Turkish leaders often brag about their success in transforming Turkey from a country with a failing economy and serious domestic problems to a robust regional power that projects its influence far and wide.
Indeed, Turkey has the second largest army in NATO after the United States, and the 15th largest economy in the world in terms of GDP. As a self-appointed mediator and power broker, Turkey often meddles in regional and international hot spots. Such hegemonic behavior has earned Prime Minister Recep Erdogan the nickname of “sultan” hell-bent on restoring the long-defunct Ottoman Empire.
The founding principle of Turkey’s expansionist foreign policy is the often repeated mantra, “zero problems with neighboring states,” which has not always been successfully implemented. While Turkey has managed to improve its relations with Syria and Iran, its disingenuous reconciliation efforts with Armenia have been a total failure. Its bungled attempt to create the false impression of better relations with Armenia has not fooled anyone, least of all Diaspora Armenians who are painfully familiar with such deceptive Turkish tactics.
Apparently, the one leader who was tricked by Turkey’s fake gestures of reconciliation with Armenia was President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan. Ironically, Turkey’s policy of “zero problems with neighbors” had the unexpected and counter-effect of creating problems with Azerbaijan where none existed before.
Azerbaijan’s president became furious upon learning that Ankara was about to sign the Armenia-Turkey protocols that called for opening the border between the two countries and establishing diplomatic relations. Turkish assurances that the protocols were simply an attempt to extort concessions from Armenia did not mollify Azerbaijan. Aliyev demanded the immediate termination of the negotiated agreement because he did not want Armenia’s blockade lifted until Artsakh (Karabagh) was returned to Azerbaijan.
Even though the protocols were clearly in the national interest of Turkey, Erdogan buckled under Azeri pressure and abandoned their ratification. Why would he obey Baku’s orders and not conclude an agreement that is clearly in his country’s best interest? Here are some likely explanations: First, Turkey receives some of its energy supplies from Azerbaijan. Second, Azeris living in Turkey strongly oppose the protocols. Third, Erdogan is sensitive to accusations that he is flirting with his Armenian adversaries at the expense of “brotherly” Azerbaijan.
Of course, a truly strong leader would be able to defend his country’s national interests and withstand both external and internal pressures. Despite all of his boisterous talk during his global travels, the fact remains that Erdogan’s rule is neither secure nor stable. While he presents himself to his foreign counterparts as the leader of an all-powerful country, he has plenty of enemies at home who are constantly plotting his demise.
Last week, fresh evidence surfaced about Erdogan’s tenuous hold on power and Aliyev’s ability to exploit his weakness. The former mayor of Kars revealed that Azerbaijan’s president had urged Erdogan to have the partially completed Armenia-Turkey Friendship Monument demolished. The Turkish leader dutifully obliged after a short visit to Kars. Using the pretext that the statue was grotesque and ugly, he demanded its demolition. The former mayor told students at Marmara University that the statue was torn down at the explicit request of Aliyev. The Kars city council subsequently voted to destroy the massive monument. By promptly following Aliyev’s orders, Erdogan tarnished his own reputation around the world. Some likened his unsavory action to the Taliban that had destroyed the sacred Buddha statues in Afghanistan.
It is a bizarre situation when the leader of a small state is able to impose his will repeatedly on his more powerful neighbor. When Aliyev demanded that Ankara not ratify the Armenia-Turkey protocols, “big brother” obliged and carried out the request of Aliyev Junior. The spoiled “junior brother” then demanded that a Turkish statue be demolished. That order was also carried out with no questions asked.
If Erdogan thinks that by appeasing Aliyev he will be able to secure Turkey’s energy supplies, he is sadly mistaken. Appeasement is a slippery slope that paves the way for more concessions. Having learned that his wishes are unquestionably carried out by Turkey’s leaders, Aliyev will now escalate his demands. What will he ask Erdogan to do next? How far is the all-powerful “sultan” willing to go to accommodate the demands of the junior bully next door? Who calls the shots in Ankara: Erdogan or Aliyev?
Armenians, however, have no reason to be dissatisfied that Aliyev is bullying Erdogan. By demanding that Turkey not ratify the protocols, Aliyev inadvertently saved Armenia from an ill-advised agreement; and by urging Erdogan to have the statue in Kars torn down, he made the Turkish leader the laughing stock of the civilized world.
