Armenian News - A Topalian
RFE/RL Report
Another Turkish Envoy Recalled Over Armenian Genocide
Recognition
09.06.2015
Turkey has condemned Brazil's Senate for recognizing the 1915 Armenian
genocide in the Ottoman Empire and recalled its ambassador to the
Latin American country for consultations in protest.
In a statement released on Monday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry
described a corresponding resolution adopted by Brazil's upper house
of parliament last week as "an example of irresponsibility."
"Political decisions of this nature, taken under the influence of the
Armenian lobbies can neither change the historical facts nor the legal
norms," said the statement.
It said Turkish officials conveyed this message to the Brazilian
ambassador to Turkey when he was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in
Ankara on June 3. "Turkish Ambassador in Brasilia, Mr. Huseyin Dirioz
has also been recalled to Ankara for consultations," added the
statement.
The Turkish government reacted just as angrily to a spate of similar
statements on the subject that were made by Pope Francis, German
President Joachim Gauck as well as the parliaments of Austria and
Luxembourg shortly before and after the genocide centennial marked on
April 24. Turkey's ambassadors to the Vatican, Austria and Luxembourg,
were withdrawn as a result.
Ankara also condemned the presidents of Russia and France for
attending April 24 ceremonies in Yerevan and reaffirming their
countries' recognition of the Armenian genocide.
09.06.2015
Turkey has condemned Brazil's Senate for recognizing the 1915 Armenian
genocide in the Ottoman Empire and recalled its ambassador to the
Latin American country for consultations in protest.
In a statement released on Monday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry
described a corresponding resolution adopted by Brazil's upper house
of parliament last week as "an example of irresponsibility."
"Political decisions of this nature, taken under the influence of the
Armenian lobbies can neither change the historical facts nor the legal
norms," said the statement.
It said Turkish officials conveyed this message to the Brazilian
ambassador to Turkey when he was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in
Ankara on June 3. "Turkish Ambassador in Brasilia, Mr. Huseyin Dirioz
has also been recalled to Ankara for consultations," added the
statement.
The Turkish government reacted just as angrily to a spate of similar
statements on the subject that were made by Pope Francis, German
President Joachim Gauck as well as the parliaments of Austria and
Luxembourg shortly before and after the genocide centennial marked on
April 24. Turkey's ambassadors to the Vatican, Austria and Luxembourg,
were withdrawn as a result.
Ankara also condemned the presidents of Russia and France for
attending April 24 ceremonies in Yerevan and reaffirming their
countries' recognition of the Armenian genocide.
BRAZIL CRITICIZES TURKEY FOR RECALLING ITS AMBASSADOR
Cihan news Agency, Turkey
June 10 2015
Brazil has criticized Turkey for recalling its ambassador to Brazil,
Huseyin Diriöz, for consultations after the Latin American country's
Senate passed legislation recognizing as "genocide" the mass killings
of Armenians during World War I under the rule of the Ottoman Empire as
"genocide."
In a statement issued on Monday the Brazilian Foreign Ministry called
for a normalization of relations between Turkey and Brazil as soon
as possible.
Brazil's ambassador to Turkey was summoned by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs on June 3 to discuss the matter.
"We view the decision by the Brazilian Senate that distorts reality and
overlooks the law as irresponsible and we denounce it," the ministry
had said in an email statement to the press.
The Brazilian Foreign Ministry said in its statement that Brazil's
position on the legislation has not changed, following a consultation
with Diriöz. The ministry also criticized the "tone" of the Turkish
Foreign Ministry's statement on the matter.
The ministry's statement pointed out that the Brazilian Senate is free
to pass legislation according to Brazil's constitution in response
to Turkish authorities' statements that Brazil is twisting historical
facts and acting "irresponsible."
It was also stated that the strategic partnership between Turkey and
Brazil should be normalized as soon as possible.
Turkey accepts that Armenians died during the upheaval of World War
I but rejects declarations or legislation by foreign governments
that classify the deaths as genocide. Ankara says the death toll
is inflated and that the killings took place during inter-communal
strife in the last days of the Ottoman Empire. According to Turkish
officials, Turks also suffered during the war.
Armenians, two dozen countries and most Western scholars consider
the killings to have been genocide.
Kamil Ergin, Sao Paulo (Cihan/Today's Zaman)
Ramifications of Cilicia Catholicosate's
Lawsuit Against Turkey
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
Armenians worldwide applauded the Cilician Catholicosate for filing a
lawsuit in the Turkish Constitutional Court on April 27, demanding the
return of its historic seat in Sis, Kozan district of Turkey's Adana
province. The Cilician See's former headquarters, established in 1293,
was confiscated by the Turkish government in 1921, at the culmination
of the Armenian Genocide.
