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THE ECONOMIST: ARMENIA ARMENIANS SUPPORT TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP
Journal of Turkish Weekly
Oct 10 2005
LONDON and ANKARA (JTW) - British weekly the Economist reported
that the Armenians in Armenia support Turkey's European Union
(EU) membership while the overseas Armenians strongly oppose such
a development.
Arsen Ghazaryan, who co-chairs association of Turkish and Armenian
businessmen, told the weekly that Armenian economy is frustrated
because of the economic isolation. A Young Armenian woman told the
Economist "It's easy to be principled in the diaspora. They don't
have to live between Turkey and Azerbaijan".
Dr. Nilgun Gulcan who defends that there are enormous differences
between Armenia Armenians and the Diaspora Armenians is not optimistic:
"The Economist reports just a little part of the true story. Turkey's
membership will change a lot the region and the Armenians will
enjoy. However Armenian Government has not realized this simple
fact. Yerevan still tries to undermine Turkish interests in the
European Union. They did anything possible to prevent Turkey's EU
membership" she added.
According to Dr. Nilgun Gulcan the Armenian Government is under the
control of the Diaspora extremists:
"The Diaspora ultra-nationalists shifted the political tendencies
in Armenia. They made a secret coup against the Ter Petrosyan
Administration, because Petrosyan knew that Armenia could not survive
without regional co-operation. The first President understood that
relying the foreign countries and the Diaspora harmed Armenia and
Armenians. The Tashnaks and the other extremists made co-operation
with the Russian deep state and they changed the president. Now the
ultra-hawk Kocharian is president and he is also a Diaspora Armenian.
He commanded the occupying Karabakh Armenian forces. The extremists
know that any solution would end their economic and political
interests. If there is no Turkish-Armenian problem, how they can
collect donation from the Armenians in California? If there is no
Armenian issue, how the Armenian politicians in France can get vote
from the Armenian voters? Many Armenians owe their famous and economic
wealth to the Armenian Problem. I mean they abuse the past for their
own personal and group interests. As a matter of fact that they do
not respect their ancestors' tragedy."
Dr. Sedat Laciner, director of ISRO, argued that both countries have
potential to become great allies:
"Armenia needs Turkey. There are more than 100 million Turks around
Armenia and Turkish Government is now really sincere in solving the
problems with Armenia. The border between Armenia and Turkey should
be opened and the business should be improved. Now the trade volume
between two countries is around 200 million dollars though the gate
is closed. Turkey will not open the border till Armenia withdraws
its forces from occupied territories and Yerevan recognise Turkey's
national borders. However Armenia should understand that Armenia
could not survive by fighting Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Irredentism will mostly damage Armenian interests. The extremist
Armenian nationalism just focuses on territory. The focus should
be shifted into the human factors. If your people are poor and not
integrated with the rest of the world, territory causes problem,
not wealth and power. Any compromise from irredentist demands will
make Armenia wealthier and more integrated with Europe. And Turkey
will be the most helpful country in this process".
Armenians argue that the 1915 Relocation campaign was genocide,
though the Ottoman Empire never accepted the allegation. The Ottoman
State had declared that there was a riot and most of the Armenians
died due to the bad weather conditions, famine and war circumstances.
Turkey similarly has not accepted the Armenians claims. More than
520.000 Turkish people were massacred by the Armenian armed groups
during the First World War, and Turkish historians urge the Armenians
to recognize all these killings as massacre.
Journal of Turkish Weekly
Oct 10 2005
LONDON and ANKARA (JTW) - British weekly the Economist reported
that the Armenians in Armenia support Turkey's European Union
(EU) membership while the overseas Armenians strongly oppose such
a development.
Arsen Ghazaryan, who co-chairs association of Turkish and Armenian
businessmen, told the weekly that Armenian economy is frustrated
because of the economic isolation. A Young Armenian woman told the
Economist "It's easy to be principled in the diaspora. They don't
have to live between Turkey and Azerbaijan".
Dr. Nilgun Gulcan who defends that there are enormous differences
between Armenia Armenians and the Diaspora Armenians is not optimistic:
"The Economist reports just a little part of the true story. Turkey's
membership will change a lot the region and the Armenians will
enjoy. However Armenian Government has not realized this simple
fact. Yerevan still tries to undermine Turkish interests in the
European Union. They did anything possible to prevent Turkey's EU
membership" she added.
According to Dr. Nilgun Gulcan the Armenian Government is under the
control of the Diaspora extremists:
"The Diaspora ultra-nationalists shifted the political tendencies
in Armenia. They made a secret coup against the Ter Petrosyan
Administration, because Petrosyan knew that Armenia could not survive
without regional co-operation. The first President understood that
relying the foreign countries and the Diaspora harmed Armenia and
Armenians. The Tashnaks and the other extremists made co-operation
with the Russian deep state and they changed the president. Now the
ultra-hawk Kocharian is president and he is also a Diaspora Armenian.
He commanded the occupying Karabakh Armenian forces. The extremists
know that any solution would end their economic and political
interests. If there is no Turkish-Armenian problem, how they can
collect donation from the Armenians in California? If there is no
Armenian issue, how the Armenian politicians in France can get vote
from the Armenian voters? Many Armenians owe their famous and economic
wealth to the Armenian Problem. I mean they abuse the past for their
own personal and group interests. As a matter of fact that they do
not respect their ancestors' tragedy."
Dr. Sedat Laciner, director of ISRO, argued that both countries have
potential to become great allies:
"Armenia needs Turkey. There are more than 100 million Turks around
Armenia and Turkish Government is now really sincere in solving the
problems with Armenia. The border between Armenia and Turkey should
be opened and the business should be improved. Now the trade volume
between two countries is around 200 million dollars though the gate
is closed. Turkey will not open the border till Armenia withdraws
its forces from occupied territories and Yerevan recognise Turkey's
national borders. However Armenia should understand that Armenia
could not survive by fighting Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Irredentism will mostly damage Armenian interests. The extremist
Armenian nationalism just focuses on territory. The focus should
be shifted into the human factors. If your people are poor and not
integrated with the rest of the world, territory causes problem,
not wealth and power. Any compromise from irredentist demands will
make Armenia wealthier and more integrated with Europe. And Turkey
will be the most helpful country in this process".
Armenians argue that the 1915 Relocation campaign was genocide,
though the Ottoman Empire never accepted the allegation. The Ottoman
State had declared that there was a riot and most of the Armenians
died due to the bad weather conditions, famine and war circumstances.
Turkey similarly has not accepted the Armenians claims. More than
520.000 Turkish people were massacred by the Armenian armed groups
during the First World War, and Turkish historians urge the Armenians
to recognize all these killings as massacre.