Turkey should engage with Armenia, not Armenian diaspora: Etyen Mahcupyan
18:43, 28 Jan 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
Turkey should turn the centenary of the 1915 incidents into an
opportunity to engage with the Armenian state and society rather than
the Armenian diaspora, as the former is more open to dialogue, Turkish
prime ministerial adviser Etyen Mahcupyan has said, the Hurriyet Daily
News reports.
Mahcupyan said reciprocal steps by Turkey and Armenia on the centenary
of the 1915 events would change relations between the two states in a
"healing" way, adding that the initial phase should be between Turkey
and Armenia, rather than the Armenian diaspora.
"Armenia and its society are more ready to engage in with Turkey than
the diaspora. But because we hear the state's voice and as the state
speaks as a state, it seems bold," said Mahcupyan.
Stating that when one spoke to the people on the streets of Armenia,
one could understand that they are seeking closure, Mahcupyan said the
same was true for Turkey.
He added that although the two nations were the "children of the same
culture" and there was a "longing" between them, the world's current
state system had drawn borders between nations, making inter-state
relations more formal and cold.
Mahcupyan said relations should be built starting from the informal
and societal level, rather than the state-to-state level, suggesting
women's movements in the two countries coming together as an example.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/01/28/turkey-should-engage-with-armenia-not-armenian-diaspora-etyen-mahcupyan/
From: Baghdasarian
18:43, 28 Jan 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
Turkey should turn the centenary of the 1915 incidents into an
opportunity to engage with the Armenian state and society rather than
the Armenian diaspora, as the former is more open to dialogue, Turkish
prime ministerial adviser Etyen Mahcupyan has said, the Hurriyet Daily
News reports.
Mahcupyan said reciprocal steps by Turkey and Armenia on the centenary
of the 1915 events would change relations between the two states in a
"healing" way, adding that the initial phase should be between Turkey
and Armenia, rather than the Armenian diaspora.
"Armenia and its society are more ready to engage in with Turkey than
the diaspora. But because we hear the state's voice and as the state
speaks as a state, it seems bold," said Mahcupyan.
Stating that when one spoke to the people on the streets of Armenia,
one could understand that they are seeking closure, Mahcupyan said the
same was true for Turkey.
He added that although the two nations were the "children of the same
culture" and there was a "longing" between them, the world's current
state system had drawn borders between nations, making inter-state
relations more formal and cold.
Mahcupyan said relations should be built starting from the informal
and societal level, rather than the state-to-state level, suggesting
women's movements in the two countries coming together as an example.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/01/28/turkey-should-engage-with-armenia-not-armenian-diaspora-etyen-mahcupyan/
From: Baghdasarian