STRATEGY DOOMED TO FAILURE AND THE TURKISH DREAM OF THE AMERICAN CONGRESS
Friday, 27 March 2015 13:59
The Turkish authorities’ recent foreign policy strategy and especially
the intensification of diplomatic efforts in the American direction
are visible to the naked eye.
The steps taken by official Ankara reflect the concerns of the
country’s authorities related to the stance of the international
community on the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and, in
particular, the possible emphasis of the USA President’s annual speech.
The Turkish authorities’ actions and different-level statements reveal
this tactics: the Armenian Genocide is presented in other words –
‘general pain’, ‘sad news’, or that not only Armenians became victims
of the ‘mournful events’, but also representatives of other nations
professing the Muslim faith. Along with the denial, they try to exert
pressure on the international community for impeding the further
process of recognition, and if we pay attention to the statements of
the country’s President, Prime Minister and other political figures,
we’ll see the obvious goal.
But, a goal is one thing and the contradicting reality is another
thing. Turkey feels itself defeated in the European direction –
it got furious about the resolution on the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide adopted on March 3 at the Political Summit of the
leading political force of the European Parliament – the European
Popular Party. The resolution “The Armenian Genocide: the Turkish
Responsibility and European Values” condemned the crime committed at
the beginning of the 20th century and called upon Turkey to recognize
it. It is noted in the resolution that the archives of some states –
Germany, Great Britain, USA, and France – contain irrefutable evidence
on the commitment of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire by
the Young Turks’ government. The resolution condemns the destruction
of thousands of Armenian cultural monuments in Turkey. It calls upon
Turkey to accept its own history and recognize finally the fact of
the Armenian Genocide, to pay reimbursement, as appropriate to a
European country, and to ensure the Armenians’ right to safe return
and reunification with their national home.
The resolution calls on the EU, the Council of Europe member-states,
international organizations, to all the goodwill-people, irrespective
of their ethnic and religious affiliations, to join efforts to restore
the historic justice and to pay the worthy tribute to the memory of
the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide.
Based on the EPP resolution, the European Parliament presented on
March 12 its annual report on human rights and democracy, in which
it urged all the European countries to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
Paragraph 77 of the report reads as follows: “Ahead is the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and the European Parliament calls
on all the member-states to legally recognize it, as well as calls
upon the EU member-states and institutions for further contribution
to its acknowledgment”.
A day after the publication of the report, on March 14, Press Secretary
of the Turkish Foreign Ministry Tanju Bilgic issued a statement,
condemning the appeal of the European Parliament for the recognition
of the Armenian Genocide. According to the Turkish official, the
appeal displays a one-sided approach and is a document containing
requirements lacking any logic and legitimacy.
Bilgic commented in his own way on the passage of the EPP’s resolution,
in which hope was expressed that the recognition and condemnation of
the Armenian Genocide by Turkey would open a new page in the process
of reconciliation between the two nations. By the way, the resolution
is concluded with these lines. In contrary to this, the Turkish
Foreign Ministry spokesman noted that such moves could damage the
improvement of the Armenian-Turkish relations. It is clear that the
European values are unacceptable for Bilgic, because they advocate
Genocide recognition and condemnation, which could become a basis
for the reconciliation process. The Turkish logic differs from this –
it is the recognition that damages the reconciliation process. It is
clear that due to the collision of this logic, the EU closed its doors
before this state. Those wishing to join the European family should,
at least, be guided by the values of this family.
The Turkish diplomacy decided to show activity in the United States –
Turkey’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Serdar Kilic
participated in the 35-th conference of the US-Turkish alliance of
organizations (ATAA) in Washington, during which he touched upon
the issue of the Armenian Genocide. According to the Turkish Anadolu
News Agency, Kilic openly stated what he wanted – they will continue
struggling against the U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide. He
called for using joint efforts to crown successfully this struggle.
The Turkish Ambassador disclosed his main goal, noting that it hurts
him that and that Armenians’
goal is to force the U.S. to recognize the Genocide and thus to damage
the Turkish-American relations.
The Ambassador’s statement proves once again that Turkey doesn’t
refuse of its denial policy; moreover, it notifies of its concrete
goal – to conduct an anti-Armenian policy at the American legislature.
Let us pay attention to another idea by the Ambassador – the best
way of the struggle is to ensure a representation at the U.S. Congress.
In the current conditions of the USA-Turkey relations, when the
political strategy of the American regime on restraining Turkey in
the Middle East is obvious, it is absurd to expect ensuring Ankara’s
presence in the Congress. It is a Turkish absurdity or Erdogan’s
unrealizable dream.
Let us note that Turkey has assumed a new strategy not only in the
foreign-, but also in the domestic policy. It is known that Turkey is
preparing for the June 7 elections to the Great National Assembly,
and the Turkish authorities pay special attention to the Armenian
candidates. It is quite clear that this country aims to involve
Armenian intellectuals in the denial process as well. The Turkish
state is sure that the issue will be easily resolved through the
efforts of the elected Armenian MPs.
According to the Armenian experts on Turkish issues, Armenian
candidates at the Majlis elections can be, first of all, from the
leading ‘Justice and Development’ Party, as well as the Kurdish
‘People’s Democratic’ and Kemalists’ ‘People’s Democratic’ Parties.
The Turkish elite’s calculations are obvious – they involved Armenian
candidates also in the political forces, which are not governmental,
but are controlled by the authorities; it allows making a clear idea
of their future parliamentary activities.
The conclusion is as follows: Turkey’s new strategy is doomed to
failure, both in the foreign and domestic policy. Their organizational
activities in the political, diplomatic, and scientific spheres
related to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide – to deny
the Armenian Genocide, the people’s deprivation of homeland, and the
confiscation of their property – are not expected to be a success.
Similarly unsuccessful is their aspiration to make the Armenian
intellectuals a political tool in the domestic issues.
Ruzan ISHKHANIAN