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Turkey seeking to cause split within Armenian Diaspora
18:13 * 29.01.15
Turkey is seeking to cause a split within the Armenian Diaspora and
show it is not unanimous in objecting to relations with Turkey, expert
in Turkic studies Arshak Shakaryan told Tert.am.
He thus disagrees with Etyen Mahçupyan, Senior Advisor to the Prime
Minister of Turkey, who stated that Armenia is more willing to
establish relations with Turkey than the Armenian Disapora.
"Ninety percent of the Armenian Diaspora are against relations with
Turkey. However, Turkey is able to find ten percent and work with them
and promise something to them, claiming that they are representing the
Armenian Diaspora," Mr Shakaryan said.
As to the fact that Armenian-Turkish official is the one that made a
statement, the expert believes that Etyen Mahçupyan was appointed to
make such statements.
"His statement has something in common with reality. However, it
reflects the fundamental principles of Turkey's policy," Mr Shakaryan
said.
Turkey has for a several years been seeking to establish relations
with the Armenian Diaspora, trying to present Armenian-Turkish
relations as Turkey-Armenians relations rather than Turkey-Armenia
relations.
"Numerous consulates hold meetings with diasporic Armenian
organizations, trying to draw then into a dialogue, discuss other
issues pertaining to Armenian-Turkish relations, including claims,
hold cultural events thus showing the entire world that
Armenian-Turkish relations are not restricted to frozen Ankara-Yerevan
relations," the expert said.
Turkey has come to realize that the Armenian side is locomotive in the
matter of recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and an opportunity to
cause a split within the Armenian Diaspora means slowing down the
process of presenting demands.
Although many Armenians are struggling for recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, they continue listening to Turkish music and watching
Turkish TV channels.
"Turkey is trying to make use of it. Davutoglu stated recently that
the Armenian Diaspora are former citizens of the Ottoman Empire, and
Turkey is even ready to consider the issue of granting Turkish
citizenship to some of them," Mr Shakaryan said.
As regards the possibility of slight progress in Armenia-Turkey
relations this year, he said that everything depends on Turkey.
"If Turkey makes just and reasonable steps, it will have more
opportunities for rapprochement."
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2015/01/29/artak-shaqaryan/1573535
18:13 * 29.01.15
Turkey is seeking to cause a split within the Armenian Diaspora and
show it is not unanimous in objecting to relations with Turkey, expert
in Turkic studies Arshak Shakaryan told Tert.am.
He thus disagrees with Etyen Mahçupyan, Senior Advisor to the Prime
Minister of Turkey, who stated that Armenia is more willing to
establish relations with Turkey than the Armenian Disapora.
"Ninety percent of the Armenian Diaspora are against relations with
Turkey. However, Turkey is able to find ten percent and work with them
and promise something to them, claiming that they are representing the
Armenian Diaspora," Mr Shakaryan said.
As to the fact that Armenian-Turkish official is the one that made a
statement, the expert believes that Etyen Mahçupyan was appointed to
make such statements.
"His statement has something in common with reality. However, it
reflects the fundamental principles of Turkey's policy," Mr Shakaryan
said.
Turkey has for a several years been seeking to establish relations
with the Armenian Diaspora, trying to present Armenian-Turkish
relations as Turkey-Armenians relations rather than Turkey-Armenia
relations.
"Numerous consulates hold meetings with diasporic Armenian
organizations, trying to draw then into a dialogue, discuss other
issues pertaining to Armenian-Turkish relations, including claims,
hold cultural events thus showing the entire world that
Armenian-Turkish relations are not restricted to frozen Ankara-Yerevan
relations," the expert said.
Turkey has come to realize that the Armenian side is locomotive in the
matter of recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and an opportunity to
cause a split within the Armenian Diaspora means slowing down the
process of presenting demands.
Although many Armenians are struggling for recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, they continue listening to Turkish music and watching
Turkish TV channels.
"Turkey is trying to make use of it. Davutoglu stated recently that
the Armenian Diaspora are former citizens of the Ottoman Empire, and
Turkey is even ready to consider the issue of granting Turkish
citizenship to some of them," Mr Shakaryan said.
As regards the possibility of slight progress in Armenia-Turkey
relations this year, he said that everything depends on Turkey.
"If Turkey makes just and reasonable steps, it will have more
opportunities for rapprochement."
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2015/01/29/artak-shaqaryan/1573535