Harut Sassounian
Harout Sassonian in his previous articles tended to see a big danger for Armenia coming from the protocols (see his articles: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/harut-sassounian/turkeys-web-of-deceit_b_456301.html and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/harut-sassounian/who-will-blink-first-arme_b_284132.html ) and now he put all blame on Azerbaijan for the failure. Whom he would blame if, hypothetically, the protocols would go ahead?
Harut,
Your tactics are so transparent! Take your attempts of destabilization elsewhere!
A turkey and the azeris… like-minded, deserve each other. Manooshag
In addition to the oil and gas argument that is used to keep Turkey on its knees, Ilham Aliyev uses his daddy’s old trick of supporting Kurdish rebels who are fighting for independence in Turkey.
It is well known that Heydar Aliyev, the previous dictator of Azerbaijan and beloved daddy of the current Sultan Ilham Aliyev, was an ethnic Kurd. He made his successful career as a KGB general in Soviet times by assisting Kurdish resistance inside Turkey as Soviet Union was trying to counterbalance Turkish NATO membership.
After the military coup that brought General Aliyev back to power in Azerbaijan he moved thousands of Kurds into Azerbaijan and placed representatives of his Kurdish clan in all positions of power in the country.
His son, the current illegitimate Sultan Ilham Aliyev, continues this policy by allowing Kurdish rebels to train in Azerbaijan and providing them with safe haven when they get in trouble in Turkey. It is very telling that despite repeated requests from Erdogan, Aliyev continues to refuse to recognize the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as a terrorist organization allowing them to officially operate in the Azerbaijan Sultanate. Azerbaijan ignores all Turkish requests for extradition of Kurdish guerrillas and maintains close financial and political ties with Kurdish liberation movement in other countries.
Leaving aside the question of whether Mr. Sassounian’s reading of the relationship between
Turkey and Azerbaijan is at all accurate, the following discrepancy begs for clarification:
Sassounian says the former mayor told students at Marmara University that the statue
WAS TORN DOWN at the explicit request of Aliyev. Today’s Zaman says: A court late on
Monday night issued a stay of execution on a municipal decision to demolish a statue in the
eastern province of Kars which had once been called a “monstrosity” by Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-237689-erzurum-court-issues-stay-on-demolition-of-
monstrosity.html
At the end of para, 5 the article says “…Artsakh (karabagh) was returned to Azerbaijan” Would it not be more accurate to say “ceded” than “returned”.
I agree with Sebouh der Avedissian, “ceded” is a better word here than “returned”.
I have no doubt that Mr. Sassounian was paraphrasing Ilham Aliyev’s dream when he used the word “returned”. We all know that, legally, Karabagh was never part of the independent republic of Azerbaijan, therefore it could not be “returned” (we have nothing to return to Aliyev. It was never his to begin with).
Who rules Armenia? Armenians in Armenia or diaspora Armenians?
Ahmet, Diaspora Armenians are Armenians in Armenia. The objectives of Turkey/ Azerbaijan is the liquidation of Armenia—does not matter whether you recognise illegally established Armeno-Turko boarders or give up the demand of Genocide.
Turkey, or any other nation, should not submit and subjugate their foreign policy and relationships with third parties to the whims and interests of another party. Formal alliences are one thing, where the rules and conditions are spelled out clearly, but imaginary “kinships” is another matter. Nation states are not people. What are Turkey’s interests? Peace and stability in the region. That should be the purpose of all actions and strategies above all.
Then, Murat, Turkey should ratify the protocols and open its border with Armenia.
