Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

ARMENIANS OF BALTIC STATES COMMEMORATE GENOCIDE

10:16 â~@¢ 25.04.14

The Armenian communities of the Baltic States (Latvia, Lithuania and
Estonia) on Thursday organized a joint commemoration event in Vilnius
to pay tribute to the Armenian Genocide victims.

Tert.am’s correspondent reported from the Lithuanian capital that
the ceremony had brought together around 200 people from the three
countries, including lawmakers and intellectuals.

The participants have laid a flower wreath at a memorial adjacent to
the Museum of Genocide Victims. A candlelight vigil followed.

A presentation event was later held in the museum’s hall to introduce
the Lithuanian translation of Franz Werfel’s novel, The Forty Days
of Musa Dagh (which features events that took place in the WWI era
and the beginning of the Armenian Genocide). Different intellectuals
delivered speeches at the ceremony. The participants also heard Ara
Ayvazyan, Armenia’s ambassador to Latvia

The local Armenian Catholic and Apostolic churches later served a
joint liturgy, an exceptional event that saw Priest Khosrov Stepanyan,
the spiritual leader of Nor Nakhicevan’s Armenian Apostolic Church
in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, deliver a prayer in old Armenian
(Grabar). The clergymen and the parishioners prayed together for the
peace of the victims’ souls.

Next year, they are planning a liturgy in the Lithuanian cathedral.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian

ANCA STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA’S CONTINUED RETREAT FROM HIS PLEDGE TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

8:00 24/04/2014 ” SOCIETY

Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram
Hamparian issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s
April 24th “Armenian Remembrance Day” message, which once against
stops short of properly characterizing the crime as ‘genocide.’

“President Obama continues to outsource his policy on the Armenian
Genocide, effectively granting Turkey a veto over America’s response
to this crime against humanity.”

“It’s a sad spectacle to see our President, who came into office having
promised to recognize the Armenian Genocide, reduced to enforcing
a foreign government’s gag-rule on what our country can say about a
genocide so very thoroughly documented in our own nation’s archives.”

“The fact remains that any durable improvement in Armenian-Turkish
relations will require that Ankara end its denials, accept its
moral and material responsibilities, and agree to a truthful and
just international resolution of this still unpunished crime against
all humanity.”

“While we do note that the President chose to join in today’s national
remembrance, we remain profoundly disappointed that he has, once again,
retreated from his own promises and fallen short of the principled
stand taken by previous presidents. For our part, we remain committed
to aligning U.S. policy on the Armenian Genocide – and all genocides –
with the core values and humanitarian spirit of the American people.”

From: Baghdasarian

US WELCOMES TURKISH PM’S ARMENIA 1915 ANNOUNCEMENT

Turkish Press
April 24 2014

By Michael Hernandez, Wednesday, April 23, 2014

“We welcome Prime Minister Erdogan’s historic public acknowledgement
of the suffering that Armenians experienced in 1915”

WASHINGTON D.C. – The U.S. has welcomed a recent statement by
the Turkish Prime Minister in which he offered condolences to the
descendants of Armenians killed during World War I.

“We welcome Prime Minister Erdogan’s historic public acknowledgement
of the suffering that Armenians experienced in 1915,” said Jen Psaki,
the State Department spokeswoman. “We believe this is a positive
indication that there can be a full, frank and just acknowledgement
of the facts, which we hope will advance the cause of reconciliation
between Turks and Armenians.”

Exactly what unfolded in 1915 continues to be a contentious issue
between Turkey and Armenia that has proven a spoiler in relations
between the two neighbors.

Armenia and the Armenian diaspora claim that nothing short of genocide
occurred at the hands of Ottoman authorities under a deportation order
of a part of the ethnic Armenians in the then-empire. But Turkey says
that both Turks and Armenians died during clashes between Ottoman
forces and armed Armenian groups backed by Russia.

Earlier Wednesday Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish Prime Minister,
released a statement in nine languages, including Armenian, in which
he termed the events of 1915 as “inhumane.”

