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SAMVEL FARMANYAN: TURKEY WILL RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AND WILL DO IT UNDER PRESSURE OF ITS OWN PUBLIC
ArmInfo's interview with Samvel Farmanyan, the co-chair of the
Armenian-EU Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (PCC)
by Tatevik Shahunyan
Friday, April 17, 16:17
Mr. Farmanyan, the process of international recognition of the Armenian
Genocide has intensified recently. Many countries and organizations
have passed resolutions condemning and recognizing that crime against
humanity. What is the reason of such high response to the issue? Is
it connected with the activity of the Armenian Foreign Ministry,
the Armenian lobby abroad or the campaign timed to the Centenary of
the Genocide?
- I think, the process of the international recognition of the
Armenian Genocide cannot be explained with a single factor. Several
factors should be considered here. I am speaking about human values,
humanism and moral principles that are of fundamental importance for
the international policy of many countries. And finally, the foreign
political department of Armenia and the Armenian lobby abroad are
making their great contribution to the process. The geopolitical
interests of some countries also play certain role in it. As for the
events timed to the Centennial of the Genocide that are organized
inside the country and outside it, they are widely covered by the
world media. All these factors together have intensified the process
of the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, despite
the groundless statements by certain political circles claiming that
the Armenian-Turkish normalization and the bilateral protocols impede
the international recognition of the Genocide.
Mr. Farmanyan, what will the recognition and condemnation of the
Armenian Genocide by various countries and international organizations
give the Armenian people and Armenia as a state, except "moral
victory?"
- There is also a political dimension of the process. These documents
pursue real reconciliation of the two peoples, normalization of
the Armenian-Turkish relations, opening of borders, and economic
cooperation, as a consequence.
Some experts and political figures believe that after the Centennial
of the Armenian Genocide, the country should stop the efforts towards
international recognition of that crime and arm with a new strategy
and start demanding reparations. What do you think about it?
- I am for more realistic approaches. I think, our current steps must
pursue two goals: recognition of Genocide by Ankara - which should be
achieved through intensive process of the international recognition of
that crime and work with the Turkish society - and normalization of
the Armenian-Turkish relations. At least, these two goals seem more
realistic to me considering the current geopolitical situation. I
cannot say what will happen next. Other tasks of the Armenian-Turkish
relations appeared to be unrealistic so far.
Do you think it is possible that Ankara will recognize the Genocide
and the Armenian-Turkish relations will be normalized? Will it happen
under the new authorities of Turkey?
- I feel not a shade of doubt that Turkey will recognize the Genocide
of Armenians sooner or later. Furthermore, I am sure that it will
happen irrespective of whether that issue is on the foreign policy
agenda of Yerevan or not. Time moves along and the Turkish society will
sooner or later change its stand on the Genocide under information
influence. This trend is already visible. Under pressure of their
own public, the Turkish authorities will be reluctant to recognize
their history.
Do you mean that the recognition in not connected with the geopolitical
factors or domestic policy processes in Turkey?
- I have said Turkey will sooner or later recognize its own history,
and will do it within its own interests. Recognition of Genocide by
Ankara implies changes in the narration of Turkey's history. I think,
it is hardly possible under the current authorities in that country.
Most probably, it will become possible only under a leadership that
will tolerate changes in its own history, or at least, in the Period
of the Ottoman Empire and the first years of the Kemalist government.
Mr. Farmanyan, do you think that the growing international response
to the Genocide issue and the latest resolutions recognizing that fact
suggest that Turkey's Gallipoli undertaking has already failed? After
all, Turkey sought to overshadow the Genocide Centennial events and
international coverage of the issue.
- Sure, the latest processes around the international recognition of
the Genocide, active coverage of that topic by the world press prove
that Ankara's idea to celebrate the Gallipoli Victory was unjustified.
Inherently, Turkey has failed to overshadow the Genocide issue and
distract the attention of the world community from the Genocide
Centennial events. Furthermore, it had the reverse effect and has
made Ankara's denial policy as never evident.
U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan has said Washington may not send a
delegation to the Gallipoli event in Istanbul, as the country did not
participate in the WWI. Don't you think that such reasoning of possible
refusal to attend the Gallipoli commemorations is certainly strained?
