Armenian Issues: January 2008

Friday, January 18, 2008

A TV Debate On Armenian-Turkish Relations (2)

A TV Debate On Armenian-Turkish Relations (2)[1]

As it was expected, Armenia TV channel misrepresented the TV debate on Armenian-Turkish relations between Armenia’s ex-prime minister and political leader Khosrov Harutunyan and political scientist Dr. Armen Ayvazyan for Harutunyan’s views. The debate was aired on January 15, 2008. Censors of the TV deleted parts of Dr. Ayvazyan’s speech and presented the debate in such a way that would incite the viewer to accept Harutunyan’s views on this issue. This means to accept normalizing relations between Armenia and Turkey and open the borders without preconditions and to boost economic relations between the two countries without considering basic facts. Here, I mention examples of what the TV channel deleted from Dr. Ayvazyan’s speech that would prove what I have said above:

When Dr. Ayvazyan said he would read some excerpts from Azerbaijan’s president Ilham Aliyev's Dec. 31 New Year’s address in which he threatens the Armenians of Artsakh Republic, the moderator, Gevorg Altunyan, sarcastically asked Ayvazyan: "Does it mean that you have listened to Aliyev's speech instead of listening to Kocharian's speech," at which Ayvazyan replied that he followed both speeches. This as well as the excerpts from Aliyev's address (see below) were left out.

Although the Armenians of the Ottoman Empire in 1915 were integrated into empire’s economy, the scheme of the Armenian Genocide was carried out.

Although Soviet Armenia’s economy was integrated with Soviet Azerbaijan’s economy, neither the Armenian Genocide and pogroms in Sumgait, Baku and other places inhabited by the Armenians, nor the war between Azerbaijan and Artsakh republics was prevented.

The preconditions put by Turkey to set up “normal” relations with Armenia, among which the delivery of Artsakh to Azerbaijan and giving up the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide by Armenia and Diaspora. Recently, they even called for removing the Armenian Genocide memorial in Armenia and recognizing the “genocide” of Turks by Armenians!! Also, they put the condition of taking Meghri region out of Armenia’s control and stopping Armenia’s “support” for PKK, besides other preconditions.

Excerpts from Ilham Aliyev’s New Year’s address on Dec. 31, 2007[2]

“We will never allow the creation of a second Armenian state on Azerbaijani soil,”.

“If the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh want to self-determine, they should do that within the framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. If they don’t want that, they should leave Nagorno-Karabakh and create their second state elsewhere,” .

“Nagorno-Karabakh will never be granted independence, the leadership and the people of Azerbaijan will never agree to that,”

“We are reinforcing our army because we must be ready to free our lands of occupiers at any moment and by any means,” .

“The strengthening of the army will remain a top priority,”.

It is obvious, that misrepresenting the debate and turning a blind eye to basic facts and Turkey-Azerbaijan’s threats to Armenia and Artsakh republics would benefit foreign agendas, for sure not in the sake of the Armenian people.

http://www.karabakh-open.com/src/index.php?lang=en&nid=7333&id=2

[1] Read my previous article in:

http://www.karabakh-open.com/src/index.php?lang=en&id=2&nid=7237

[2] Karabakh Armenians Told To Accept Azeri Rule Or Emigrate,

http://www.armenialiberty.org

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

A TV Debate On Armenian-Turkish Relations

On Jan. 12, 2008, a friend of me in Yerevan invited me to attend a TV debate on Armenian-Turkish relations managed by Armenia TV channel. The debate was between Armenia’s ex-prime minister and political leader Khosrov Harutunyan and political scientist Dr. Armen Ayvazyan. As I knew Dr. Ayvazyan’s views on this issue I accepted to sit with the group of attendees in the program who would support Dr. Ayvazyan in this issue.

The debate was especially concentrated on one matter of the Armenian-Turkish relations; the closed borders between Armenia and Turkey. Harutunyan defended “normalizing” Armenian-Turkish relations, and that Armenia should make initiatives to “change” Turkey’s policy, at the same time considering the EU as a “natural ally” to Armenia in this issue.

Dr. Ayvazyan finds that opening the borders between Armenia and Turkey, which currently is not possible as Turkey put several unachievable preconditions to do that, will threaten Armenia’s interests. This is because opening borders between the two countries would offer the opportunity to Turk professionals and companies to enter Armenia’s economy widely and allows Turkey’s intelligence to infiltrate Armenia. Dr. Ayvazyan sees that Armenia does not have defensive mechanisms in economic and national security to face such a case. He also finds that Armenia must follow efficient policy to face the hostile policy followed by Turkey and its strategic partner Azerbaijan towards Armenia. Dr. Ayvazyan stated events from which it can be decided the EU might not be considered as Armenia’s “natural or strategic ally”. He also stated Armenia can’t survive on the current area of 29.8 thousand kilometer square, besides territories of former "Autonomous Region of Mountainous Gharabagh". Thus, it must raise the issue of the Armenian lands of Western Armenia occupied by Turkey, which is essential in solving the Armenian issue instead of seeking alone the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Harutunyan stated countries in Europe which have small areas, like Armenia, that had normalized its relations with neighboring countries with greater areas. The comparison here was improper as these countries, unlike Turkey, used to solve their problems in civilized ways. Besides, the people of these countries did not suffer from genocide, and even Germany, unlike Turkey, admitted the dark page of its history and recognized the Holocaust. It also seemed Harutunyan doesn’t realize that normalizing relations between parties in conflict can’t be achieved till solving existing problems and restoring justice. The successive Turkish regimes seem not to be ready to do this by following hostile policy towards Armenia and denying the Armenian Genocide.

The three “jury” members in the program out of four voted for Harutunyan’s opinions. They were either young or not specialized people (a young female student in religions, a young man who is the director of an FM radio station, the head of the Photographer’s Union and the director of an NGO!!). The attendees should have given the right to voice their opinions on this important issue.

The program will be broadcast on Tuesday (Jan. 15 at 9:15 p.m. Armenia local time) and will receive votes on both views to decide which view is more accepted by the voters.

Dear reader, which view is more practical and closer to you?

http://www.karabakh-open.com