture which requires numerous other new gestures. "If
those gestures are made, the situation may mature, and the president
may go to Armenia. But if we are realistic, I don't find it possible.
As Armenia is expected to demonstrate an unusually tough stance in
2015, Turkey will not make that gesture," he was quoted as saying.
Mahchupian's approaches give ground to think that he is on the wrong
track, Safrastyan said, addressing his remark. "Erdogan's [decision]
whether or not to come to Armenia has nothing to do with Armenia's
position. If he comes, he will do so to raise his country's honor a
little bit; that's not for Armenia," he noted.
Turkologist Vahram Ter-Matevosyan had earlier told Tert.am that
he doesn't expect either positive or negative developments from
Mahchupian's appointment. He warned against attempts of searching
for hidden conspiracies behind the move or, on the contrary, getting
very enthusiastic.
Commenting on Mahchupian's recent statements, the expert said he
knows that the Turkish political system would never allow someone
with pro-Armenian positions to be appointed to a senior discretionary
government post.
"That man's activities will be pro-Turkish, first of all; all the rest
is a matter of comment. He cannot do anything beyond that framework;
he was appointed there for specific political activities. And his
activities do not have to have anything in common with the Armenian
factor. Hence it is better to avoid great expectations not to
be disappointed later. This is a process which we must use as an
opportunity," he added.
As for Erdogan's possible visit to Armenia, the expert agreed that
it isn't reasonable to jump conclusions months before the Genocide
centennial. "Armenia adopted the tough rhetoric in 2010, so there's
nothing new about it. And however tough Armenia's rhetoric, Turkey
is to blame for it. As to whether or not the viewpoint expressed is
realistic, I can add several factors to that, including the fact that
Turkey will be on the threshold of elections. So if there is a will,
everything else is of secondary importance," he added.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/11/05/Armenia-sarfrastyan-comment/