“What are Turkey’s interests? Peace and stability in the region.” Right :) That’s why Turkey keeps borders with Armenia closed, blockade of goods and services imposed, and the major issue in bilateral relations–the recognition of genocide–denied…
To Van,Quite the contrary,Turkey wishes that there be instability in near areas so as she can fish in murky waters and rule over the smaller neighbours -as in old days-viz the Ottoman Empire. Its policy of the blockade imposed on Armenia,does not really affect so much Armenia.What´s more there are plans that railway from Khorramshahr-Iranian port -already operating up to Tabriz and further up northwest of Iran will soon connect to Yerevan.Thus Trasnportation-maritime ,i.e.-to the oceangoing vessels at Armenia´s disposityion
One more thing if Armenians like some dozen yrs ago thought they could have access to Trabizon port-with turkish counterparts- a reael HOAX, since GREAT tURKEY COULD AT ANY GRIVEN MOMENT CLOSE THE dARDANELLS-bOSPHOUS (bOGHAZ) THROAT in their lingpo and not let vessels out of Balck sea.LIKE IT DID TO SOVIET RUSSIA WHEN FEELING TOO BIGF FOR ITS BOOTS AND WHEN NOTICE SERVED BY EX SOVIET UNION OPENED IT..BUT THEY COULD DO IT.WE CANNOT RELY E V E R ON SUCH A NEIGHBOUR.THEY ARE VERY MUCH LIABEL TO DEFAULT ,LIE CHEAT AND DENEGE ON PROMISES.WE DO NOT NEED THAT BORDER TO BE OPENED.THEY CLOSED IT LET THEM KEEP IT CLOSED.WE CAN BRING IN EXPORT WHATEVER VIA KHORRMAHSHAR BANDAR AB BAS OF IRAN A RELIABLE NEIGHBOUR…
SO FORGET ABOUT CONCILLIATION WITH SUCH A UNTRUSTWORTY NEIGHBOUR.
I THINK THE SOONER ARMENIA PULL BACK ITS SIGNATURE FROM THOSE ILL FATED PROTOCOLS THE BETTER FOR ARMENIA AND ARMENIANS.LET THEM GO STRIKE UP FRIENDSHIP WITH OTHER NEIGHBOURS IF THEY CAN,NOINE ACTUALLY IS WELL DISPOSED TOWARDS THEM/TURKEY…………………………
As I have said numerous times before, I think AKP government should have proceeded with ratification and opened up the borders without any pre-conditions.
They tried to start something that they could not finish, and I put the responsibility on them. On the other hand, one must be fair. They did a lot more than many other past administrations. It also takes two to tango. Armenia could have done somethings, even symbolic, to reduce the political costs to the Turkish government, which in the end they calculated to be to too great in the presence of the white elephant in the room. Armenian government should have been more active in this process. After all, how can Karabag issue be totally divorced from “peace and stability” in the region?
I have never understood the extreme cynical reaction from some corners to the “zero problem with neighbors” policy. What are the alternatives?
MURAT,
I DO NOT KNOW WHERE YOU COME FROM OR WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNT STUDIED RE OUR HISTORY.THAT IS OURS AND TURKS. WE HAVE MUCH MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES THAN KARABAG.NAKHIJEVAN IS ARMENIAN LAND, PLUS KARS ARDAHAN ERZERUM,VAN BITLIS…SHALL I GO ON…NK,NAGORNYI KARABAGH IS A FAIT A COMPLIT…DONE!!!!WE HAVE LIBERATED,BOTH LEGALLY AND BY SELF DEFENDING OUR ANCESTRAL LANDS..THE TIP OF THE ICE BERG….AS ABOVE MENTIONED. WE HAVE PATIENCE,YOUR OR TURKS SUGAR COATED TWISTING MASSALS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE ANY MORE.MOST IMPORTANTLY TURKEY AND THE TURKISH PEOPLE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT THE KURDS ARE ALSO THERE TO DEAL WITH.IF NOT NOW,OR NEAR FUTURE,THEN FURTHER AHEAD.YOU CANNOT DENY DENY AND DENY AND SHOVE UNDER RUG ALL THE ISSUES AND EXPECT THAT YOUR ALLIES ALSO ADMIT TO THAT SORT OF PROBLEM SOLVING.