From: Baghdasarian

1915 ARCHIVES WIDE OPEN

Daily Sabah, Turkey
April 24 2014

While Turkey opened its official archives to scrutiny to uncover the
facts about the 1915 Armenian incident, the failure of the Armenians
to reciprocate prevents the matter from being tackled scientifically
and proves that the issue is used as a political tool

by Yusuf Selman Ä°nanc

ISTANBUL — As the 99th anniversary of the 1915 incidents approaches,
discussions of the alleged Armenian genocide increased. While many
Armenian diaspora members claim 1.5 million Armenians were killed
during World War I, several historians emphasize the importance of
archives for reaching an accurate conclusion regarding the events. By
admitting that it was one of the unprecedented tragedies during
the war, the issue must be approached based on historical facts,
according to Turkey’s stance.

Despite the negative atmosphere between the two countries, which has
lasted for decades, Turkey, one of the first countries to recognize
Armenia’s independence in 1991, has taken steps to mend relations.

President Abdullah Gul was the first Turkish president to visit Armenia
when in 2008 he watched a football match between the two countries’
national football teams. The visit aimed to mend and improve both
political and economic relations. The following step was to establish
diplomatic ties, as the two countries do not have diplomatic relations.

Following the visit, the two countries signed two protocols to
“establish diplomatic ties” and “improve bilateral relations” in 2009.

Yet, the Armenian Constitutional Court cancelled the protocols as
Armenian politicians were unhappy with the ongoing process and raised
genocide claims.

In 2010, Armenia halted the processes and relations were frozen.

In the background of the negative response to Turkey’s outreach,
Turkey’s steps to broaden minorities’ rights continued independently
from relations with Armenia. Turkey launched reform packages to return
property previously belonging to minorities. Additionally, those who
could prove they were citizens of the Ottoman Empire after fleeing
to different countries after World War I were guaranteed to receive
Turkish citizenship. In 2010, one of the most important churches,
the Akhdamar Church in Turkey’s eastern city of Van, was opened
for religious ceremonies. In 2011, another big Armenian church in
Turkey’s southeast in Diyarbakır, Surb Giragos Church, was opened
for religious ceremonies.

In the last three years, 10 properties were returned to Armenian
foundations. Moreover, several properties are to be returned to
Armenians as the process continues.

According to Foreign Ministry sources, Turkey has been aiming to
normalize relations with Armenia to contribute to security and
stability in the Caucasus region.

In 2013, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu visited Armenia’s capital,
Yerevan, as the two countries were members of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation Organization.

Davutoglu said the visit was an important step and overcame many
psychological barriers. Analysts noted that despite Armenia’s
reluctance to improve relations, Davutoglu’s visit was significant in
terms of signaling a new reconciliation process when Armenia is ready.

Besides the diplomatic attempts, in 2006 Turkey offered to create
a commission that would include Turkish and Armenian historians to
delve into the 1915 incidents. The commission was to open Armenian,
Turkish, British, German and Russian archives to shed light on
the issue. If the alleged genocide was proven at the end of the
commission’s investigations, Turkey said it was ready to admit the
occurrence. Yet Armenian officials did not accept the offer, putting
forth several excuses.

Turkey opened nearly 100,000 archives, including Foreign Ministry
and Prime Ministry archives. Turkey also allows eligible researchers
who meet requirements to search Turkish Army archives. Sources say
Turkey will open the army archives to the public next year on the
100th anniversary of the 1915 incidents.

However, the other countries have not been keen on opening and
publishing their archives, while the Turkish Culture and Tourism
Ministry founded a commission to find and translate archive documents
into Turkish and English.

Armenia and the Armenian diaspora have not accepted any offer made
by Turkey to date.

They have continued politicizing the historical issue by lobbying in
several countries, including the U.S., where the Committee on Foreign
Affairs in the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution
recognizing the unproven genocide claims. Furthermore, the diaspora
blamed Turkey for taking insufficient steps toward the issue, while
Armenia has not made any steps.

Turkey was also accused of letting Syrian opposition members murder
Armenians living in Kasab in northern Syria. Yet, in Daily Sabah’s
previous reports, it was found opposition forces helped evacuate the
Armenians to Turkey and cooperated with Turkish officials for the
Armenians’ security. In a second report, to be published tomorrow,
the 1915 incidents will be explained in the light of the archives.

