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UNITED FRONT AGAINST TURKEY?: TOP CYPRIOT LEGISLATOR MAKES REMARKABLE STATEMENTS ON ARMENIA VISIT
ANALYSIS | 21.11.14 | 10:15
http://armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/58662/armenia_turkey_relations_analysis_cyprus_yiannakis _omirou
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
Chairman of the House of Representatives of Cyprus Yiannakis Omirou
was recently on a visit to Yerevan. He made an unexpected proposal. In
particular, he told Armenian lawmakers about "the destabilizing role
of Turkey in the region" and suggested that "a united front" needs
to be created against the policy of Turkey.
"Cyprus and Armenia should intensify bilateral relations, combine
their efforts in international organizations and take advantage
of the Cypriot and Armenian Diasporas, creating a united front
against the policy of Turkey. On behalf of the members of the House
of Representatives [of Cyprus] and myself I express willingness to
work in this direction," Omirou said.
It is not known yet whether Armenia agreed to coordinate actions
in this direction with Cyprus. In the official reports about the
meetings of Omirou with the Armenian president, the speaker of the
Armenian parliament there are only general phrases and assurances
that the historical Armenian-Cypriot friendship will be continued.
Analysts are wondering what "a united front against the policies
of Turkey" may mean. Is it simply a diplomatic term or an
institutionalized front is emerging? And what role Armenia would have
in this front that may also include other countries as well? Would
it be a coalition like the one created against the Islamic State,
for example?
Because of its notorious "zero problems with neighbors" policy
Turkey in the past few years not only deepened its problems with
neighbors, but also lost many allies. Turkey's actions in Syria, its
"disobedience" in NATO, its reluctance to help the coalition against
the Islamic State leads to the fact that in the Western world they
cease to perceive Turkey as an ally.
Political analyst Igor Muradyan believes that a policy of "global
containment" of Turkey is being carried out in the world today and
a major place is assigned to Armenia in this policy. However, he
thinks that a close relationship between Turkey and Russia allow it,
to some extent, to offset the pressure from the West and a number of
regional countries.
Just in a few months' time the world will be commemorating the victims
of the Armenian Genocide on the 100th anniversary of the crime. A rug
woven by orphans of Armenians killed by Ottoman Turks in the 1915
Genocide is on display at the White House Visitor's Center these
days (November 18-23). The rug was gifted to U.S. President Calvin
Coolidge in 1925 and is evidence of the predatory policy of Turkey at
the beginning of last century. Permission for the exhibition of the
rug that has been mostly kept in storage since the Coolidge family
returned it to the White House in 1982, was obtained with difficulty
amid resistance from Turkey. In the world, many saw this as the
first step towards the U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide,
which may become the detonator of the revision of relations with
Turkey on a global scale.
Apparently, the countries that also suffered much at the hands of
Turkey are also preparing for this occasion. Turkey currently occupies
the northern part of Cyprus. "Despite the fact that Turkey's actions
are condemned internationally - in particular, on November 13 the
European Parliament adopted a special resolution - Ankara's violations
are becoming more and more open and destabilize the entire region. At
the same time, government and military leaders of Turkey openly
threaten to use military force if the Republic of Cyprus continues to
implement its sovereign rights. In these conditions, the Republic of
Cyprus had to discontinue its participation in the negotiations on the
Cyprus problem and announce political and legal steps against Turkey,"
top Cypriot legislator Omirou said in the Armenian parliament.
He said that the refusal of Turkey to ratify the Armenian-Turkish
protocols is the manifestation of the same policy.
From: Baghdasarian
ANALYSIS | 21.11.14 | 10:15
http://armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/58662/armenia_turkey_relations_analysis_cyprus_yiannakis _omirou
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
Chairman of the House of Representatives of Cyprus Yiannakis Omirou
was recently on a visit to Yerevan. He made an unexpected proposal. In
particular, he told Armenian lawmakers about "the destabilizing role
of Turkey in the region" and suggested that "a united front" needs
to be created against the policy of Turkey.
"Cyprus and Armenia should intensify bilateral relations, combine
their efforts in international organizations and take advantage
of the Cypriot and Armenian Diasporas, creating a united front
against the policy of Turkey. On behalf of the members of the House
of Representatives [of Cyprus] and myself I express willingness to
work in this direction," Omirou said.
It is not known yet whether Armenia agreed to coordinate actions
in this direction with Cyprus. In the official reports about the
meetings of Omirou with the Armenian president, the speaker of the
Armenian parliament there are only general phrases and assurances
that the historical Armenian-Cypriot friendship will be continued.
Analysts are wondering what "a united front against the policies
of Turkey" may mean. Is it simply a diplomatic term or an
institutionalized front is emerging? And what role Armenia would have
in this front that may also include other countries as well? Would
it be a coalition like the one created against the Islamic State,
for example?
Because of its notorious "zero problems with neighbors" policy
Turkey in the past few years not only deepened its problems with
neighbors, but also lost many allies. Turkey's actions in Syria, its
"disobedience" in NATO, its reluctance to help the coalition against
the Islamic State leads to the fact that in the Western world they
cease to perceive Turkey as an ally.
Political analyst Igor Muradyan believes that a policy of "global
containment" of Turkey is being carried out in the world today and
a major place is assigned to Armenia in this policy. However, he
thinks that a close relationship between Turkey and Russia allow it,
to some extent, to offset the pressure from the West and a number of
regional countries.
Just in a few months' time the world will be commemorating the victims
of the Armenian Genocide on the 100th anniversary of the crime. A rug
woven by orphans of Armenians killed by Ottoman Turks in the 1915
Genocide is on display at the White House Visitor's Center these
days (November 18-23). The rug was gifted to U.S. President Calvin
Coolidge in 1925 and is evidence of the predatory policy of Turkey at
the beginning of last century. Permission for the exhibition of the
rug that has been mostly kept in storage since the Coolidge family
returned it to the White House in 1982, was obtained with difficulty
amid resistance from Turkey. In the world, many saw this as the
first step towards the U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide,
which may become the detonator of the revision of relations with
Turkey on a global scale.
Apparently, the countries that also suffered much at the hands of
Turkey are also preparing for this occasion. Turkey currently occupies
the northern part of Cyprus. "Despite the fact that Turkey's actions
are condemned internationally - in particular, on November 13 the
European Parliament adopted a special resolution - Ankara's violations
are becoming more and more open and destabilize the entire region. At
the same time, government and military leaders of Turkey openly
threaten to use military force if the Republic of Cyprus continues to
implement its sovereign rights. In these conditions, the Republic of
Cyprus had to discontinue its participation in the negotiations on the
Cyprus problem and announce political and legal steps against Turkey,"
top Cypriot legislator Omirou said in the Armenian parliament.
He said that the refusal of Turkey to ratify the Armenian-Turkish
protocols is the manifestation of the same policy.
From: Baghdasarian