Egypt to recognize Armenian Genocide, who's next?

August 19, 2013 - 18:13 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan seems to have succeeded in spoiling ties with half the countries in the Near East, including major players like Egypt and Syria. Monarchies in the Gulf are, clearly, next in turn.

Erdogan has merely confirmed that the Islamic brotherhood, if it actually exists, implies Arabs' submission to Ottomans. Which, in turn, can't rejoice Arab states who've retained vivid memories of the Ottoman rule. Turkey might be facing an adequate response, if Egypt, Syria and Lebanon were to recognize the Armenian Genocide. The first signal came from Egypt - the most politically significant country of the Arab East.

Egypt’s interim leader pledged to recognize the Armenian Genocide in response to statements by Erdogan condemning "the coup" in Egypt and announcing Islamist Mohammed Morsi a legitimate President.

“The document will be formally submitted to the UN on Monday, August 19,” Adly Mansour said in his Twitter post. “Our representatives in the UN will sign an international document recognizing the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey which led to the deaths of millions,” the Coptic leader said.

It was in Egypt's Port Said that survivors of the Genocide found refuge in 1915, with heroes of Musa Dagh Resistance, actors, public figures buried in Cairo's old Armenian cemetery.

Armenians always played a major role in the life of Egypt. Armenian-born Nubar Pasha Nubarian became the first PM and foreign minister of Egypt, with streets in Cairo and Alexandria named after the politician who garnered numerous titles and awards during his lifetime. His son Boghos Nubar Pasha founded the Armenian Great Benevolent Union (AGBU) in 1906. Before Gamal Abdel Nasser's presidency in 1952, 60000 Armenians lived in Cairo and about 30000 in Alexandria.

So, the Coptic interim leader's statement might turn to be well founded. It's all good on one hand, but on the other, the Genocide issue is becoming a tool for political speculations. It might also become an instrument for taming Erdogan, if it's at all possible. And Syria might follow Egypt's suit in recognizing the Genocide. Well, let's wait and see – the important thing is that the possibility was mentioned by Mansour.