From: Baghdasarian

APRIL 24, 2014

ARMENIAN YOUTH FEDERATION OF CANADA
Contact: HAROUT KASSABIAN
Tel: 416-728-7917
E-Mail: [email protected]

— 1000+ EXPECTED TO COMMEMORATE THE 99TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN
GENOCIDE IN OTTAWA —

WHAT: 1000+ Canadians from across the country will gather in Ottawa on
Thursday, April 24th to commemorate the 99th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide and demonstrate against the Government of Turkey’s ongoingdenial of the crime.

30+ buses from across Ontario and Quebec are expected to arrive in
Ottawa at noon. The demonstrators will first hold a commemoration
ceremony at Parliament Hill and will then march via Rideau St. to the
Embassy of Turkey where they will protest Turkey’s ongoing denial
policies and human = rights violations and demand justice for the 1.5
million victims of the heinous crime.

WHEN / WHERE:

Thursday, April 24, 2014

12:00 PM: Commemoration Ceremony at Parliament Hill (Wellington St.)

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: March from Parliament Hill to the Embassy of Turkey

2:00 PM: Demonstration at the Embassy of Turkey (197 Wurtemburg St,
Ottawa, ON)

DETAILS: 99 years have passed since the start of the Armenian Genocide;
the first of genocide of the 20th century. The indisputable facts of the
genocide have been recognized by countless scholars, including the
International Association of Genocide Scholars and numerous countries
including Canada and France.

Through the efforts of the Turkish Government, the crime has gone
unpunished. The families of victims have not been compensated and Armenian
homes and Christian churches remain confiscated.

The protesters at the Embassy of Turkey will not only demand justice, but
will also stand in solidarity with the brave citizens of Turkey who will be
holding Armenian Genocide demonstrations across major cities of the
Republic.

##

Founded in 1934, the Armenian Youth Federation of Canada is the largest
and most influential Canadian-Armenian youth organization in Canada,
working to advance social, political, educational, and cultural awareness
among Armenian-Canadian youth.

From: Baghdasarian

TANKIAN TO TURKS: TRULY FIND YOURSELF

21:53 22.04.2014

Armenian Genocide, Serj Tankian

Armenian-American musician Serj Tankian, in an open letter published in
the Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos, urged the people of Turkey to face
history and “truly find yourself,” enlightening the Turkish public
to their government’s rabid efforts to deny the Armenian Genocide.

The text of the letter is presented below:

“Dear People Of Turkey,

My name is Serj Tankian. I’m a Lebanese born Armenian American New
Zealander. All four of my grandparents come from the area known as
modern day Turkey. My grandfather Stepan hailed from Efkere in Kayseri,
while my grandmother Varsenig came from Tokat.

My other grandparents were from Dortiol and Ourfa. None of them left
on their own free will.

They were all survivors of the horrible Genocide committed by the
Ittihad government during the last days of the Ottoman Empire.

They were all small children at the time. My grandfather Stepan was
saved and spent time in an American orphanage as well as a Greek
one before arriving in Lebanon as a refugee. My grandmother Varsenig
and her grandmother were saved from slaughter by a Turkish mayor who
risked his own life to do the right thing.

These are not some stories in the archives of Turkey or other nations.

These are the true stories of my family.

Over 600 years ago the areas where my grandparents came from were known
as historic Armenia. When anthropologists dig in Turkey, they find
the remains of our civilization along with Helenic/Greek and others.

Turkey is very important to me not just because my grandparents came
from there but because my whole race came from those lands that were
forcefully taken from them, not by war, or in the changing of borders
but by the brutal orders of the Ittihad Government. What does this all
mean to us today? It’s quite simple. Armenians don’t want to hassle
Turkey, or create racial divisions, we just want justice so we can all
move on from this historical pain that strains our relationship. This
is not just about Armenian history but also the history of Turkey.

Will Erdogan’s government do the right thing by coming to terms with
all of this? I don’t think so. Neither will the military juntas that
have ruled Turkey throughout modern history.

Do you know that your government spends millions of dollars every
year to deny this truth in foreign capitals by hiring all sorts of
lobbying firms and setting up chairs at universities to re-create the
truth to its liking? Do you know how that feels as an Armenian? What
a painful experience this is? Is it not enough that I am the grandson
of survivors of a horrible tragedy of history? Must I fight propaganda
and corruption internationally to regain justice?