Cihan news Agency, Turkey
June 10 2015
Brazil has criticized Turkey for recalling its ambassador to Brazil,
Huseyin Diriöz, for consultations after the Latin American country's
Senate passed legislation recognizing as "genocide" the mass killings
of Armenians during World War I under the rule of the Ottoman Empire as
"genocide."
In a statement issued on Monday the Brazilian Foreign Ministry called
for a normalization of relations between Turkey and Brazil as soon
as possible.
Brazil's ambassador to Turkey was summoned by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs on June 3 to discuss the matter.
"We view the decision by the Brazilian Senate that distorts reality and
overlooks the law as irresponsible and we denounce it," the ministry
had said in an email statement to the press.
The Brazilian Foreign Ministry said in its statement that Brazil's
position on the legislation has not changed, following a consultation
with Diriöz. The ministry also criticized the "tone" of the Turkish
Foreign Ministry's statement on the matter.
The ministry's statement pointed out that the Brazilian Senate is free
to pass legislation according to Brazil's constitution in response
to Turkish authorities' statements that Brazil is twisting historical
facts and acting "irresponsible."
It was also stated that the strategic partnership between Turkey and
Brazil should be normalized as soon as possible.
Turkey accepts that Armenians died during the upheaval of World War
I but rejects declarations or legislation by foreign governments
that classify the deaths as genocide. Ankara says the death toll
is inflated and that the killings took place during inter-communal
strife in the last days of the Ottoman Empire. According to Turkish
officials, Turks also suffered during the war.
Armenians, two dozen countries and most Western scholars consider
the killings to have been genocide.
Kamil Ergin, Sao Paulo (Cihan/Today's Zaman)
Ramifications of Cilicia Catholicosate's
Lawsuit Against Turkey
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
Armenians worldwide applauded the Cilician Catholicosate for filing a
lawsuit in the Turkish Constitutional Court on April 27, demanding the
return of its historic seat in Sis, Kozan district of Turkey's Adana
province. The Cilician See's former headquarters, established in 1293,
was confiscated by the Turkish government in 1921, at the culmination
of the Armenian Genocide.
Catholicos Aram I announced that should the Turkish court reject the
lawsuit, the Catholicosate intends to appeal the ruling to the
European Court of Human Rights, which requires that all domestic legal
remedies are exhausted before it considers appeals on cases filed
against Council of Europe member states. Skeptics of Turkish
acceptance of European Court decisions should know that the Republic
of Turkey has complied with all rulings since its acceptance of the
Court's jurisdiction in 1990.
The Catholicosate's lawsuit is a landmark case for several reasons:
-- It seeks to restore partial justice for the enormous human,
material, and territorial losses suffered by Armenians during the
Genocide.
-- It shifts `Hai Tad [Armenian Cause] efforts beyond the recognition
of the Armenian Genocide into the legal sphere,' as stated by
Catholicos Aram I.
-- It could set a precedent for similar legal claims, as His Holiness
informed The New York Times last month: `After 100 years, I thought it
was high time that we put the emphasis on reparation¦. This is the
first legal step. This will be followed by our claim to return all the
churches, the monasteries, the church-related properties and, finally,
the individual properties.'
Despite the noble objectives pursued by the Catholicosate's lawsuit, a
controversy surfaced in the Armenian community last week, when several
websites and newspapers reported that the Catholicosate of Cilicia had
demanded that the Turkish government `either return the property of
the Catholicosate of Sis or pay a compensation of 100 million Turkish
Liras ($37 million).' Garo Armenian, a prominent Armenian community
leader, wrote a cautionary article titled, `Our Sacred Sites are not
Personal Possessions.' He stressed that `the Catholicosate's lawsuit
raises a series of important questions which must be collectively
considered forthwith with prudent diligence in order to prevent any
undesirable precedents.' He also urged the Catholicosate to clarify
this issue if the news reports have not accurately reflected the
content of the lawsuit.
I contacted last week the Catholicosate's representatives seeking such
a clarification. I was assured in an e-mail by
Father Housig
Mardirossian, Assistant to His Holiness Aram I, that `The lawsuit of
the Catholicosate has one clear objective: The return of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia.'
Mardirossian, Assistant to His Holiness Aram I, that `The lawsuit of
the Catholicosate has one clear objective: The return of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia.'
