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NEW TENSION IN ARMENIA-TURKEY RELATIONS?
HAKOB BADALYAN
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28616
18:42 11/01/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:
The Haberturk reported the murder of Ilker Sahin, 40, an Armenian
teacher based in Istanbul. He was found in his house with a cut neck.
Police doubt the reason was the robbery. Most probably, he was
killed on ethnic grounds. This is the third in a series of assaults
on Armenians in the past few weeks. Earlier an Armenian woman of 80
was killed, and another Armenian woman was assaulted but her life
was saved.
What is happening in Turkey? Are these assaults the result of a surge
of chauvinism in Turkey or are these cases accidents which are not
related to one another, and the grounds of murders are not ethnic?
This question has not been answered yet. No individual or organization
has claimed responsibility for the murders to reveal the reasons for
chasing the Armenians.
Whatever is taking place, and if it is taking place on ethnic grounds
is not in Turkey's interests, especially now that the country is
facing serious problems and challenges, expects greater presence
of NATO in its territory to handle the Syrian developments, thus
hoping to protect its territory from Syrian gusts. At the same time,
the Kurdish issue is featuring the international agenda of analysts
which may be quickly transferred onto official agendas provided certain
scenarios are adopted, at least as a tool for pressure on Turkey.
Anti-Armenian expressions will be additional burden and weight on
Turkey and will not relieve the problems which the leadership of this
country must resolve.
This could be Ankara's nervous reaction. It might be trying to look
for those guilty, and the Armenians are a handy target. Ankara also
understands that the Armenian factor has a key importance in the
anti-Turkish toolkit, and even if the Armenians are "innocent",
Turkey may hit them to force others to retreat.
There is uncertainty for the time being but the anti-Armenian actions
in such a short period of time cause concerns. Fast and abrupt
prevention of a possible anti-Armenian surge or moods through legal
and political steps is an urgent step Ankara is advised to take,
and a delay may result in consequences which may come up slowly but
will be considerable.
After all, anti-Armenian actions ahead of the 100th anniversary of
the Genocide is not the best decision for Ankara, and even if it is a
desperate step to prevent the noticed or expected tendencies in the
process of the international recognition of the genocide, including
the agenda of contribution, this step will hardly help Ankara prevent
those tendencies.
HAKOB BADALYAN
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28616
18:42 11/01/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:
The Haberturk reported the murder of Ilker Sahin, 40, an Armenian
teacher based in Istanbul. He was found in his house with a cut neck.
Police doubt the reason was the robbery. Most probably, he was
killed on ethnic grounds. This is the third in a series of assaults
on Armenians in the past few weeks. Earlier an Armenian woman of 80
was killed, and another Armenian woman was assaulted but her life
was saved.
What is happening in Turkey? Are these assaults the result of a surge
of chauvinism in Turkey or are these cases accidents which are not
related to one another, and the grounds of murders are not ethnic?
This question has not been answered yet. No individual or organization
has claimed responsibility for the murders to reveal the reasons for
chasing the Armenians.
Whatever is taking place, and if it is taking place on ethnic grounds
is not in Turkey's interests, especially now that the country is
facing serious problems and challenges, expects greater presence
of NATO in its territory to handle the Syrian developments, thus
hoping to protect its territory from Syrian gusts. At the same time,
the Kurdish issue is featuring the international agenda of analysts
which may be quickly transferred onto official agendas provided certain
scenarios are adopted, at least as a tool for pressure on Turkey.
Anti-Armenian expressions will be additional burden and weight on
Turkey and will not relieve the problems which the leadership of this
country must resolve.
This could be Ankara's nervous reaction. It might be trying to look
for those guilty, and the Armenians are a handy target. Ankara also
understands that the Armenian factor has a key importance in the
anti-Turkish toolkit, and even if the Armenians are "innocent",
Turkey may hit them to force others to retreat.
There is uncertainty for the time being but the anti-Armenian actions
in such a short period of time cause concerns. Fast and abrupt
prevention of a possible anti-Armenian surge or moods through legal
and political steps is an urgent step Ankara is advised to take,
and a delay may result in consequences which may come up slowly but
will be considerable.
After all, anti-Armenian actions ahead of the 100th anniversary of
the Genocide is not the best decision for Ankara, and even if it is a
desperate step to prevent the noticed or expected tendencies in the
process of the international recognition of the genocide, including
the agenda of contribution, this step will hardly help Ankara prevent
those tendencies.