Armenian-Turkish Relations

[ninetoyadome]

Re: Armenian-Turkish Relations

Why should they be invited? Armenia has a nuclear reactor while they don't. Maybe when there is an oil convention Armenia should also be invited. Azerbaijan is like a little kid, its pathetic.

[Haykakan]

Re: Armenian-Turkish Relations

I think Russia and Iran should demand Armenia be invited at the next meeting of oil producing states lol. Azeris are like little childeren in the way they think, maybe i worry too much about another war.

[Alexandros]

Re: Armenian-Turkish Relations

Erdogan confident President Obama will not use the term Genocide

April 13, 2010 - 18:02 AMT 13:02 GMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is confident President Barack Obama will not use the term Genocide in his Aril 24 address to US Armenian community.

"That would be my expectation, because to this day, no American leader has uttered that word, and I believe that President Obama will not,” Erdogan stated.

"No nation, no people has the right to impose the way it remembers history to another nation or people -- and Turkey does not try to do that," CNN cited him as saying.

“Like the genocide of the Armenians before it, and the genocide of the Cambodians which followed it — and like too many other such persecutions of too many other peoples — the lessons of the Holocaust must never be forgotten,” 40th US President Ronald Reagan said in his April 22, 1981 proclamation in commemoration of Victims of the Holocaust.

Link

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Prime Minster Erdogan said:

"No nation, no people has the right to impose the way it remembers history to another nation or people -- and Turkey does not try to do that," CNN cited him as saying.

LOL. Erdogan seems to have a short memory. Erdogan accused China for committing a genocide against the Muslim Uighurs in the Xinjiang province last year.

Turkish leader calls Xinjiang killings "genocide"

[ninetoyadome]

Re: Armenian-Turkish Relations

Erdogan
“The killings of Uighur Turks by the Chinese police during demonstrations constitute genocide. I use this term intentionally.”(Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, July 2009)

“Muslims don’t commit genocide.”(Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, November 2009) talking about Darfur

“Politicians cannot decide on genocides. This is the duty of historians.”(Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, March 2010)

[hipeter924]

Re: Armenian-Turkish Relations

Theodore Roosevelt

May 11, 1918, letter to Cleveland Hoadley Dodge

...the Armenian massacre was the greatest crime of the war, and the failure to act against Turkey is to condone it ... the failure to deal radically with the Turkish horror means that all talk of guaranteeing the future peace of the world is mischievous nonsense.

Herbert Hoover

The Memoirs of Herbert Hoover, 1952

The association of Mount Ararat and Noah, the staunch Christians who were massacred periodically by the Mohammedan Turks, and the Sunday School collections over fifty years for alleviating their miseries—all cumulate to impress the name Armenia on the front of the American mind.

Jimmy Carter

May 16, 1978, White House ceremony

It is generally not known in the world that, in the years preceding 1916, there was a concerted effort made to eliminate all the Armenian people, probably one of the greatest tragedies that ever befell any group. And there weren't any Nuremberg trials.

Ronald Reagan

April 22, 1981, proclamation

Like the genocide of the Armenians before it, and the genocide of the Cambodians which followed it, ... the lessons of the Holocaust must never be forgotten.

George Bush Sr.

April 20, 1990, speech in Orlando, Florida

[We join] Armenians around the world [as we remember] the terrible massacres suffered in 1915–1923 at the hands of the rulers of the Ottoman Empire. The United States responded to this crime against humanity by leading diplomatic and private relief efforts.

John Evans

US ambassador to Armenia said to American Armenians on February 19, 2005

"Today I shall call this Armenian genocide". "I think that we, the US government, owe you, our fellow citizens, a more straightforward and honest discussion of this problem. I can tell you as a person who has studied this problem - I have no doubts about what happened." "I think that it is inappropriate for us, the Americans, to play with words in this case". "I believe that we must call a spade a spade."

http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Armenian_Genocide_Quotes#Turkish_Quotes

[Mukuch]

Re: Armenian-Turkish Relations

Theodore Roosevelt

May 11, 1918, letter to Cleveland Hoadley Dodge

...the Armenian massacre was the greatest crime of the war, and the failure to act against Turkey is to condone it ... the failure to deal radically with the Turkish horror means that all talk of guaranteeing the future peace of the world is mischievous nonsense.