Turkey’s modern turmoil to find itself has a lot to do with us
Armenians. Our histories, geographies, and blood are too close not
to resolve these issues.

Both Armenians and Turks deserve leaders and governments that are truly
egalitarian, democratic, and non-corrupt to start with. In closing, I
just want to say thank you to all of the amazing people I’ve met from
Turkey who have shared their stories with me while on tour and online
and have given me hope of a rapprochement based on truth and justice.

My wish, Dear People of Turkey, is for you to truly find yourself”.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN NATIONAL ARCHIVES WILL CONTINUE TRANSLATION AND PUBLICATION OF DOCUMENTS ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

April 22, 2014 | 16:50

YEREVAN. – Protracted processing of archival documents related to the
Armenian Genocide is largely conditioned by poor government funding,
director of Armenia’s National Archives Amatuni Virabyan said.

The enthusiasm of scientists and lawyers only is not enough for serious
large-scale work on the selection, translation and classification of
archival documents both inside the country and abroad.

The expert said the National Archives have several important task,
including translation and publication of documents on Armenian
Genocide. In this context, cooperation is ongoing with the state
archives of France, Switzerland , Germany, Bulgaria , Romania,
Argentina, Iran and other countries. Moreover, the experts plan to
create and post online a special database with detailed information
about the victims of the tragic events.

However, the experts face a number of difficulties related primarily
to the fact that many papers have been lost since 1915. Furthermore,
it is known that there were Armenian villages where no one could
escape. Consequently, there are no memories or any other information
about their inhabitants.

The National Archives experts plan not only to show the international
community the facts of the physical extermination of Armenians in
the Ottoman Empire, but also display cultural monuments created by
Armenian architects.

Besides, the question of destroyed Armenian property will be raised,
he said. According to some reports, by 1919 the damage was estimated
at 2 billion francs.

The expert stressed that after gathering the necessary evidence
Armenia will petition to the International Criminal Court. However,
Virabyan warned the process will last long as only 5 percent of around
300 million of documents have been processed.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: Baghdasarian

REALIZING RECOGNITION: ARCHIVE DIRECTOR SAYS MATERIAL LOSS SHOULD BE STRESSED

GENOCIDE | 22.04.14 | 16:01

According to the director of the Armenian National Archive, beginning
with Thursday’s 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, society
must demonstrate that not only was the Armenian population physically
destroyed, but also suffered loss of cultural heritage, churches,
and great material damage.

Enlarge Photo

During a Tuesday press conference National Archive director Armatuni
Virabyan said that the archive’s challenge is to show the Armenian
society what and how events took place starting from April, 1915 till
the end of that same year in the Ottoman Empire.

“First of all we must publish the scientifically edited documents that
we possess. It’s been ten years we are realizing this work. In 2012 a
three-volume book was published in Armenian and one volume in English,
which included 45 percent of the documents.

We are also interested in creating a glossary of victim information,
which is a very complicated procedure, because it was so long ago,
some residential areas weren’t preserved at all; we only know that
Armenians used to live there, none of whom survived.

This is not a task of one or two years, and it has to be done on a
regular basis,” Virabyan says.

According to the Archive director there currently nearly 12,000
documents and the numbers continues to grow. Detailed information
exists for about 750 residential areas, as of the day killings started.

“If this works had been realized in the 1920s we’d have had enormous
materials, but even already in 1926 the (Communist) government
had forbidden to ring the church bells on the 24th of April,”
says Virabyan.

Giro Manoyan, leading the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Dashnaktsutyun’s Armenian Cause office in Yerevan, also puts stress
on raising Genocide awareness and says that a centenary shouldn’t be
considered the end to something, but rather a beginning of a process.

Manoyan says that it’s vital to continue raising questions regarding
Genocide recognition, especially raising the matter of compensation.

Reflecting on the United States’ ambassador’s announcement about an
upcoming announcement of the US government on April 24 which will
contain important changes for Armenia, Manoyan said he could see
danger in it.

