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ANALYSIS: TURKEY FACES 'INTERNATIONAL LEGAL EXPANSION' AHEAD OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CENTENNIAL
ANALYSIS | 23.02.15 | 10:24
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
Over the weekend the Turkish newspaper Sunday's Zaman reported that
the Turkish government had canceled the celebrations of the victory
in the Battle of Gallipoli, which was to take place on April 24 -
coinciding with the commemoration of the centenary of the Armenian
Genocide. The newspaper said that it was because only five nations
have confirmed their participation in the events at the highest level.
Another Turkish newspaper, Daily Sabah, citing its sources at the
presidential administration, denied this information, but the fact
that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could cancel the event
is probable. Turkey has entered a very difficult period when an
"international legal expansion" is being planned along the entire
perimeter of its borders. Traditionally, Turkey responds to this with
real expansion of its own.
On Saturday, Turkey conducted a military operation in Syrian territory
to evacuate the tomb of Suleyman Shah, the grandfather of the founder
of the Ottoman Empire, Osman the First, from the area near the Syrian
town of Kobani, which is populated by Kurds and which is now occupied
by the Islamic State.
Syria has already expressed its protest in connection with the
invasion, but the actions of Turkey show that Ankara has put up with
the idea that Syrian Kurdistan will soon cease to be available for it.
And most importantly, Turkey begins to make sure that the treaties
concluded after the First World War and the collapse of the Ottoman
Empire will be reviewed. Interestingly, under the treaties the tomb
of Suleyman Shah was left under the protectorate of Turkey.
In this regard, Turkish relations with Armenia are becoming more
and more tense relations. On April 24 they may quite turn into
international claims to Turkey. And they can also be linked to the
revision of a number of treaties. Turkey is working actively not
only in order to prevent this, but also to prevent the unification
of Kurdish and Armenian efforts.
However, the recent meeting of Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian with President of Iraqi Kurdistan Massoud Barzani in Munich
shows that closer cooperation is being established between Armenians
and Kurds. Armenia is opening a consulate in Erbil and intends to
establish air links with Iraqi Kurdistan.
Meanwhile, in Turkey they have started to prepare for likely protests
of Kurds. The Parliament is considering a law to toughen penalties
for organizing mass protests, which has already caused discontent
of the Kurdish community. Turkey has hinted that the movement of
Fatullah Gulen, whom Erdogan considers to be his opponent, may use
the Armenian and Kurdish factors in its struggle against Erdogan's
imperial ambitions.
http://armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/60861/armenia_gallipoli_turkish_government_events_april_ 24
ANALYSIS | 23.02.15 | 10:24
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
Over the weekend the Turkish newspaper Sunday's Zaman reported that
the Turkish government had canceled the celebrations of the victory
in the Battle of Gallipoli, which was to take place on April 24 -
coinciding with the commemoration of the centenary of the Armenian
Genocide. The newspaper said that it was because only five nations
have confirmed their participation in the events at the highest level.
Another Turkish newspaper, Daily Sabah, citing its sources at the
presidential administration, denied this information, but the fact
that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could cancel the event
is probable. Turkey has entered a very difficult period when an
"international legal expansion" is being planned along the entire
perimeter of its borders. Traditionally, Turkey responds to this with
real expansion of its own.
On Saturday, Turkey conducted a military operation in Syrian territory
to evacuate the tomb of Suleyman Shah, the grandfather of the founder
of the Ottoman Empire, Osman the First, from the area near the Syrian
town of Kobani, which is populated by Kurds and which is now occupied
by the Islamic State.
Syria has already expressed its protest in connection with the
invasion, but the actions of Turkey show that Ankara has put up with
the idea that Syrian Kurdistan will soon cease to be available for it.
And most importantly, Turkey begins to make sure that the treaties
concluded after the First World War and the collapse of the Ottoman
Empire will be reviewed. Interestingly, under the treaties the tomb
of Suleyman Shah was left under the protectorate of Turkey.
In this regard, Turkish relations with Armenia are becoming more
and more tense relations. On April 24 they may quite turn into
international claims to Turkey. And they can also be linked to the
revision of a number of treaties. Turkey is working actively not
only in order to prevent this, but also to prevent the unification
of Kurdish and Armenian efforts.
However, the recent meeting of Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian with President of Iraqi Kurdistan Massoud Barzani in Munich
shows that closer cooperation is being established between Armenians
and Kurds. Armenia is opening a consulate in Erbil and intends to
establish air links with Iraqi Kurdistan.
Meanwhile, in Turkey they have started to prepare for likely protests
of Kurds. The Parliament is considering a law to toughen penalties
for organizing mass protests, which has already caused discontent
of the Kurdish community. Turkey has hinted that the movement of
Fatullah Gulen, whom Erdogan considers to be his opponent, may use
the Armenian and Kurdish factors in its struggle against Erdogan's
imperial ambitions.
http://armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/60861/armenia_gallipoli_turkish_government_events_april_ 24