YOU SEE , AFTER HRANT DINK GREAT TURKEY HAS BEGUN TO BY AND BY CHANGE -AT VERY SLOW PACE-LIKE THE STATURE IN KARS, FIRST MR. ERDOGAN ORDERS PULL IT DOWN, THEN NEWS COMES IN VIA PRESS ETC., TAHT ¨BIR AZ¨ sabr elin¨¨my turkish is poor ..means wait a bit…who are the turks kidding ,the NOW ADVANCED ARMENIANS KURDS GREEKS ARABS AND ALL NEIGHBOURS.DO THEY STILL THINK THEY CAN THROW THEIR WEIGHT AROUND.WAR THREATS BY ALIEV OR EVEN TURKEY IS F A K E
NO ANGLO AMERICAN RUSSIAN FRENCH OR CHINESE POWERS WOULD WISH TO SEE A WAR IN THAT AREA…THE AREA IS RICH WITH PETROLEUM…UNDERSTAND AND IT IS WELL GUARDED OVER BY NJUCLEAR POWER NATIONE. WHO THE HELL DOES TURKEY THINK THEY ARE.A GENDARM OVER EX SOVIT RUSSIA WITH OVER A THOUSAND NUKES…
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH TRY TO SPEED UP YOUR
ONGOING CHANGES.FIRSTLY TELL ALIEV THINGS HAVE CHANGED.IF HE REALLY WISHES WAR GO AHEAD START IT!!! THEN you can get the lesson from what will transpire..
NO I DO NOT MEAN ARMENIANS ONLY TEACHING THE,M A LESSON ..BUT ALSO THE INTERVENTION OF THE GREAT POWERS THIS TIME OVER ON OUR SIDE….
THEY HAVE BY NOW LEARNT THAT GREAT TIURKEY IS LIKE MY PERSIAN FRIEND ONCE TOLD ME A P A P E R T I G E R !!!!
Murat, one major alternative would be to immediately repeal article 301 so that a legitimate, full, sustained discussion of Turkey’s relations with Armenians and Armenia can take place. “Zero problems with neighbors” would BEGIN with that and not just be used to delay a confrontation with the real underlying issues. Until that happens, everything is just hot air.
“he made the Turkish leader the laughing stock of the civilized world.”
You Armenians use this expression too much. “Civilized world.” I never see this in Western media, only from Armenian writers. Is it because you still believe “Turks are barbarians” but you can’t say it openly.
By the way that “civilized world” usually seems to side with Barbarians rather than the “civilized” Armenia.
What does Article 301 have anything to do with “zero problems with neighbors”? It is an internal matter, part of the penal code. In what way it impedes peace and stability in the region? By and large people in Turkey say whatever is on their mind from Kurdish to Armenian or to other issues. I know because I follow everyday. Sure the laws have been abused by exteremists on all sides to harass their rivals, but tell me how many people in Turkey have been actually convicted of 301? Let us say it is abolished tomorrow (I think it will, but something else similar will be on the books still), what do you think will happen? Azeris and Armenians will hug each other and have grand old picnic in Karabag?
Your turkish ‘301’ is on the books… of course, NOT to be ‘used’ OR to BE ‘used’ as is ‘needed’… turkish style/mode of ‘democracy’.
Manooshag
Metin:
Le me provide some examples from modern Turkey to you Turks: you guys decide if some of your ethnic-Turk countrymen are ‘barbarians’ or not.
[1] A man, Cem Buyukcakir, is convicted and given an 11-month suspended sentence, because he published a comment by a reader “accusing” Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul of having an Armenian mother. Gul has categorically denied the “charge”.
Presumably in today’s civilized Turkey, having an Armenian mother is equivalent to having a Simian (non human) mother – such a grave insult to one’s ‘Turkishness’.
Kindly give an example from anywhere in the West – the putative ‘Civilized World’ – where something like that has happened.
Kindly give me an example from EU, which Turks aspire to join – because why ? – where someone can be convicted of having ‘accused’ someone of having, say, a Turkish mother.
[2] An unarmed, peaceful man, Hrant Dink, is murdered. A suspect is caught. A ranking Turkish Police Officer is photographed, proudly smiling, with the suspect at the Police Station.
Kindly provide a similar example from any country in the West.
[3] 2010: A 16 year old Turkish girl is buried alive in “honor” killing by her relatives for ‘talking to boys’.
Kindly provide a similar example where Christian parents in the West murdered their child for “honor”.
[4] 2006: Catholic Priest Andrea Santoro is shot dead by a Turk from behind while kneeling in prayer in the church.
A witness heard the perpetrator shouting “Allahu Akbar”.
