ARMENIANS IN THE UAE EXPRESS CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM
By Abbas Al Lawati, Staff Reporter
Gulf News
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Sept 8 2008
United Arab Emirates
Dubai: As the relations between Turkey and Armenia are set to thaw with
the historic visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul to the Armenia,
Armenian citizens in the UAE supported the move while members of the
diaspora expressed cautious optimism.
For Anahit G, an assistant manager from Armenia, the "open mindedness"
on both sides was a welcome move, but "pending issues" could not
be ignored.
"We can’t change our neighbours. They are a reality," she said,
noting that the closure of borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan and
instability in Georgia had put Armenia under a virtual "blockade".
"But for us to forgive them, the Turks need to admit to the genocide,"
she said, referring to the killing of some 1.5 million Armenians at
the hands of the Ottomans during World War One.
Diaspora
But citizens of the Republic of Armenia say that it is often difficult
to justify their pragmatic positions to the Armenian diaspora, which
has stronger anti-Turkish views.
Anna Kandaryan, an Armenian sales executive, said that while it was
necessary not to forget the killings, it was also important to think
about the future of Armenia.
"Diaspora Armenians have been personally affected by the genocide
and have been reminded about it continuously. They want nothing to
do with Turkey," she said.
"But the business potential between Armenia and Turkey is huge".
While diaspora Armenians too welcomed the move, they stressed the
need to keep the memory of the killings alive.
For Vartan Mardirossian, an Iraqi born Armenian business consultant,
Gul’s visit will open more windows and enable dialogue on the killings.
"I have Turkish friends here. I can tell a hundred of them about the
genocide and that would be an achievement. Imagine what a million
Armenians could do," he said.
For Hrach Kalsahakian, a Syrian Armenian in the tourism industry,
if the two sides wanted real normalisation, they needed to discuss
"all the issues, including the genocide".
"Personally, I think normalisation is very important for both
sides. But at what expense?" he said.
For Armenians, he said, the killings were not a matter of discussion,
but a fact. "We [the diaspora] are living proof of the genocide". His
grandfather, Kalsahakian explained, was the only member of his family
to survive the killings.
Kalsahakian however said he was not interested in "any kind of material
compensation" that Turkey fears will be demanded. "I just want moral
compensation. I want the memory of my people to be acknowledged and
respected. I am not vengeful," he said.