In response to my request for a copy of the lawsuit, Payam Akhavan, a
prominent international lawyer and lead counsel for the Catholicosate,
stated that `it is not possible or advisable at this stage to share
the full application while it is still pending before the Turkish
Constitutional Court.'
On questions regarding monetary compensation, attorney Akhavan
provided the following explanation: `The fundamental claim before the
Turkish Constitutional Court is that Turkey should return the
Monastery and Cathedral of St. Sofia, both because of the
Catholicosate's property rights, as well as its religious significance
for Armenians. The claim is not for compensation, given that this is
not merely private property, but rather, property of religious and
historical significance. However, I have been advised by our Turkish
lawyer that under Turkish laws and procedures it is necessary, with
respect to the property rights claim (and not the religious rights
claim) to reserve the Catholicosate's alternate right to seek
compensation by providing a provisional amount¦. But I want to
emphasize that the claim is not for compensation; it is for the return
of the property, to be used for religious worship and related cultural
purposes.'
I contacted an independent lawyer in Istanbul who confirmed that
Turkish law indeed required that a specific value be stated for a
property under litigation.
Now that the financial issue is clarified, there are other important
matters facing the Catholicosate and Armenians in general. Some of
these questions might be a little premature, but Armenians may want to
reflect upon them in order to anticipate the consequences of any
eventual decisions by Turkish or European courts:
1) What would the Catholicosate do should the Turkish court or
government allow the restoration of the Sis church and its use for
religious worship without returning ownership of the property to the
Catholicosate? Moreover, what if the Turkish government also offered
monetary compensation for the repair of the church headquarters while
retaining the property rights?
2) In case the Turkish Court or the European Court of Human Rights
decided to return the Sis church property, would the Catholicosate
relocate to its historic headquarters or continue to remain in exile
in Antelias, Lebanon?
In view of the Turkish government's recent overtures to the heads of
Assyrian and Syriac churches to return to their historic headquarters
in Turkey from temporary exile in Syria, Turkey's leaders may use the
Armenian lawsuit as a cover vis-Ã-vis their own hardliners, and
make a similar offer to the Catholicosate of Cilicia.
Pres. Erdogan may make such a gesture for three reasons:
1) To preempt a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights in favor
of the Catholicosate, and avoid setting a legal precedent for future
Armenian lawsuits;
2) To score a public relations victory in international circles,
particularly after his party's loss of parliamentary majority in last
Sunday's elections;
3) To reap the economic benefits of foreign tourists and Armenian
visitors to the historic headquarters of the Cilician Catholicosate at
Sis.
armradio.am
WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES ADOPTS STATEMENT ON
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
10 Jun 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
During the centenary year of the Armenian genocide by the Ottoman
Empire, the executive committee of the World Council of Churches
(WCC) is meeting in this country on 8-13 June 2015, hosted by the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, to honour the martyrs and victims
of the genocide. We visit the genocide memorial to remember them and
to pray in the name of the risen Lord Jesus Christ. And we celebrate
the life of the Armenian nation and the witness of the Armenian church.
The executive committee recalls the Minute on the 100th Anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide adopted by the WCC 10th Assembly in 2013 in
Busan. This important action by the 10th Assembly followed many other
occasions on which the WCC Commission of the Churches on International
Affairs (CCIA) had called for recognition of the Armenian genocide by
the United Nations (UN) and by member states, dating back to the 1979
session of the UN Human Rights Commission. The WCC has played a key
role over many years in accompanying the Armenian church in speaking
out and working for recognition of the genocide, and for appropriate
responses to the genocide's continuing impacts on the Armenian people.
A minute adopted at the 6th Assembly of the WCC held in 1983 in
Vancouver acknowledged that "The silence of the world community and
deliberate efforts to deny even historical facts have been consistent
sources of anguish and growing despair to the Armenian people,
the Armenian churches and many others." While some continue their
efforts to deny or minimize these historical events, the executive
committee is greatly encouraged by His Holiness Pope Francis' public
recognition on 12 April 2015 of the mass killing of an estimated
1.5 million Armenians as genocide. We stress that there is a duty
on the international community to remember the victims of genocide,
in order to heal these historical wounds and to guard against similar
atrocities in the future.
The WCC, with its many member churches, has participated in several
events marking the centenary, including the official commemoration
of the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and canonization
of the martyrs in Yerevan, Armenia, on 21-25 April. The WCC and its
member churches will continue to participate in the ongoing centennial
commemorations this year by the Armenian diaspora, including with
the Armenian Church Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon, on
18-19 July. The Executive Committee thanks the many member churches
and ecumenical partners around the world that have observed or will
observe this ongoing centenary in their own contexts, and that have
spoken in recognition of the genocide and in commemoration of its
victims. Through these commemorations, we acknowledge that these tragic
events occurred, and that they must be named by their right name.
