Turkologist about the term expected from Barack Obama on April 24
It is already the April month, and on the threshold of the Armenian Genocide, there are already debates on whether this year, US President Barack Obama will utter the term “genocide” or will repeat the previous years’ “tradition”, possibly avoiding the use of this word. In conversation with “Aravot”, Turkologist Vahram Ter-Matevosyan noted that in recent years, similar debates have fallen, the Armenians no longer wait with the same eagerness as to what Obama will say on April 24. “Certainly, it is desirable that he keeps his promise, and fulfills the commitment that he has taken before the American-Armenians, but his calculations of last years have led him to another direction. I think that nothing has changed in the broad sense, and the US president will not give up the term “Genocide” this year and will not call the phenomenon a Genocide,” says the Turkologist, noting that maybe this time, in search for this word, Obama will choose a word closer to “Genocide”. “It is surely hard to say what reaction it will receive, but it seems to me that this year, there is a change in sentiment both in the USA and other states. Even if Obama changes the phrase of Great Genocide by another word, then, once again he will prove that the Armenian people are already standing on the right path in the last few years.”
Vahram Ter-Matevosyan says the Armenians finally have realized that our task and our fight is somewhere else, the target of our actions should be elsewhere. “Whatever America says, it’s at large their problem,” says the Turkologist. Our reminded our interlocutor that a few days ago, 15 US senators urged President Barack Obama to recognize the Armenian Genocide. “Such actions happened from time to time, it is not like it has happened on the threshold of April 24, therefore they have become active, and such urgings will be continued. The number 15 is too small for the US Senate, but to some extent they also influence on the general public sentiment, but to wait that Obama will give way to such urgings and will change his position, there are no grounds for it,” says Vahram Ter-Matevosyan.
Referring to the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey joint military partnership, which everybody is sure that it is established under the auspices of the United States of America, our interlocutor says that the partnership has begun more than dozen years ago, now the process has been activated trying by all means to involve Georgia in the Azerbaijani-Turkish sphere of influence. “Here, we need to note one important factor. Unfortunately, these three states, acting together, are guided by completely different principles. I will mention just one that Turkey signs a military partnership agreement with a country, I mean Georgia, whose territorial integrity is regularly violated, I mean the complementary activities of Georgian-Abkhaz relations and Abkhaz capital and the Turkish capital. On the one hand, an agreement is signed calling on not to violate the territorial integrity of the three states, on the other hand, Turkey itself violates Georgia’s territorial integrity.”
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We also talked to the Turkish about the public sentiment of these days. Although, it seems to us that the Turkish public is now interested in the subject of Armenian Genocide, however, the young Turks talking to “Aravot” mentioned that this issue is not included in the subjects of their interest as there are more subjects for discussion among their society now. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan also noted that the Armenian Genocide is not a priority in the Turkish political agenda. “Definitely, this year the situation is different for obvious reasons, because no matter how hard the Turkish authorities and opinion-makers try to distract the public attention, it is not possible to conceal or disguise the April 24, 2015, and this year in terms of being symbolic, in general. But on the other hand, there will be elections in Turkey soon, which will determine not only Erdoğan’s political future, but also the Turkey’s actions for at least 10-15 years.
If Erdoğan manages to ensure his desired number of seats in the Parliament, then Turkey will follow by his way. In other words, everything is done now to minimize the external problems related to Genocide, Armenians, and Armenia because a large number is expected for the Nationalist Party. And if certain statements are made in connection with the Armenian genocide that might seem a concession for nationalists, the votes of Nationalists will grow pretty much. They doubt on the Kurds that will win ten percent of the votes, the EDP (Equality and Democracy Party). It seems that Erdoğan is strong, but if these three parties win the ten percent, then it is not excluded that the elections will develop not by the scenario like previously. So, as they say, «Не до Армении» (It is not the time for Armenia), and we should take this into consideration when making some judgments. Also, there is a matter of proportionality. It is impossible to create such an information flow with 3 million or another three or four, five, six million of Diaspora in Turkey to be ruling, moreover, eighty percent of the Turkish media is guided and oriented by the ruling party.” The Turkologist points out to the event dedicated to the centennial of the Armenian Genocide in Turkey that will attract the attention of the local media. “We are going to witness an interesting phase, when the Genocide denial has passed into the hands of the media. I am confident that if they are allowed to work more openly on these days, more and more people will have the chance to stand close to the reality,” says Mr. Ter-Matevosyan.
HRIPSIME HOVHANNISYAN
