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ARMENIA-DIASPORA: NEW FORUM IN YEREVAN EXPECTED TO PAY ATTENTION TO RELATIONS WITH TURKEY
ANALYSIS | 19.09.14 | 10:22
http://armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/56945/armenia_politics_analysis_diaspora_forum_turkey
Photolure
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
On September 19-20, Yerevan will host another, fifth Armenia-Diaspora
forum. It will be attended by representatives of pan-Armenian
structures, media, figures of culture, education, as well as
businessmen and members of the clergy - a total of about 700 people
from more than 60 countries. The forum will discuss the upcoming events
to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, as
well as the development of relations between Armenia and its Diaspora.
Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Diaspora in recent
years are experiencing hard times. Investments have significantly
dropped, the scale of joint projects has reduced, there is a lot of
criticism heard in the Diaspora against the government of Armenia,
which has monopolized the national goods and prevents access to
"outsiders" to the country's economy. Nevertheless, the Diaspora
remains an essential resource for the promotion of national policy,
providing a reliable lobbying for national interests.
It is not a coincidence that representatives of the Turkish government
have repeatedly urged the Armenian authorities to "get rid" of the
influence of the Diaspora. It is the Diaspora that Ankara views as
the main actor in the promotion of the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide and demands to Turkey.
United States Ambassador-designate to Armenia Richard Mills said
during a Senate Foreign Relation Committee confirmation hearing this
week that "the United States and the world will stand in solidarity
with the Armenian people next year to mark the centenary of one of
the 20th century's worst atrocities." Some regard it as a possibility
that Washington will formally recognize the Armenian Genocide and
that even U.S. President Barack Obama may pay a visit to Yerevan on
April 24, 2015.
Such a course of events is not excluded against the backdrop of
the possibly emerging Turkish-Azerbaijani-Russian alliance and its
opposition to the United States. This alliance to some extent became
apparent during the formation by Washington of a coalition against
the Islamic State, as Turkey did not become part of it and Russia
came up against direct U.S. intervention.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said in Baku that Western
sanctions against Russia bring Russia and Azerbaijan closer together.
And the ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia Polad Byulyubyulogly said
that the West is putting pressure on Baku in connection with its ties
with Russia. The United States does not hide its attitude towards
Azerbaijan and Turkey, which encourages the Armenian Diaspora to
become more active.
It is obvious that this year the Diaspora will put all its efforts
into the international affirmation of the Genocide and demands to
Turkey. Some circles in the Diaspora consider Armenia's efforts in this
direction to be insufficient. For example, the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) calls on President Serzh Sargsyan to
abandon the Armenian-Turkish protocols. However, Sargsyan invited
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Yerevan on April 24, 2015,
and the move elicited mixed reactions.
It is the relations with Turkey that are certain to become the
main question during the Armenia-Diaspora forum. And while so far
US-Turkish relations have been an obstacle to Armenian Americans
in lobbying the Genocide recognition, then now that Turkey is named
among the candidates for a 'rogue state', opportunities for Armenian
lobbying increase.
ANALYSIS | 19.09.14 | 10:22
http://armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/56945/armenia_politics_analysis_diaspora_forum_turkey
Photolure
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
On September 19-20, Yerevan will host another, fifth Armenia-Diaspora
forum. It will be attended by representatives of pan-Armenian
structures, media, figures of culture, education, as well as
businessmen and members of the clergy - a total of about 700 people
from more than 60 countries. The forum will discuss the upcoming events
to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, as
well as the development of relations between Armenia and its Diaspora.
Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Diaspora in recent
years are experiencing hard times. Investments have significantly
dropped, the scale of joint projects has reduced, there is a lot of
criticism heard in the Diaspora against the government of Armenia,
which has monopolized the national goods and prevents access to
"outsiders" to the country's economy. Nevertheless, the Diaspora
remains an essential resource for the promotion of national policy,
providing a reliable lobbying for national interests.
It is not a coincidence that representatives of the Turkish government
have repeatedly urged the Armenian authorities to "get rid" of the
influence of the Diaspora. It is the Diaspora that Ankara views as
the main actor in the promotion of the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide and demands to Turkey.
United States Ambassador-designate to Armenia Richard Mills said
during a Senate Foreign Relation Committee confirmation hearing this
week that "the United States and the world will stand in solidarity
with the Armenian people next year to mark the centenary of one of
the 20th century's worst atrocities." Some regard it as a possibility
that Washington will formally recognize the Armenian Genocide and
that even U.S. President Barack Obama may pay a visit to Yerevan on
April 24, 2015.
Such a course of events is not excluded against the backdrop of
the possibly emerging Turkish-Azerbaijani-Russian alliance and its
opposition to the United States. This alliance to some extent became
apparent during the formation by Washington of a coalition against
the Islamic State, as Turkey did not become part of it and Russia
came up against direct U.S. intervention.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said in Baku that Western
sanctions against Russia bring Russia and Azerbaijan closer together.
And the ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia Polad Byulyubyulogly said
that the West is putting pressure on Baku in connection with its ties
with Russia. The United States does not hide its attitude towards
Azerbaijan and Turkey, which encourages the Armenian Diaspora to
become more active.
It is obvious that this year the Diaspora will put all its efforts
into the international affirmation of the Genocide and demands to
Turkey. Some circles in the Diaspora consider Armenia's efforts in this
direction to be insufficient. For example, the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) calls on President Serzh Sargsyan to
abandon the Armenian-Turkish protocols. However, Sargsyan invited
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Yerevan on April 24, 2015,
and the move elicited mixed reactions.
It is the relations with Turkey that are certain to become the
main question during the Armenia-Diaspora forum. And while so far
US-Turkish relations have been an obstacle to Armenian Americans
in lobbying the Genocide recognition, then now that Turkey is named
among the candidates for a 'rogue state', opportunities for Armenian
lobbying increase.