Protocols on the Armenian-Turkish relations are the success of US, Russian and Turkish diplomacy

PanARMENIAN.Net - Present Turkey is the east and the south-east of the country, habitually called Western Armenia. Unfortunately, traces of Armenians living in the territories of the six eastern vilayets have hardly remained, and the remaining ones are speedily declared monuments of the Ottoman, Byzantine or just medieval culture. In this respect, Ani can serve as an example. The same is true about Van, founded by Urartian king Sarduri I. In schools children are taught the latest reduction of the history of Minor Asia, according to which the most ancient ancestors of the Ottoman tribes were Urartians. We can offer plenty of proof, claiming that the fortress Tushpa-Van is in no way related to the Ottoman tribes and that Ani, being the capital of the Bagratids, was excavated by academician Nikolay Marr. We, Armenians, have thought up a country that does not exist today. We form an idea of that country through books that have a hundred years' history, and find comfort in cherishing the pipe dream of our "homeland". But the new generation of Turks does not acknowledge all this and views the Armenians as an unfriendly nation (if not an enemy) that can be treated with flattery and smiles. It is just for a while, then... What will happen then, Armenians know far too well.

In order to see and understand what awaits us in case of opening the Armenian-Turkish border, we only need to go to those six vilayets a couple of times. We may have plenty of talk about the European way of development for Turkey, but there, in almost every corner reigns Islam. Streets die during the evening prayer, rituals are held strictly, and the "unfaithful" get the same treatment as a century ago. The Turkish government, as already stated, has accurately "layered" the Armenian-Turkish border: in the first zone are the Kurdish villages, in the second are the Azerbaijani - Igdir, Erzurum, and finally in the third is the native Turkish population. Under such circumstances, even in case of a little conflict at domestic level, everything will get under way and we are reluctant to even predict what will be going on in the Armenian border area. Let us also add to this the tense situation on the Turkish-Iranian border and the absence of a checkpoint at the border between Turkey and Nakhijevan. All this cannot but put us on our guard: it is quite likely that with the opening of the border not only the so-called tourists will start visiting Armenia, but also the Kurdish fighters. Thus, Ankara will get an excellent opportunity to set the army in motion in the "fight against PKK", as she did in Northern Iraq.

On the other hand Armenia is in a risky situation on the diplomatic level as well. Turkish diplomacy is a true product of the East with its treachery and sneakiness, while the Armenian diplomacy is merely the remnants of the USSR bureaucratic machine, grown into a foreign ministry that is, unfortunately, incapable of effective steps to protect the interests of its own state. And when they say that the protocols are the success of the Armenian diplomacy it is not even funny. They are the victory of the US, Russian and even Turkish diplomacy. We'll have to put up with the fact that the border will, after all, be opened. Winner out of this situation is only Turkey. There is only one consolation: not only Armenia, but also the entire South Caucasus is among the losers. However, frankly speaking, it's a miserable consolation.

And lastly, in a former Armenian village near Van, inhabited with Kurds, arrived an Armenian. His father, before his death had entrusted his son with coming here when an opportunity offered. When he came, Kurds seemed to welcome him, and though he did not understand them, for some reason he thought they were happy to have him in the village. So, he began to talk about General Andranik, who used to stay in this village. A Kurd standing beside him cursed the old man, but thank God, he did not understand...