“I’m not sure that the ambassador’s announcement is positive, because
if there is actually going to be a change then it’s wrong to announce
it beforehand – Turkey might come up with measures to prevent them.

The only US government announcement that will be considered strong will
say that there was genocide, a state organized genocide,” said Manoyan.

From: Baghdasarian

PRESS RELEASE
April 23, 2014

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
Web:

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA WELCOMES AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE STATEMENT
URGING TURKEY TO ADDRESS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly)
gratefully welcomed the statement by David Harris, Executive Director
of the American Jewish Committee (AJC), calling on Turkey to `address
the realities’ of the Armenian Genocide, reported the Assembly.

`In a month of solemn remembrance of the atrocities of the last century –
from the 20th anniversary of the start of the Rwandan genocide to the
annual commemoration in Israel and the United States of the Holocaust =80` we
pause in mournful tribute to the memories of the estimated 1.5 million
victims of the Meds Yeghern, the Genocide of Armenians, committed in the
final years of the Ottoman Empire,’ the AJC statement reads in part.

`On behalf of the Armenian American community, we welcome the significant
statement by David Harris and the AJC,’ said Assembly Board Member
Van
Krikorian. `This is not the first time David has publicly used the
term
`Armenian Genocide’ as he has not only been a friend but a
principled voice
for universal values for decades now. This statement is truly significant
considering the timing, and reflects the painful experience shared by the
Armenian and Jewish peoples in the last century, reminding us today that
the failure to address genocide and its denial is to condone it. We all
deeply appreciate it and look forward to the trend continuing with other
groups, governments, and increasingly among Turks and their government,’
Krikorian remarked.

A full transcript of the AJC statement is available below.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and
awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.

###

NR#: 2014-024

AJC PAYS TRIBUTE TO MEMORIES OF VICTIMS OF THE MEDS YEGHERN

April 23. 2014 – New York – In a month of solemn remembrance of the
atrocities of the last century – from the 20th anniversary of the start of
the Rwandan genocide to the annual commemoration in Israel and the United
States of the Holocaust – we pause in mournful tribute to the memories of
the estimated 1.5 million victims of the Meds Yeghern, the Genocide of
Armenians, committed in the final years of the Ottoman Empire.

AJC calls on the government of Turkey, a republic founded years after the
empire’s dissolution, to not only provide at long last full access, as the
government has pledged, to the historical record of that dark period of
mass murder, forced relocation, death marches, sundering of families, and
other abuses – but to address the realities the records reveal. The process
of healing of this nearly century-old wound can only begin when the truth
of that sorrowful era is confronted.

`As our organization has testified and written on various occasions, the
atrocities committed against ethnic Armenians under Ottoman rule were an
unspeakable crime against humanity,’ said AJC Executive Director David
Harris. `For the often-invoked but too-seldom-fulfilled phrase `Never
again’ to have real meaning, the full details of that period must be
acknowledged.’

`We identify with the core message of the 2002 Pulitzer Prize-winning book, A
Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide, by then-Harvard
University Professor, and now U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations,
Samantha Power that history must be faced, the dictates of conscience
heeded – or we are doomed to endless brutalities by the powerful against
the weak,’ Harris added.

`As successive horrors painfully remind us,’ Harris concluded, `we each
bear the obligation of remembrance as a necessary step toward preventing
such acts in the future. We stand in solidarity with people of good will
everywhere in marking the 99th anniversary of the onset of the Meds
Yeghern – the first, and not the last, instance of ethnic massacre and
genocide of the 20th century.’

DATE: 4/23/2014 12:00:00 AM
Available online at:

From: Baghdasarian

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
April 20 2014

As summer approaches, ErdoÄ?an and Sisi advance toward presidencies

Separated by three months, Turkey and Egypt will both head toward
historic presidential elections. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an
and Defense Minister Abdel Fattah el-Sisi are of course the names
featured in these elections, respectively, which will ultimately be
important tests for the future of democracy in these two countries.