- The world community is well aware what is the real goal of Ankara's
ideas to celebrate the Gallipoli Victory. We have already mentioned
it above. Turkey seeks to overshadow the Genocide Centennial
commemorations in Yerevan. If any country attends the events in
Turkey, it will do it only for its geopolitical, political and
economic interests anyhow connected with Turkey. If the U.S. refuses
to participate in these events, it means that Washington simply does
not want to be part of Ankara's denial policy.
Mr. Farmanyan, given all the above factors and the intensified
process of the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
may President Barack Obama use the term "Genocide" in his annual
address to the Armenian people?
- Considering Obama's expiring term and his policy on Cuba, Iranian
nuclear program, and the reform inside the country, I think it may
happen that the president uses the term "Genocide" this year, but it
will little change the U.S.-Turkey relations.
For conclusion, would you comment on Ankara's actions in response to
the latest developments around the Genocide issue?
- Ankara's hysteria, the summoning of the ambassador from Vatican
after Pope Francis's call to recognize the Genocide, and the most
recent dismissal of the Turkish prime minister's adviser Etyen
Mahcupyan after he called the events of 1915 as genocide - all
this means that the recent processes around the Genocide issue were
unexpected for Turkey. Therefore, it makes nervous, ad hoc and hasty
actions. As for the Turkey Foreign Ministry's statement on the European
Parliament's resolution on the Armenian Genocide Centennial, one can
get an impression that it is an electoral speech by a nationalist
politician rather than a document prepared by the foreign political
department. The Turkish ministry claims that "religious and cultural
fanaticism and indifference towards others regarded as different"
are laid behind the European Parliament's resolution.
Probably, Ankara meant that the resolution fuels the confrontation
between the Christian Europe and Muslim Turkey. However, these
statements by Ankara come to naught due to a single fact - the
co-author of the resolution is Co-Chair of the EU-Armenia PCC,
parliamentarian Sajjad Karim, who is a British Pakistani Muslim.
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=BB305A70-E4FB-11E4-97AB0EB7C0D21663
From: Baghdasarian
ArmInfo's interview with Samvel Farmanyan, the co-chair of the
Armenian-EU Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (PCC)
by Tatevik Shahunyan
Friday, April 17, 16:17
Mr. Farmanyan, the process of international recognition of the Armenian
Genocide has intensified recently. Many countries and organizations
have passed resolutions condemning and recognizing that crime against
humanity. What is the reason of such high response to the issue? Is
it connected with the activity of the Armenian Foreign Ministry,
the Armenian lobby abroad or the campaign timed to the Centenary of
the Genocide?
- I think, the process of the international recognition of the
Armenian Genocide cannot be explained with a single factor. Several
factors should be considered here. I am speaking about human values,
humanism and moral principles that are of fundamental importance for
the international policy of many countries. And finally, the foreign
political department of Armenia and the Armenian lobby abroad are
making their great contribution to the process. The geopolitical
interests of some countries also play certain role in it. As for the
events timed to the Centennial of the Genocide that are organized
inside the country and outside it, they are widely covered by the
world media. All these factors together have intensified the process
of the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, despite
the groundless statements by certain political circles claiming that
the Armenian-Turkish normalization and the bilateral protocols impede
the international recognition of the Genocide.
Mr. Farmanyan, what will the recognition and condemnation of the
Armenian Genocide by various countries and international organizations
give the Armenian people and Armenia as a state, except "moral
victory?"
- There is also a political dimension of the process. These documents
pursue real reconciliation of the two peoples, normalization of
the Armenian-Turkish relations, opening of borders, and economic
cooperation, as a consequence.
Some experts and political figures believe that after the Centennial
of the Armenian Genocide, the country should stop the efforts towards
international recognition of that crime and arm with a new strategy
and start demanding reparations. What do you think about it?
- I am for more realistic approaches. I think, our current steps must
pursue two goals: recognition of Genocide by Ankara - which should be
achieved through intensive process of the international recognition of
that crime and work with the Turkish society - and normalization of
the Armenian-Turkish relations. At least, these two goals seem more
realistic to me considering the current geopolitical situation. I
cannot say what will happen next. Other tasks of the Armenian-Turkish
relations appeared to be unrealistic so far.
