National interest should be priority

National interest should be priority

Politics
Yerkir/am
October 01, 2004

Two years ago when there was a proposal to adopt a law criminalizing
the fact of the Armenian Genocide, a group of politicians and media
outlets reacted hysterically. The authors and the supporters of the
proposal were even accused of violating the rights of the Armenian
citizens.

Even now, after new “initiatives” of reconciliation between Turkey and
Armenia have been brought to arena, the same political force and media
advocate the thesis that today’s Turkey is different, it is trying to
join Europe, and that Turks are ready to reform their government and
society to meet the European standards.

This thesis – actually directed at countries that are to decide
whether or not to accept Turkey in the European Union – has ironically
found agreater “understanding” in Armenia than in Europe. Some in
Armenia seem to be even more interested in Turkey’s joining the EU
than Europeans themselves and even some Turkish political circles.

Those people are trying hard to persuade us that after Turkey has
joined the EU, the Turkish-Armenian border will be opened
automatically becoming a border between Armenia and the EU. By the
way, Turkey is the only country opposing the opening of the border it
has shut itself.

Ironically, Turks are the only ones ruining this myth by trying to
introduce a law that would criminalize admitting the Armenian
Genocide.

This is how those who deem their national interest as priority are
preparing to join Europe. It would be great if some of us too could
base their positions on our national interests. Then, maybe many would
base their words and deeds not on virtual reality and foreign grants
but on knowledge of the reality.