Egyptians head to the ballot boxes on May 26-27. As it appears that
democracy has been shelved in Egypt, it is widely expected that Sisi
will be elected president.
In the meantime, Turks will elect their president for the first time
on Aug. 10 this summer but the situation is not as clear as in Egypt.
However, it appears as though ErdoÄ?an will be quite a few steps ahead
of his competitors following his victory in the March 30 local
elections.
Speaking in broader terms, it is quite interesting to note that in the
run-up to these two presidential elections, which are important for
the future of the Middle East, the debates and developments in both
Egypt and Turkey bear more than just a little bit of resemblance to
one another.

1. Polarization

The sharp and hate-filled rhetoric lately being used by ErdoÄ?an, who
has largely targeted a fantasy `parallel structure’ with his words,
has caused deep polarization in society. The ErdoÄ?an government has
not hesitated to go as far as telling the Turkish public that factors
like the Armenian bill proposals in the US and the criticism of Turkey
within the European Union is the creation of this same parallel
structure. In much the same way, the bureaucratic structure in Egypt,
which would like to see the continuation of the status quo which
existed under the Hosni Mubarak regime, labels any protests that take
place against the leadership, which came onto the scene after the
overturn of the Muhammad Morsi government, as being a serious threat
to the unity of the country. The result is that Egyptian society is
now divided between those in favor of the status quo and those who are
opposed to it.

2. Fear policies

ErdoÄ?an, who presents himself as the guarantor of unity in Turkey, has
also alleged on numerous occasions that opposition parties, who he
says are under the control of the parallel structure, will only wind
up splintering the country and retriggering economic crises if they
come to power. Likewise, in Egypt, it is loudly being alleged that
only Sisi can bring stability to the country, while under the Morsi
leadership Egypt had serious economic problems, a loss of political
stability and came to the brink of economic collapse.

3. Foreign powers/spies

In both Turkey and Egypt, the most preferred method of squelching the
opposition appears to be the frequent repetition of claims that the
opposition is connected to foreign powers as well as involved in
espionage.

4. The strongest weapon? The media!

While ErdoÄ?an during his first years in power often lamented the
subjectivity of the media, claiming that much of it was involved in a
conspiracy to overthrow his government, the prime minister now
controls a significant portion of the Turkish media, either directly
or through policies of fear and intimidation. Similarly, it appears to
be clear sailing for the ruling elite in Egypt these days as almost
all of the media lie under its control.

5. Weak opposition

With weak opposition parties in both Egypt and Turkey — not to
mention the lack of strengthening of civil society organizations in
both countries — both ErdoÄ?an and Sisi are able to move around as
freely as they like on their respective political stages.

6. Bad past experiences

One of ErdoÄ?an’s greatest advantages is the sheer abundance of bad
examples from the past in every arena — from politics, the economy
and, of course, diplomacy — since the formation of the republic.
Filling his speeches with talk of water cuts, mountains of trash, long
lines and inflation rates of 100 percent, ErdoÄ?an asserts that much of
this came to an end under his leadership. Likewise in Egypt, all of
the problems that the country experienced during the one short year of
Morsi’s leadership are highlighted often in the media by the
bureaucratic factions.

But in the run-up to these coming elections in both Turkey and Egypt,
it is perhaps important to underscore that there are also significant
differences.

1. Democratic experience

Despite many deficiencies, Turkey does have 65 years of experience
with democracy. Even though this experience has been derailed from
time to time by military coups and military tutelage, Turkey has been
ruled for a long time now by leaders who are elected by the people of
the country at the ballot box. Egypt, on the other hand, had a very
brief one-year stint with democracy, which came to a halt when the
military coup took place last year in July.

2. Independent organizations

Despite the controls that the ErdoÄ?an leadership has attempted to
place over the many organizations and institutions that act as
guarantors of democracy in Turkey — from the justice system and the
media to civil society organizations and the academia — these
mechanisms are still relatively functional. The same can definitely
not be said for Egypt.

3. European Union accession process

Unlike Egypt, Turkey is much closer to the Western world. The whole
European Union accession process for Turkey in particular has played a
large role in creating the infrastructure for some important
constitutional changes. Any moves made that restrict democracy elicit
an immediate negative reaction from Europe. In Egypt though, there are
no mechanisms involved in controlling these things. Egypt, which
enjoys particularly close relations with the US, is never criticized
strongly by Washington, mostly as a result of the Israel-focused
Middle East policies held by the US.

From: Baghdasarian