Do you think it is possible that Ankara will recognize the Genocide
and the Armenian-Turkish relations will be normalized? Will it happen
under the new authorities of Turkey?
- I feel not a shade of doubt that Turkey will recognize the Genocide
of Armenians sooner or later. Furthermore, I am sure that it will
happen irrespective of whether that issue is on the foreign policy
agenda of Yerevan or not. Time moves along and the Turkish society will
sooner or later change its stand on the Genocide under information
influence. This trend is already visible. Under pressure of their
own public, the Turkish authorities will be reluctant to recognize
their history.
Do you mean that the recognition in not connected with the geopolitical
factors or domestic policy processes in Turkey?
- I have said Turkey will sooner or later recognize its own history,
and will do it within its own interests. Recognition of Genocide by
Ankara implies changes in the narration of Turkey's history. I think,
it is hardly possible under the current authorities in that country.
Most probably, it will become possible only under a leadership that
will tolerate changes in its own history, or at least, in the Period
of the Ottoman Empire and the first years of the Kemalist government.
Mr. Farmanyan, do you think that the growing international response
to the Genocide issue and the latest resolutions recognizing that fact
suggest that Turkey's Gallipoli undertaking has already failed? After
all, Turkey sought to overshadow the Genocide Centennial events and
international coverage of the issue.
- Sure, the latest processes around the international recognition of
the Genocide, active coverage of that topic by the world press prove
that Ankara's idea to celebrate the Gallipoli Victory was unjustified.
Inherently, Turkey has failed to overshadow the Genocide issue and
distract the attention of the world community from the Genocide
Centennial events. Furthermore, it had the reverse effect and has
made Ankara's denial policy as never evident.
U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan has said Washington may not send a
delegation to the Gallipoli event in Istanbul, as the country did not
participate in the WWI. Don't you think that such reasoning of possible
refusal to attend the Gallipoli commemorations is certainly strained?
- The world community is well aware what is the real goal of Ankara's
ideas to celebrate the Gallipoli Victory. We have already mentioned
it above. Turkey seeks to overshadow the Genocide Centennial
commemorations in Yerevan. If any country attends the events in
Turkey, it will do it only for its geopolitical, political and
economic interests anyhow connected with Turkey. If the U.S. refuses
to participate in these events, it means that Washington simply does
not want to be part of Ankara's denial policy.
Mr. Farmanyan, given all the above factors and the intensified
process of the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
may President Barack Obama use the term "Genocide" in his annual
address to the Armenian people?
- Considering Obama's expiring term and his policy on Cuba, Iranian
nuclear program, and the reform inside the country, I think it may
happen that the president uses the term "Genocide" this year, but it
will little change the U.S.-Turkey relations.
For conclusion, would you comment on Ankara's actions in response to
the latest developments around the Genocide issue?
- Ankara's hysteria, the summoning of the ambassador from Vatican
after Pope Francis's call to recognize the Genocide, and the most
recent dismissal of the Turkish prime minister's adviser Etyen
Mahcupyan after he called the events of 1915 as genocide - all
this means that the recent processes around the Genocide issue were
unexpected for Turkey. Therefore, it makes nervous, ad hoc and hasty
actions. As for the Turkey Foreign Ministry's statement on the European
Parliament's resolution on the Armenian Genocide Centennial, one can
get an impression that it is an electoral speech by a nationalist
politician rather than a document prepared by the foreign political
department. The Turkish ministry claims that "religious and cultural
fanaticism and indifference towards others regarded as different"
are laid behind the European Parliament's resolution.
Probably, Ankara meant that the resolution fuels the confrontation
between the Christian Europe and Muslim Turkey. However, these
statements by Ankara come to naught due to a single fact - the
co-author of the resolution is Co-Chair of the EU-Armenia PCC,
parliamentarian Sajjad Karim, who is a British Pakistani Muslim.
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=BB305A70-E4FB-11E4-97AB0EB7C0D21663
From: Baghdasarian