[5] 2010: Catholic Bishop Luigi Padovese is stabbed dozens of times, nearly decapitated, by a Turk, who shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the assault.
Kindly provide 1 or 2 examples where a Moslem Holy Man was similarly murdered by a Christian in the West.
And to see what Europeans think of highly civilized Turks, please enjoy a short movie by an Austrian MP.
Kindly pay attention to the wild applause of Austrian MPs in audience when Turks are praised as being the cradle of civilization.
(Austrian MP Ewald Stadler to Turkish Ambassador: “People are Sick and Tired”)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThQ61K04Sbo
“….but tell me how many people in Turkey have been actually convicted of 301?”
Article 301 Cases in Turkey (where no one is convicted, naturally)
Novelist Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk: charged with “insulting Turkishness” and “insulting Turkish Armed Forces”: charges later dropped.
Publisher Ragip Zarakolu: convicted under 301.
Writer Umur Hoztali: convicted under 301.
AGOS editor Arat Dink and licensee Sarkis Serkopyan: convicted under 301
Writer Elif Shafak: Charged under Article 301, acquitted in 2006.
Kurdish mayor from Diyarbakir, Osman Baydemir: charged under 301 in 2010: trial pending.
Some Article 301 stats:
(from Todays Zaman 29 March 2008, Saturday: Stats provided by Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Şahin)
———-
{“Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Şahin, noting that even minors stand accused of breaching Article 301, said: “Fourteen lawsuits have been filed against minors in 2006. Seven of these cases were still open in 2007 while four more have been added since. Currently, there are 11 ongoing trials in which minors have been charged in connection with Article 301.”
According to Justice Minister Şahin, Article 301 saw 917 cases brought to the courts in 2006 and 245 more in 2007. In the same year, 27 cases were overturned by the Court of Appeals and sent for retrial. There are currently 1,189 cases before the courts for judicial review.”}
———–
{“Eleven lawsuits were filed against minors in 2007. Seven out of these 11 were initiated in 2006. Nine out of these current 11 cases are against boys and the remaining two against girls. The total number of cases brought to the courts in connection with Article 301 is 1,189. A total of 917 of these were initiated in 2006 while 245 additional lawsuits were taken to the courts in 2007. A total of 1,025 out of these 1,189 cases are against men and 164 against women. The total number of cases filed in connection with breaches under Article 301 in 2006 is 1,533.”}
———-
And of course all those cases were filed just for fun: none of those accused of the heinous ‘crime’ of “insulting Turkishness” were convicted……all cases were thrown out by the fair and humane Turkish courts.
“Let us say it [Article 301] is abolished tomorrow what do you think will happen? Azeris and Armenians will hug each other and have grand old picnic in Karabag?” -– If it is abolished tomorrow, the very foundations of your artificial Turkish state will crumble because millions of people—hidden Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, the descendants of those forcibly converted to Islam Christians, as well as oppressed Kurds will be throwing TRUTH to the face of your government, truth that it’s been concealing from your people for decades: that Turks are not only a purely Seljuk and Mongol breed, but an amalgamation of nomadic Seljuks and Mongols with forcibly assimilated, nobler and more civilized, ancient nations inhabiting Asia Minor long before Seljuk/Mongol invasions to the area from Mongolian steppes and the mountains of Altay. Abolishment of 301 will also instigate millions of people whose ancestors passed the truth about the Ottoman genocides of Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians to start speaking up the ruth without fear to be persecuted for “insulting Turkishness”. And, most certainly, whenever they’ll speak up they’ll call things by their names: that it was genocide committed against the Armenian people, and not an offer to relocate in sunny Syrian deserts for safety or be mass murdered as a result of “mutual suffering” of both Turks and Armenians during the World War I which, by the way, was waged nowhere near the Armenian vilayets.
As for Azeris and Armenians who “will hug each other and have grand old picnic in Artsakh”, mind your own business, for instance the business of illegal occupation of a UN sovereign state of Cyprus. Relationship between third countries—Armenia and Azerbaijan—should not bother Turkey.
