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ANALYSIS: ARMENIA WARY OF NEW RUSSO-TURKISH ALLIANCE BASED ON NEOCOLONIALIST POLICIES
Analysis | 26.01.15 | 10:57
By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow correspondent
Armenia, which was once divided under Russian-Turkish agreements,
is not interested in another alliance between Moscow and Ankara, but
it cannot back international policies aimed at restraining Russia or
Turkey by force of its current "allied" relations with the Russians.
The world press has recently described the behavior of the presidents
of Turkey and Russia as a policy of gambling. Some observers say that
both leaders, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin, are carrying
out aggressive neocolonial policies, trying to save the remnants of
the Ottoman and Soviet empires, respectively.
Several years ago Putin initiated the project of the Eurasian Union,
a Russian-led grouping that currently also includes Kazakhstan,
Belarus and Armenia. Experts believe this project allows Moscow to
keep under its control at least several of the post-Soviet states.
Erdogan, meanwhile, revived many of the attributes of Ottomanism
- he built a huge palace where guests are greeted by warriors in
traditional Ottoman clothes, he also proposed the introduction of
Ottoman language teaching at schools.
Over the weekend, Erdogan issued an ultimatum to the European Union.
"We are testing Europe. Will Europe be able to digest and to accept
Turkey, whose people are Muslims? If you oppose Islamophobia, then
you must admit Turkey into the EU," he said.
He added that "Turkey is a strong country today, and it will not stand
at the door of the EU and ask for membership." Erdogan emphasized
that if Turkey is not admitted to the EU, it will go its own way.
Will there be a new alliance between Turkey and Russia, which
traditionally would end up in the division of Armenian lands? In this
context, media are discussing the role of the Armenian Question in the
matter of pressure on Turkey and Russia. The first lawsuits against
Turkey in connection with the return of estates seized from Armenians
as a result of the 1915 Genocide have already been filed with courts.
Ninety-four-year-old Zvart Sujyan has submitted a lawsuit for the
hereditary possession of the land on which the airport of Diyarbakir
(Tigranakert) is now located.
The Turkish press already writes that it is easier to give the
Armenians the private property seized from them a century ago than
take the matter as far as the fragmentation of the country.
The Sabah newspaper reminds that 41 out of the 50 U.S. states,
as well as the parliaments of 22 countries have recognized the
Armenian Genocide. "The small state of Armenia has no influence,
but the Armenian Diaspora has... the grandchildren of the families
deported from the Ottoman Empire 100 years ago are carrying out a
serious campaign. Let's see what kind of response Ankara will give
to the noise that will be raised in New York, Washington and Paris,"
the newspaper writes.
In his turn, representative of the Turkish opposition Nationalist
Movement party Oktay Vural, referring to the information about the
Armenian Diaspora's making land claims to Turkey, said that Erdogan's
party, by returning back to Turkey the Armenians who had gone abroad,
is working on a program on returning lands to them.
He noted that the return to Armenians of the Ataturk Airport and the
Cankaya Palace, which Armenians consider to be theirs, is impossible,
but wondered whether the publication of such claims was accidental.
On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, which is
to be marked on April 24 this year, a situation has formed where the
main issue is not the claims of the Republic of Armenia to Turkey,
but the possible support by the US administration of the demands of
the Armenian Diaspora to Turkey.
http://armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/60080/armenia_turkey_russia_policies_region
From: A. Papazian
Analysis | 26.01.15 | 10:57
By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow correspondent
Armenia, which was once divided under Russian-Turkish agreements,
is not interested in another alliance between Moscow and Ankara, but
it cannot back international policies aimed at restraining Russia or
Turkey by force of its current "allied" relations with the Russians.
The world press has recently described the behavior of the presidents
of Turkey and Russia as a policy of gambling. Some observers say that
both leaders, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin, are carrying
out aggressive neocolonial policies, trying to save the remnants of
the Ottoman and Soviet empires, respectively.
Several years ago Putin initiated the project of the Eurasian Union,
a Russian-led grouping that currently also includes Kazakhstan,
Belarus and Armenia. Experts believe this project allows Moscow to
keep under its control at least several of the post-Soviet states.
Erdogan, meanwhile, revived many of the attributes of Ottomanism
- he built a huge palace where guests are greeted by warriors in
traditional Ottoman clothes, he also proposed the introduction of
Ottoman language teaching at schools.
Over the weekend, Erdogan issued an ultimatum to the European Union.
"We are testing Europe. Will Europe be able to digest and to accept
Turkey, whose people are Muslims? If you oppose Islamophobia, then
you must admit Turkey into the EU," he said.
He added that "Turkey is a strong country today, and it will not stand
at the door of the EU and ask for membership." Erdogan emphasized
that if Turkey is not admitted to the EU, it will go its own way.
Will there be a new alliance between Turkey and Russia, which
traditionally would end up in the division of Armenian lands? In this
context, media are discussing the role of the Armenian Question in the
matter of pressure on Turkey and Russia. The first lawsuits against
Turkey in connection with the return of estates seized from Armenians
as a result of the 1915 Genocide have already been filed with courts.
Ninety-four-year-old Zvart Sujyan has submitted a lawsuit for the
hereditary possession of the land on which the airport of Diyarbakir
(Tigranakert) is now located.
The Turkish press already writes that it is easier to give the
Armenians the private property seized from them a century ago than
take the matter as far as the fragmentation of the country.
The Sabah newspaper reminds that 41 out of the 50 U.S. states,
as well as the parliaments of 22 countries have recognized the
Armenian Genocide. "The small state of Armenia has no influence,
but the Armenian Diaspora has... the grandchildren of the families
deported from the Ottoman Empire 100 years ago are carrying out a
serious campaign. Let's see what kind of response Ankara will give
to the noise that will be raised in New York, Washington and Paris,"
the newspaper writes.
In his turn, representative of the Turkish opposition Nationalist
Movement party Oktay Vural, referring to the information about the
Armenian Diaspora's making land claims to Turkey, said that Erdogan's
party, by returning back to Turkey the Armenians who had gone abroad,
is working on a program on returning lands to them.
He noted that the return to Armenians of the Ataturk Airport and the
Cankaya Palace, which Armenians consider to be theirs, is impossible,
but wondered whether the publication of such claims was accidental.
On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, which is
to be marked on April 24 this year, a situation has formed where the
main issue is not the claims of the Republic of Armenia to Turkey,
but the possible support by the US administration of the demands of
the Armenian Diaspora to Turkey.
http://armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/60080/armenia_turkey_russia_policies_region
From: A. Papazian