On August 10, the first presidential elections will be held in Turkey. Earlier, the president in Turkey was elected by the National Assembly. Now, it will be elected directly by people. The main and possible winning incumbent is the prime minister and the leader of “Justice and Development” political party, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and his main rival, an opposition united candidate, former employee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, who was nominated by the two strongest opposition forces of Turkey: the Kemalist “Republican People’s” party and “Nationalist movement” political party. Just four or five days prior to the elections, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has become a serious target for social criticism, as he had made such a racist expression during the love interview to the Turkish NTV television. “I was called a Georgian. Sorry, of course, but it had happened worse than that, they had called me an Armenia. But I am a Turk.”
At the request of “Aravot”, commenting on the incident, the turkologist Artak Shakaryan, first stated that the phrase of “an Armenian” for many years and decades had been considered an insult in Turkey. “In Turkey,” the phrases of “an Armenian bitch” and “an Armenian descendent” are the lowest offenses. And this is also the way people in political circles offend each other, when they want to decry someone. Abdullah Gül was also called an Armenian, and he was trying to get rid of this label, the leader of “Republican People’s” party, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was also called an Armenia, also Abdullah Öcalan… Erdoğan clearly acknowledges that the nationalist forces now as a united candidate of opposition have opposed a person against him who is not very much accepted by the same nationalists. Former Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, though nominated by the two nationalist forces, anyway is not so much accepted by the nationalists, therefore, Erdoğan is trying to play on the votes of the nationalists, to take on the votes, thereby, it is necessary to introduce some nationalistic notes. Therefore, he made this phrase, “I was called a Georgia, sorry, even worse, an Armenia,” and it was rather a message addressed to nationalists to be seen a little more nationalistic, because he clearly understands that the nationalistic votes in Turkey are always more profitable.”
In this regard, Artak Shakaryan noted, “Once again I want to emphasize that no matter some circles say that the Turks are changed, that Turkey is no longer the one, taking Erdoğan’s message on April 23 that people were saying that Erdoğan has been changed, the policy against Armenians has been softened, nevertheless, we should note that the Turkish policy currently is formulated as follows, what is bad for Armenians is good for Turks. And as long as this mindset also exists among ordinary people, political sentiments would not be changed.” To our doubts about whether this Armenophobic sentiment also exists among ordinary people, the turkologist replied, “By saying ordinary people, let’s recall that the ordinary people are not only the population of Istanbul, a greater part of population lives outside of Istanbul, and for most of them, the Armenian is the image of a “Giaour”, a “traitor”, which is consistently seated in their conscience for decades, who should be hated, because he is trying to steal something from them, to return the lands.”
We also asked the turkologist whether he sees the role of Turkey in last days’ tension in Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. A. Shakaryan replied, “Theoretically, Turkey’s head is busy now with the situation in northern Iraq, with own Turkmen problems, not to mention the refugees coming from Syria, not to mention this strained election situation, not to mention the anxiety with Kurds… I do not think whether Turkey has made any proactive step with regard to the last days’ incidents, but the Turkey’s Foreign Ministry’s statement that it sends condolences for the victims of the Azerbaijani side, not saying a word about the victims of the Armenian side, once again clearly indicate that Turkey definitely cannot and is not taking a neutral position in this conflict, it is excessively biased for Azerbaijan, and no way one can ever trust any neutral-assuming role to Turkey, and give a hope of mediation in this matter. Especially when there is a rapid reaction by Azerbaijan society that they expect Turkey’s great support in possible collision, both technically and human resources, in terms of volunteers, like it was in the nineties full-scale war.”
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In this regard, we also asked the opinion of the turkologist about Turkey’s “interference” on regular base pertaining to the talks about deployment of peacekeeping troops. “If there are ever talks about deployment of peacekeepers in our region, Turkey, in every way, being a member of the Minsk Group, would try doing everything to have its forces here. And if the Russians stationed here, Azerbaijanis would say that the Russians are pro-Armenians, so we need pro-Azerbaijan Turkey be presented as a counterbalance. In this case, Artsakh and Armenia should fight until the last drop of blood to prevent it. If Turkish troops enter into the region, it would be extremely difficult to take them out from there. The border closure until now, acting in the Karabakh war by Azerbaijani side and other facts prove that Turkey does not have a neutral position, and we should fight at all costs to prevent its access.”
Melania BARSEGHYAN