Yes, Armenians use the expression “civilized world” because we, and those many nations who know us from ancient history, consider ourselves a part of it. Dig deeper. and you’ll see that Westerners use it, too. Listen to Angela Merkel or Ewald Stadler, and try to understand what they mean to say. I don’t know about modern-day Turks, I met just a couple of them (both were of Kurdish origin), but your Seljuk and Ottoman forefathers were classical example of nomadic barbarism. There is no doubt about it. If you think Armenians are alone, listen to what Greek Archbishop Christodoulos has recently said at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3292835.stm. As for why the civilized world usually seems to side with Barbarians rather than with “civilized” Armenia, try to understand the distinction between matters of political expediency and matters of historical knowledge. Besides, why is it that the tem civilized Armenia is put in quotes? Any historical evidence that the Armenian government has ever ordered forced deportation of Turks from their homeland in Mongolia and Altay mountains, while mass murdering, marching and starving to death, burning and burying, raping, mutilating, decapitating millions of unarmed Turks, slitting off Turkish unborns from their mothers’ wombs, forcibly converting poor Turks to Christianity and forcing their females to serve as wives or sexual partners in the courts of Armenian kings and nobles? Any evidence that after emptying Turkish historical homeland from Turks Armenians have transformed mosques to churches, or detonated them, or desecrated them, or made them readily available for cattle? Give me one reason to suspect that all the above was perpetrated by “uncivilized” Armenians and not by the Turks…
Turkey’s leaderships wish to appear before all nations as having acquired a status of outstanding leaderships. As if by saying and acting so – that would be the truths. (Referring to the children’s fairy tale of THE EMPERORS CLOTHES). A Turkey is desperately seeking and looking for all manners and ways to be superior to all nations… in their dreams!! As they themselves – the Turkey acts – known for all the dishonest and driven abuses of nations to have now suddenly become an outstanding and deserving honest and worthy nation. All the world knows of the Turk history… (which a Turkey does not care to know) of all their Genocides, stolen cultures, stolen ancient relics which Turks must destroy to eliminate traces of the peoples which they have sought to eliminate.
Civilized nations know to protect the ancient sites and symbols of prior peoples/generations… proofs that there were peoples who have been who were advanced and intelligent… before the Turks arrived to make claims of others cultures as their own (since Turks had not their own culture).
So, Turkish leaders claim to have a democracy – but not of the caliber that all civilizied nations recognize as ‘democracy’ – only as the Turks’ deicifer then they will decide what ‘democracy’ shall be – as Turkish journalists today have learned… via Turkish style. Manooshag
I had meant “in jail”, not convicted. My bad. It does turn out that to my knowledge, not a single person has spent a single day in jail from 301, including ALL the names listed above. It is harassment of a really bad kind and strangely, no one seems to be in support of this piece of legislation but it is still there. I have no doubt that the problem is not 301 or 302, but how judiciary uses existing laws and checks and balances. It is hard to claim there are solid checks and balances and strong seperation of powers in Turkey.
Then again, even in supposedly more modern and developed democracies such as France or Switzerland, there are sepecific laws that just as strongly penalize and harass those who speak their mind let us say on subjects dear to the most readers here.
Murat, the following is my response to your post of March 13th in which you ask what Article 301 has to do with the “zero problems with neighbors”:
Article 301 is a so-called ‘internal matter’ that makes it totally impossible to honestly and fully discuss the problems between the Turkish state and Armenia/Armenians. It shuts the door on any objective discussion of the most important facts of Turkish history. Hrant Dink’s prosecution under Article 301 set the stage for his assassination. He was a Turkish citizen eminently qualified to discuss “problems with a neighbors” but he was brutally silenced precisely because of that power. And isn’t it true, Murat, that even a Turkish citizen living in other countries is prohibited from saying “Armenian Genocide” by the Turkish government? So much for “Turkish democracy”! So much for “zero problems with neighbors”! If you think that Article 301 is just an “internal matter”, then it is probable you think the same thing of the Armenian Genocide. Correct me if I am wrong.
“Article 301 is a so-called ‘internal matter’ that makes it totally impossible to honestly and fully discuss the problems between the Turkish state and Armenia/Armenians. It shuts the door on any objective discussion of the most important facts of Turkish history.”
Firstly, the genocide is hardly a “most important” aspect or part of Turkish history. So much for “objective” discusion.
