PROTESTS IN TURKEY REDUCE ITS CHANCES TO BECOME REGIONAL LEADER – ARMENIAN TURKOLOGIST

June 10, 2013 | 15:48

YEREVAN. – Turkey’s standing, which had risen among Arab countries
during the Arab Spring, will substantially fall as a result of the
ongoing demonstrations in Turkey.

Armenia’s National Academy of Sciences Institute of Orientology
Director, turkologist Ruben Safrastyan noted the aforesaid during a
press conference on Monday.

“Some Arab countries were admiring the Turkish model of governance,
which was conducting an Islamic, but at the same time a democratic
policy. It became apparent, however, that this democracy is primarily
propaganda,” Safrastyan said.

He added that the current protests in Turkey should be a lesson for
those European forces that favor the country becoming a European Union
(EU) member.

“Turkey is not a country that can become an EU member; it has a long
way to go [in that respect],” Safrastyan stressed.

As per the turkologist, the ongoing demonstrations reduce Turkey’s
chances to become a regional leader.

“Also, there is an outflow of Western capital from Turkey, in
connection with the demonstrations, and this may [negatively] impact
Turkey’s economic development,” Ruben Safrastyan concluded.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

From: Baghdasarian