Herbert Hoover

The Memoirs of Herbert Hoover, 1952

The association of Mount Ararat and Noah, the staunch Christians who were massacred periodically by the Mohammedan Turks, and the Sunday School collections over fifty years for alleviating their miseries—all cumulate to impress the name Armenia on the front of the American mind.

Jimmy Carter

May 16, 1978, White House ceremony

It is generally not known in the world that, in the years preceding 1916, there was a concerted effort made to eliminate all the Armenian people, probably one of the greatest tragedies that ever befell any group. And there weren't any Nuremberg trials.

Ronald Reagan

April 22, 1981, proclamation

Like the genocide of the Armenians before it, and the genocide of the Cambodians which followed it, ... the lessons of the Holocaust must never be forgotten.

George Bush Sr.

April 20, 1990, speech in Orlando, Florida

[We join] Armenians around the world [as we remember] the terrible massacres suffered in 1915–1923 at the hands of the rulers of the Ottoman Empire. The United States responded to this crime against humanity by leading diplomatic and private relief efforts.

John Evans

US ambassador to Armenia said to American Armenians on February 19, 2005

"Today I shall call this Armenian genocide". "I think that we, the US government, owe you, our fellow citizens, a more straightforward and honest discussion of this problem. I can tell you as a person who has studied this problem - I have no doubts about what happened." "I think that it is inappropriate for us, the Americans, to play with words in this case". "I believe that we must call a spade a spade."

http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.ph...Turkish_Quotes

Nice quotes... thank you...

[Eddo211]

Re: Armenian-Turkish Relations

No result is a result too, especially in Armenian-Turkish relations

By April 24 hardly anything will be changed in the attitude of Turkey towards “history”, but the world community will definitely change its position for the worse in relation to Ankara.

The meeting Sargsyan-Erdogan in Washington, as expected, gave no results, despite Obama’s obvious demands to come at least to some agreement. Nevertheless, in the Washington meeting there can be marked a few points which could play some role in the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, and this role is both positive and negative.

April 13, 2010

PanARMENIAN.Net - But first, let us decide the place Armenia can take in the region, given the complete collapse of the Georgian president as the leader of the South Caucasus (failure of the Bush policy) and the high-flying and inadequate nature of the president of Azerbaijan. The United States was reluctant to invite Ilham Aliyev, and Mikhail Saakashvili was simply ignored. It would be naïve to think that Serzh Sargsyan was invited for no special reason: most apparently the Obama administration has come to the conclusion that with the help of Armenia it can kill two birds with one stone - consolidate its position in the Caucasus and slightly neutralize Russia. Apparently the motives are Armenian-Turkish relations. Even though the meeting Sargsyan-Erdogan gave zero results, the fact of its occurrence is already good, as in Turkey it is the prime minister and not the president that has the last word.

As for Armenia, the President, as always, was accurate in his wording: “Armenia is ready to normalize relations with neighboring countries, but she is not ready for any preconditions. Our position in the Armenian-Turkish process has been and remains unchanged: Ankara cannot speak to the Diaspora in the language of preconditions, we will not allow it. Armenia is not going to question the Armenian Genocide or believe that Turkey can play any positive role in the Karabakh conflict settlement,” the President said.

But Erdogan, as always, stayed true to himself: failing to railroad the Karabakh issue, which he had promised to “brother” Aliyev, Erdogan reverted to the process of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and began to build up pressure on it. Now the attempts of the Turkish government to silence the events of 1915 are treated strictly and sometimes quizzically by the world. Soon Turkey will just be laughed at, because the state that denies its own history deserves only ridicule. Moreover, Turkey’s attempts to take the issue of the Armenian Genocide onto historical level are doomed to failure. What is more, Turkish Prime Minister is sure that President Obama will not use the term “genocide” in his traditional address to the Armenian American community on April 24.

