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WHAT IS BEHIND CONFUSION ON TURKEY'S GALLIPOLI COMMEMORATIONS?
17:07, 24.02.2015
YEREVAN. - The information which Today's Zaman English-language
daily of Turkey had disseminated, and with respect to the country's
cancelation of the centennial commemorations of the Battle of
Gallipoli, was directed against the Turkish authorities.
Armenian turkologist Andranik Ispiryan noted the aforementioned at
a press conference on Tuesday.
First, Ispiryan noted that even though this was very important news,
no other Turkish periodical reprinted it, which the Turkish websites
usually do in the case of important and urgent news.
"Also interesting is the fact that this news was written by an
Azerbaijani citizen female journalist who had recently moved to
Istanbul, and before moving to Turkey, she worked in an Azerbaijan TV
company," the turkologist said. "In her article, the girl presents
fairly extensive information about the [Armenian] Genocide, which
[i.e. the information] they never do in the Turkish press."
As per Ispiryan, however, the most important is the fact that Today's
Zaman belongs to Fethullah Gulen--a Turkish Islamic opinion leader who
currently lives in a self-imposed exile in the United States--, who is
the number one political enemy of Turkey's incumbent authorities. The
turkologist stated that this fact is the most important in all this,
since the Turkish halls of power have repeatedly accused Gulen's
movement of funding the pro-Armenian members of the US Congress.
"In addition, Today's Zaman is in English, and [therefore] this
article is aimed at the foreign audience," the speaker added.
Ispiryan also did not rule out the fact that the Turkish ruling
elite had held discussions on canceling the Gallipoli commemorations
stressing that this matter depends largely on which case Turkey will
suffer more damage; if it holds, or cancels this event.
"That is, Turkey's choice will be between the bad and the worst,"
the turkologist concluded.
As reported earlier, speaking to Today's Zaman English-language
daily of Turkey, an official from the Turkish government, who had
asked to remain anonymous, had said the centennial commemorations of
the Battle of Gallipoli, in World War I, initiated by the Turkish
government and to be celebrated on April 24 of this year--the same
date as the centennial commemorations of the Armenian genocide--had
been canceled due to the unwillingness of international leaders to
visit Ankara and overshadow the genocide ceremonies in Yerevan.
"The Gallipoli celebrations have been canceled. All preparations
have been suspended as the number of RSVPs to the invitation is
not positive. Only five countries have accepted the invitation and
they will not be represented by high-level officials," the official
had stated.
The Turkish MFA, however, had dismissed the aforesaid information.
Speaking to Agos Armenian bilingual weekly of Istanbul, the MFA sources
had informed that the Gallipoli commemorations will be held on April
24, as planned.
Armenia News - NEWS.am
From: A. Papazian
17:07, 24.02.2015
YEREVAN. - The information which Today's Zaman English-language
daily of Turkey had disseminated, and with respect to the country's
cancelation of the centennial commemorations of the Battle of
Gallipoli, was directed against the Turkish authorities.
Armenian turkologist Andranik Ispiryan noted the aforementioned at
a press conference on Tuesday.
First, Ispiryan noted that even though this was very important news,
no other Turkish periodical reprinted it, which the Turkish websites
usually do in the case of important and urgent news.
"Also interesting is the fact that this news was written by an
Azerbaijani citizen female journalist who had recently moved to
Istanbul, and before moving to Turkey, she worked in an Azerbaijan TV
company," the turkologist said. "In her article, the girl presents
fairly extensive information about the [Armenian] Genocide, which
[i.e. the information] they never do in the Turkish press."
As per Ispiryan, however, the most important is the fact that Today's
Zaman belongs to Fethullah Gulen--a Turkish Islamic opinion leader who
currently lives in a self-imposed exile in the United States--, who is
the number one political enemy of Turkey's incumbent authorities. The
turkologist stated that this fact is the most important in all this,
since the Turkish halls of power have repeatedly accused Gulen's
movement of funding the pro-Armenian members of the US Congress.
"In addition, Today's Zaman is in English, and [therefore] this
article is aimed at the foreign audience," the speaker added.
Ispiryan also did not rule out the fact that the Turkish ruling
elite had held discussions on canceling the Gallipoli commemorations
stressing that this matter depends largely on which case Turkey will
suffer more damage; if it holds, or cancels this event.
"That is, Turkey's choice will be between the bad and the worst,"
the turkologist concluded.
As reported earlier, speaking to Today's Zaman English-language
daily of Turkey, an official from the Turkish government, who had
asked to remain anonymous, had said the centennial commemorations of
the Battle of Gallipoli, in World War I, initiated by the Turkish
government and to be celebrated on April 24 of this year--the same
date as the centennial commemorations of the Armenian genocide--had
been canceled due to the unwillingness of international leaders to
visit Ankara and overshadow the genocide ceremonies in Yerevan.
"The Gallipoli celebrations have been canceled. All preparations
have been suspended as the number of RSVPs to the invitation is
not positive. Only five countries have accepted the invitation and
they will not be represented by high-level officials," the official
had stated.
The Turkish MFA, however, had dismissed the aforesaid information.
Speaking to Agos Armenian bilingual weekly of Istanbul, the MFA sources
had informed that the Gallipoli commemorations will be held on April
24, as planned.
Armenia News - NEWS.am
From: A. Papazian