Ruben Safarastyan:

Genocide Non-Recognition Can Cause Deprive Turkey of EU Membership Possibility

April 26, 2006

PanARMENIAN.Net - The latest developments in the region conditioned by the possibility of U.S. attack on Iran draw Washington's attention to Turkey and Azerbaijan to some extent. How can this "attention" reflect on the Armenian Genocide recognition and Karabakh conflict settlement. PanARMENIAN.Net requested head of the department of Turkey at the RA Academy of Sciences, Doctor Ruben Safarastyan for comments.

April of each year starts with activation of Turkey's Genocide denial campaign. Azerbaijan joined it this year. How "weighty" is the latter's assistance to fraternal Turkey?

It's hard to take Azerbaijan's efforts for the Armenian Genocide denial seriously. As usual, those who falsify the historical facts, more trouble each other then help and in this case the fact of falsification become more obvious. Besides, one should not forget how roughly the Azerbaijani propaganda machine works.

Does Azerbaijan really considers Turkey to be the state that can be trusted in Karabakh problem resolution?

I think Azerbaijan would prefer to have Turkey only as the mediator in the Karabakh problem settlement, since this state would not spare effort to weaken the "Armenian factor" in the region. Fortunately, Turkey's participation is impossible.

Isn't this assurance in "fraternal friendship" exaggerated?

Undoubtedly it is. Each party has its owns interests. Simply their opinions coincide on the "Armenian factor" in the region.

Hrank Dink has recently stated that Kurds follow the wrong way Armenians chose in 1915 hoping for great powers. Do you think he is right?

No, he is not right. First, the Genocide of 1915 was not the result of hopes for great powers but was the result of thoroughly planned activities of the Ottoman government for the annihilation of the Armenian population on their historical homeland. Second, in the current situation Kurds have no alternative, since it's clear that the Turkish state is not ready to satisfy their demands.

Can the non-recognition of the Armenian Genocide deprive Turkey of the possibility of the EU membership?

I do not exclude it.

How can Turkey behave if the U.S. toughens pressure upon Iran?

The Turkish diplomacy has already activated to derive the maximal benefit from U.S. interest in Turkey. In case of hostilities it will render limited assistance to the United States. However it will happen in case it receives considerable concessions in exchange.

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