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ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION: TIMID REACTION IN TURKEY AS WORLD LEADERS SPEAK ON 1915 EVENTS
Genocide | 31.01.14 | 10:06
Photolure
By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow correspondent
Over the past few days three top world politicians have made statements
concerning the Armenian genocide, in response to which Turkey, contrary
to tradition, did not protest vehemently or threaten to use sanctions.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad compared what is happening in Syria
today with the genocide of Armenians and Assyrians in the Ottoman
Empire. The California Courier publisher Harut Sassounian wrote that
"this is the first time that any Syrian head of state has acknowledged
the Armenian mass murders and identified the perpetrator as Ottoman
Turkey."
Syria was a reliable ally of Turkey, but after Ankara assumed the role
of an 'international prosecutor' of Syria the Assad administration
has not felt restrained in statements against Turkey. In this regard,
experts do not exclude that in case of continued confrontational
actions on the part of Turkey, Syria may recognize the genocide of
Armenians and Assyrians.
The second unprecedented statement was made by French President
Francois Hollande in Ankara. During a joint press conference with
Turkish President Abdullah Gul earlier this week Hollande essentially
reiterated that France has long recognized the genocide and urged
Turkey to "uncover history" rather than deny it. The senior Turkish
officials sitting in the front rows during the press conference could
only exchange puzzled glances.
A letter of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan,
who is serving a life sentence in a Turkish prison, was published
recently. Ocalan for the first time described the events of 1915
as genocide and said that now the Kurds are fighting not only for
themselves but also for the Armenians and other peoples who were
subjected to genocide. He said that he always had brotherly feelings
towards Armenians.
The recognition of the Armenian genocide by politicians of a wide
range shows that the international community not only itself is
preparing for the 100th anniversary of the genocide in 2015, but is
also preparing the Turks for that. Turkey apparently is also ready,
judging by the fact that these high-profile statements did not elicit
official reactions. Just a few years ago, Turkey imposed economic
sanctions against France after Paris tried to pass a law criminalizing
the denial of the Armenian genocide. Those sanctions have not been
canceled to date, but Hollande definitely said in Ankara that he will
not change his position.
There are few even Turkey today who deny that recognition of the
genocide is inevitable. The question is in what form it will happen.
If Turkey receives guarantees that Armenia will not make any material,
territorial and other claims, it may itself admit the genocide in
2015, limiting itself to apologies and private compensation. But
there is also an option for Armenia to turn to international courts
or the United Nations with the support of the countries that have
recognized or will recognize the genocide, for example, the United
States, if President Barack Obama continues the policy of containment
of Turkey's expansion and recognizes the Armenian genocide in 2015.
http://armenianow.com/genocide/51687/armenia_genocide_turkey_statements_assad_hollande_ ocalan
Genocide | 31.01.14 | 10:06
Photolure
By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow correspondent
Over the past few days three top world politicians have made statements
concerning the Armenian genocide, in response to which Turkey, contrary
to tradition, did not protest vehemently or threaten to use sanctions.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad compared what is happening in Syria
today with the genocide of Armenians and Assyrians in the Ottoman
Empire. The California Courier publisher Harut Sassounian wrote that
"this is the first time that any Syrian head of state has acknowledged
the Armenian mass murders and identified the perpetrator as Ottoman
Turkey."
Syria was a reliable ally of Turkey, but after Ankara assumed the role
of an 'international prosecutor' of Syria the Assad administration
has not felt restrained in statements against Turkey. In this regard,
experts do not exclude that in case of continued confrontational
actions on the part of Turkey, Syria may recognize the genocide of
Armenians and Assyrians.
The second unprecedented statement was made by French President
Francois Hollande in Ankara. During a joint press conference with
Turkish President Abdullah Gul earlier this week Hollande essentially
reiterated that France has long recognized the genocide and urged
Turkey to "uncover history" rather than deny it. The senior Turkish
officials sitting in the front rows during the press conference could
only exchange puzzled glances.
A letter of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan,
who is serving a life sentence in a Turkish prison, was published
recently. Ocalan for the first time described the events of 1915
as genocide and said that now the Kurds are fighting not only for
themselves but also for the Armenians and other peoples who were
subjected to genocide. He said that he always had brotherly feelings
towards Armenians.
The recognition of the Armenian genocide by politicians of a wide
range shows that the international community not only itself is
preparing for the 100th anniversary of the genocide in 2015, but is
also preparing the Turks for that. Turkey apparently is also ready,
judging by the fact that these high-profile statements did not elicit
official reactions. Just a few years ago, Turkey imposed economic
sanctions against France after Paris tried to pass a law criminalizing
the denial of the Armenian genocide. Those sanctions have not been
canceled to date, but Hollande definitely said in Ankara that he will
not change his position.
There are few even Turkey today who deny that recognition of the
genocide is inevitable. The question is in what form it will happen.
If Turkey receives guarantees that Armenia will not make any material,
territorial and other claims, it may itself admit the genocide in
2015, limiting itself to apologies and private compensation. But
there is also an option for Armenia to turn to international courts
or the United Nations with the support of the countries that have
recognized or will recognize the genocide, for example, the United
States, if President Barack Obama continues the policy of containment
of Turkey's expansion and recognizes the Armenian genocide in 2015.
http://armenianow.com/genocide/51687/armenia_genocide_turkey_statements_assad_hollande_ ocalan