“It’s my guess, because so far no American leader has pronounced this word, and I believe that President Obama will not do it either,” Erdogan said. Let us remind the Turkish Premier that on April 22, 1981 on the occasion of the Remembrance Day of the Holocaust victims, 40th U.S. President Ronald Reagan in his statement (N4838) said: “The lessons of the Holocaust must never be forgotten – like the genocide of the Armenians before it and the genocide of the Cambodians which followd it, and like too many other such persecutions of too many other peoples.” Ronald Reagan was much bolder and stronger than the presidents following him, and under his rule, as far as we remember, no one dared to blackmail or threaten the United States. And if we recall the history, on January 20, 1981 a few minutes after newly-elected President Reagan’s inauguration the hostages that had been held captive for 444 days in the American Embassy in Tehran were returned to U.S. officials.

But this is the story so much disliked in Turkey. To our regret, Georgia too has recently been suffering from a similar “dislike”. In no other way can be explained in one of the streets of Tbilisi, on the wall at the intersection of Ingorokva and Tchaikovsky the appearance of a sign reading: “Here heroically died true Turkish patriot, statesman and military commander Ahmed Cemal Paşa (1872-1922). Dedicated to his immortal memory that will never be effaced in the hearts of friendly Georgian and Turkish peoples.” Here’s a fine kettle of fish! “Butcher” Cemal Paşa, guilty of slaughtering one and a half million of his fellow Armenians, is a hero for the Georgian people... And though the sign was removed, its appearance is quite symbolic. Georgia has not yet recognized the Armenian Genocide and most likely she will not until she receives a command from Ankara. Or from somewhere else, such as from the U.S…

Let us note in conclusion that by April 24 hardly anything will be changed in the attitude of Turkey towards “history”, but the world community will definitely change its position for the worse in relation to Ankara.

http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/world/details/47030/No_result_is_a_result_too_especially_in_ArmenianTurkish_relations

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As I have said before..........Armenia is an "Ace in the Hole" for USA. Sooner or later they will play that card.

[Haykakan]

Re: Armenian-Turkish Relations

Diaspora expansion takes priority to borders

Sabah-Tr
16 April, 2010 03:25:00

With just days left before April 24th rolls around, Turkey has
decided to take a surprising step. DavutoÄ?lu met with the Ambassadors
and Consuls based in North America in order to deliver the message;
`The normalization of relations with Yerevan will only be possible if
it includes the diaspora.'

As the international community awaits the Turkish-Armenian borders to
open, Turkey has decided to open the door to the diaspora first.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu made an announcement to
the mission chiefs in North America where the diaspora is most
prominent. "Normalization is only possible if it includes the Armenian
diaspora. This process will be completed with the diaspora.' Minister
DavutoÄ?lu was joined by the ambassadors in the North American
continent as well as consuls from Toronto, Chicago, New York, Houston,
Los Angeles and Boston to receive detailed information regarding the
differences between the diaspora. During the meeting, in which mission
chiefs from the United States as well as Canada were in attendance,
DavutoÄ?lu expressed that the normalization process with Yerevan would
soon be coming up. Emphasizing that the process will be successful if
the diaspora is included, DavutoÄ?lu made the following requests:

Open the mission doors to the Armenian diaspora, and invite them in.
Attend meetings and events held by the diaspora and explain our
position to them¦
Invite the diaspora to come to Turkey, including even those who are
opposed to Turkey.
Try to attend meetings with Armenian diplomats¦
Explain our position to almost everyone, including Macedonia, Albania
and the Palestinians¦


ATHENS EXAMPLE FOR YEREVAN

Minister DavutoÄ?lu delivered these requests to diplomats following
Prime Minister ErdoÄ?an's recent meetings in Washington with US
President Barack Obama and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan. During
ErdoÄ?an's meetings in Washington and with the United States'
initiative, it was decided to; `prepare the public psychologically for
the normalization process.'

Stating, `We do not want to have to deal with a poor neighbor,'
DavutoÄ?lu reminded of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council
meeting with Greece in May and mentioned; `Why can't we do what we do
with Greece with Armenia?'

