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Dr. Laciner: "Turkish-Armenian Alliance is not Impossible" |
4 February 2005Jan SOYKOK, ANKARA - Dr. Sedat Laciner told JTW that Turkey-Armenia alliance is possible. Laciner said Armenian state cannot survive in a hostile region and has to solve its problems with Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Laciner further continued:
"As a matter of fact that neither the Western States nor the Armenian Diaspora radicals see Armenia's national interests as their priority. Armenia's and Diaspora's interests are not the same. As Dr. Nilgun Gulcan pointed out Armenia and Diaspora has contrary interests. Diaspora needs more dispute between Turks and Armenians, because many Diaspora Armenian enjoy from the ÔÇÝgenocide industry'. If Turkey and Armenia solve their problem they could not abuse the past for their individual interests. Many diaspora institutions are dependent on ÔÇÝgenocide donations'. Many Armenian actors, businessmen, politician etc. in Northern America and Europe see Turkish-Armenian problems as source of power. When the both side put an end to the historical misunderstandings many militants will lose their financial and political power over the ordinary Armenians in diaspora. Similarly some of the Diaspora institutions argue that the 1915 Legacy is the most important thing uniting Armenians. According to this approach, Diaspora Armenians need a uniting cause in order to resist assimilation. Otherwise, they think, Armenian identity would be diminished in front of the strong Western cultures.
However Armenian state needs Turkey and other Turkic peoples.
Armenia is surrounded by more than 100 million Turkish people (Turkey, Azerbaijan and Iran Azerbaijan). Georgia is an ally of Turkey and has good relations with the Western states though Armenia stayed the only Russian ally in the region.
Armenia is a relatively small and poor country, it is land-locked. If Armenia can solve its problems with Turkey the life would be easier for the Armenians.
In my opinion Turkey, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan could establish an economic regional integration in Caucasus. Turkey could be a European door for the Armenian businessmen and people. Turkish universities can open their doors to Armenian youth. Armenia cannot survive in a hostile region. So-called Russian support or relations with Iran cannot substitute relations with Turkey. A strong Turkish-Armenian regional ally would change a lot in the region. If Turkey and Armenia can establish a strong friendship, foreign direct investment would boom, security problems down, and the region would become a trade centre for the Central Asia, Black Sea and the Middle East".
JTW, 4 February 2005
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4 February 2005
Turkish - Armenian Relations
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