Rumen Mehrabyan, expert of “The Center for International Studies”, in the conversation with Aravot.am, commenting on French President Francois Hollande’s call made during his visit to Ankara, which referred to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, said that it will not have much effect, because we are dealing with a process with that confronts the state policy of Turkey, which is not subject to change by calls, it may be subject to change only in the result of long-term impact of factors. This issue must be touched upon in Turkish community in the form of state decisions.
To the question of, perhaps, Hollande’s raised call is important that it was made in Ankara, Ruben Mehrabyan answered, “I think the issue of recognition of the genocide, alone, is not important here. If we view it at general context, French President’s visit to Turkey, in fact, was not held after François Mitterrand’s visit and given that everything is not so smooth inside Turkey, there are scandalous incidents there, the authorities are in a serious condition, Turkey is entering a period of pre-election, and the context of Turkey’s European future is of great importance here. We know that Europe has no common position regarding Turkey’s European future and France represents the most pessimistic wing. And, the Armenian Genocide in French-Turkish relations, unfortunately, is becoming a subject of political bargaining.”
To the observation that, in fact, we have no cause for excitement, Ruben Mehrabyan said, “Politics is not done by excitement; politics is a hard and consistent task with perception of interests. People get excited at the football match when scoring the goal, or using blasphemous words. Politics is not for excitement but for working. The question remains open. In other words, it should be related, first and foremost, to Turkish-Armenian relations, the matter is neither about this, nor the fact that Turkey until nowadays is keeping the Armenia border closed, as well as is was not spoken about that Armenia and Turkey should establish relations without prerequisites. Reference was made only to the genocide, I did not see anything in requirements of the Armenian community in France regarding this matter. And, if such an approach was justified before the collapse of the Soviet Union, it becomes a threadbare under the existence of an independent Armenia. Firstly, it must reach its goal, in addition, in the result of twenty years of independence, we actually see that Armenia has appeared in dire situation, and, unfortunately, this is not recognized by our compatriots in the Diaspora. They do not have a position, and being citizens of a European country, a NATO member country, they do not know of what Armenia’s security should be, and how Armenia’s European future should be, or whether it is beneficial for Armenia that Turkey integrates into Europe or not. They say that Turkey should not join the EU, or do not know what, they are also saying that the doors should be closed before Turkey. But, closing the doors for what? To turn to us? Do they want this? It generates from the interests of Armenia that more Turkey is integrated into the West, and more democracy is there and the West is close to us, it would be better for us, because it’s also a national security issue, and we need renewal and upgrade of this results, which we do not see”.
Eva HAKOBYAN