Second, AG is discussed openly if not free of some harassment and negative reaction, in Turkey today. More freely than ever. There are all kinds of opinions about it covering the full spectrum. Shows, books, films, conferences etc.
Obviously that is not what you consider free discussion until ALL Turkish public and official position aligns with your beliefs. As I said, so much for objective discussion.
More importantly, it does take two to tango. Where is the Armenian introspective? Where is the Armenian Akcam? Where is the “free” and unbiased discussion here?
Such a spectrum of opions do not exist in the Armenian community anywhere I have noticed. There is a uniformity of slogans and hatred and tone that one only sees in fascist regimes and societies.
Arent those who dare to contradict Armenian version of hisotrical events harassed, intimidated, threatened, books burned, class rooms ransacked and some even killed?
Is it not a full-fledged now industry to occulate the young everywhere with Turkophobia?
Whe the above situation changes, then you will have the right to ask for “free” discussion everywhere.
Regardless, how does the Turkish penal code change help “zero problems”? As a result of “free” discusion, Azeris will suddently start to see the errors of their ways and celebrate their massacres in the hands of Armenians? Then they will all hug and kiss? All that needs to happen is for the Turks to moderate their criminal codes and for the world to come around to the “objective” Armenians point of view?
Brilliant. Why did not Davutoglu think of this before?
Murat [regarding your Mar. 16 post]:
1. The Armenian Genocide is clearly one of the most important facts of Turkish history. It is part of the foundation of the present Republic of Turkey, together with the Assyrian Genocide and the Pontic Greek Genocide. Those genocides were carried out because the Ottoman government was convinced that the survival of Turkey depended them. I don’t know where you have been or what history you have read. You may consider the Armenian Genocide less important than I do, but that does not lower the standard for objectivity in dealing with it as you illogically imply.
2. You should ask yourself, Where is the TURKISH Akcam? He is living abroad because he doesn’t feel safe in his homeland. And although it is almost impossible to find one Armenian in the world who will deny the Armenian Genocide, there are plenty who think too much is being made of it (I not being one of them). You are completely wrong about the spectrum of opinion among Armenians, and comparing that discourse with the one in Turkey with 301 hanging over everyone’s head is ridiculous.
3. Who are you talking about, being killed and having their books burned because they contradict the ‘Armenian version of historical events’? In what country? Are you dreaming?
4. If you think that the quest of Armenians to secure Turkey’s recognition of its Genocide against them is Turcophobia, would their falling silent about it seem like love?
5. “Zero problems with neighbors” is a Turkish slogan. Therefore I don’t understand why you are always bringing Azeris into the picture. The hugging and kissing of Azeris and Armenians has nothing to do with the topic of article 301. Neither does tango.
6. I gave you a clear example with Hrant Dink of what article 301 has done and is doing to Turkey. It is preventing an open and honest debate in Turkey about how to resolve existing historical problems with a neighbor, namely Armenia. It is noteworthy that you totally ignored my mention of Hrant Dink.
You say, If Turkey abolishes article 301 maybe the world will ‘come around to the “objective” Armenians point of view’. I would say that most of the world already has and that it is now up to Turkey to do the same. But even if it does not, there should be a full and fair discussion in Turkey. If you or a Turkish friend of yours thinks it is appropriate and accurate to call what happened to the Armenians of Turkey in 1915 “The Armenian Genocide”, they should have that option. If they don’t care for that term they can use any other. The point is to have a free discussion. That is not allowed by article 301. Therefore “zero problems with neighbors” is an empty slogan, nothing more.
7. You say, “AG is discussed openly. . . . More freely than ever [in Turkey].
My question: Why didn’t you spell out Armenian Genocide instead of using AG. Could it be because you are one of those Turkish citizens living abroad but afraid to use the forbidden term because if your government found out your identity it would make big problems for you? This is another one of my points you didn’t answer. It must also be said that calling the discussion of the Armenian Genocide in Turkey open and free when no one can openly mention what the subject of the discussion is sets a very low standard for public discourse and will never amount to a substitute for the truth no matter how many apologies for an unnamable or misnamed event (buyuk felaket/great catastrophe). No, we are talking about the Armenian Genocide.