[AstalaVist]

Re: Armenian-Turkish Relations

Televised Address of the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on the Process of Normalization of Relations between Armenia and Turkey

22.04.2010
Fellow Armenians;

A year has passed since the Armenian-Turkish-Swiss joint statement on steps to normalize the relations between Armenia and Turkey. During this period, the two Protocols aimed at normalization of the relations have been publicized, discussed in the public domain, and signed. The documents have for quite a lengthy time now been in the parliaments of Armenia and Turkey, awaiting ratification. Armenia has all along demonstrated her commitment to the process of normalization of relations, to the point of including the Protocols in the agenda of the National Assembly. We have made clear to the whole world that our position is nothing but firmly constructive. We have stated that, if Turkey ratified the Protocols, as agreed, without preconditions and in a reasonable timeframe, failure by the Armenian Parliament to ratify them would be precluded.

Now, the time has come to gauge the notion of a “reasonable timeframe” and whether a conduct is “without preconditions.” These criteria were set forth by not only Armenia, but also all the mediators involved in the process, all of our international partners.

For a whole year, Turkey’s senior officials have not spared public statements in the language of preconditions. For a whole year, Turkey has done everything to protract time and fail the process. Hence, our conclusion and position are straightforward:

1.Turkey is not ready to continue the process that was started and to move forward without preconditions in line with the letter of the Protocols.

2.The reasonable timeframes have, in our opinion, elapsed. The Turkish practice of passing the 24th of April at any cost is simply unacceptable.

3.We consider unacceptable the pointless efforts of making the dialogue between Armenia and Turkey an end in itself; from this moment on, we consider the current phase of normalization exhausted.

My Fellow Armenians;

During this period, I have discussed and continue discussing the future of the process launched with Turkey with Presidents Nicolas Sarkozy of France, Barack Obama of the United States, Dmitri Medvedev of Russia, as well as our colleagues in a number of European organizations. We are grateful to them for supporting our initiative, encouraging the process, and exerting efforts to secure progress. The matter of the fact is that our partners have urged us to continue the process, rather than to discontinue it.

Out of respect for them, their efforts, and their sincere aspirations, we have decided after consulting our Coalition partners and the National Security Council not to exit the process for the time being, but rather, to suspend the procedure of ratifying the Protocols. We believe this to be in the best interests of our nation.

Armenia shall retain her signature under the Protocols, because we desire to maintain the existing momentum for normalizing relations, because we desire peace. Our political objective of normalizing relations between Armenia and Turkey remains valid, and we shall consider moving forward when we are convinced that there is a proper environment in Turkey and there is leadership in Ankara ready to reengage in the normalization process.

While announcing to the world the end of the current phase of the process, which was launched with the September 2008 match between the national football teams of Armenia and Turkey, I express gratitude to President Abdullah Gül of Turkey for political correctness displayed throughout this period and the positive relationship that developed between us.

Fellow Compatriots;

In two days, we will commemorate the 95th anniversary of the first genocide of the 20th century, the remembrance day of the Armenian Genocide. Our struggle for the international recognition of the Genocide continues. If some circles in Turkey attempt to use our candor to our detriment, to manipulate the process to avoid the reality of the 24th of April, they should know all too well that the 24th of April is the day that symbolizes the Armenian Genocide, but in no way shall it mark the time boundary of its international recognition.

We express our gratitude to all the states, organizations, and individuals that support us in deploring and preventing crimes against humanity. We are also grateful to all those Turkish intellectuals that struggle for the restoration of historical justice and share our grief. On this eve of the 95th anniversary, we call upon everyone to remember that the memory of one and a half million innocent victims exterminated under a state-orchestrated program merely for being Armenian continues to pose before mankind the demand for recognition and condemnation.

Fellow Compatriots;

We are stronger today than ever before and stand straight as always. Henceforth, our efforts for a better Armenia, a better region, a better world, and a more solid unity of Armenians worldwide will only multiply. Rest assured that results will be visible all along.

God bless us!

president.am

[Davo88]

Re: Armenian-Turkish Relations

Good!

This way, nobody in the US government will be able to use the establishment of Turkish-Armenian ties as an excuse for not recognizing the Armenian genocide...