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ANKARA: Dr. Laciner: "Turkish-Armenian Alliance is not Impossible"

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  • ANKARA: Dr. Laciner: "Turkish-Armenian Alliance is not Impossible"

    The Journal of Turkish Weekly
    2005-02-04 08:09:40

    Dr. Laciner: "Turkish-Armenian Alliance is not Impossible"

    Jan SOYKOK, ANKARA - Dr. Sedat Laciner told JTW that Turkey-Armenia alliance
    is possible. Laciner said Armenian state cannot survive in a hostile region
    and has to solve its problems with Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan.

    Laciner further continued:

    "As a matter of fact that neither the Western States nor the Armenian
    Diaspora radicals see Armenia's national interests as their priority.
    Armenia's and Diaspora's interests are not the same. As Dr. Nilgun Gulcan
    pointed out Armenia and Diaspora has contrary interests. Diaspora needs more
    dispute between Turks and Armenians, because many Diaspora Armenian enjoy
    from the 'genocide industry'. If Turkey and Armenia solve their problem they
    could not abuse the past for their individual interests. Many diaspora
    institutions are dependent on 'genocide donations'. Many Armenian actors,
    businessmen, politician etc. in Northern America and Europe see
    Turkish-Armenian problems as source of power. When the both side put an end
    to the historical misunderstandings many militants will lose their financial
    and political power over the ordinary Armenians in diaspora. Similarly some
    of the Diaspora institutions argue that the 1915 Legacy is the most
    important thing uniting Armenians. According to this approach, Diaspora
    Armenians need a uniting cause in order to resist assimilation. Otherwise,
    they think, Armenian identity would be diminished in front of the strong
    Western cultures.

    However Armenian state needs Turkey and other Turkic peoples.

    Armenia is surrounded by more than 100 million Turkish people (Turkey,
    Azerbaijan and Iran Azerbaijan). Georgia is an ally of Turkey and has good
    relations with the Western states though Armenia stayed the only Russian
    ally in the region.

    Armenia is a relatively small and poor country, it is land-locked. If
    Armenia can solve its problems with Turkey the life would be easier for the
    Armenians.

    In my opinion Turkey, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan could establish an
    economic regional integration in Caucasus. Turkey could be a European door
    for the Armenian businessmen and people. Turkish universities can open their
    doors to Armenian youth. Armenia cannot survive in a hostile region.
    So-called Russian support or relations with Iran cannot substitute relations
    with Turkey. A strong Turkish-Armenian regional ally would change a lot in
    the region. If Turkey and Armenia can establish a strong friendship, foreign
    direct investment would boom, security problems down, and the region would
    become a trade centre for the Central Asia, Black Sea and the Middle East".

    JTW, 4 February 2005

    Turkish - Armenian Relations
    2005-02-04 08:09:40
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