The Armenian genocide was accompanied in the same historical and
political context by genocidal acts against other - mostly Christian -
communities of Aramean, Chaldean, Syrian, Assyrian and Greek descent,
which have blighted history at the beginning of the 20th century.
Denial, impunity and the failure to remember such events encourage
their repetition. Those who deny or attack the life and dignity of
a sister or brother undermine and destroy the humanity of both the
victim and themselves. These centennial commemorations should mark the
passing of the time when governments remain reluctant to name what
occurred one hundred years ago as genocide. We urge all governments
to abandon this reluctance.
In this centenary year, we call the international community, the WCC's
member churches and all people of faith and good will to remembrance,
and to re-commit to the prevention of genocide and all crimes against
humanity.
TURKEY: ARGENTINA'S STANCE ON 1915 KILLING OF ARMENIANS
10 Jun 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
During the centenary year of the Armenian genocide by the Ottoman
Empire, the executive committee of the World Council of Churches
(WCC) is meeting in this country on 8-13 June 2015, hosted by the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, to honour the martyrs and victims
of the genocide. We visit the genocide memorial to remember them and
to pray in the name of the risen Lord Jesus Christ. And we celebrate
the life of the Armenian nation and the witness of the Armenian church.
The executive committee recalls the Minute on the 100th Anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide adopted by the WCC 10th Assembly in 2013 in
Busan. This important action by the 10th Assembly followed many other
occasions on which the WCC Commission of the Churches on International
Affairs (CCIA) had called for recognition of the Armenian genocide by
the United Nations (UN) and by member states, dating back to the 1979
session of the UN Human Rights Commission. The WCC has played a key
role over many years in accompanying the Armenian church in speaking
out and working for recognition of the genocide, and for appropriate
responses to the genocide's continuing impacts on the Armenian people.
A minute adopted at the 6th Assembly of the WCC held in 1983 in
Vancouver acknowledged that "The silence of the world community and
deliberate efforts to deny even historical facts have been consistent
sources of anguish and growing despair to the Armenian people,
the Armenian churches and many others." While some continue their
efforts to deny or minimize these historical events, the executive
committee is greatly encouraged by His Holiness Pope Francis' public
recognition on 12 April 2015 of the mass killing of an estimated
1.5 million Armenians as genocide. We stress that there is a duty
on the international community to remember the victims of genocide,
in order to heal these historical wounds and to guard against similar
atrocities in the future.
The WCC, with its many member churches, has participated in several
events marking the centenary, including the official commemoration
of the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and canonization
of the martyrs in Yerevan, Armenia, on 21-25 April. The WCC and its
member churches will continue to participate in the ongoing centennial
commemorations this year by the Armenian diaspora, including with
the Armenian Church Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon, on
18-19 July. The Executive Committee thanks the many member churches
and ecumenical partners around the world that have observed or will
observe this ongoing centenary in their own contexts, and that have
spoken in recognition of the genocide and in commemoration of its
victims. Through these commemorations, we acknowledge that these tragic
events occurred, and that they must be named by their right name.
The Armenian genocide was accompanied in the same historical and
political context by genocidal acts against other - mostly Christian -
communities of Aramean, Chaldean, Syrian, Assyrian and Greek descent,
which have blighted history at the beginning of the 20th century.
Denial, impunity and the failure to remember such events encourage
their repetition. Those who deny or attack the life and dignity of
a sister or brother undermine and destroy the humanity of both the
victim and themselves. These centennial commemorations should mark the
passing of the time when governments remain reluctant to name what
occurred one hundred years ago as genocide. We urge all governments
to abandon this reluctance.
In this centenary year, we call the international community, the WCC's
member churches and all people of faith and good will to remembrance,
and to re-commit to the prevention of genocide and all crimes against
humanity.
TURKEY: ARGENTINA'S STANCE ON 1915 KILLING OF ARMENIANS
IS HURTING BILATERAL TRADE
Buenos Aires Herald, Argentina
June8 2015
By James Grainger
Herald Staff
Ankara government officials say their country is keen to develop
ties,but that Argentine lawmakers' rulings in Congress are 'poisoning
relations'
ANKARA -- Recent and repeated resolutions by Argentine lawmakers in
the National Congress this year, on the centenary of what Armenians
call an act of "genocide," are hurting the South American country's
ability to develop and improve its bilateral trade relations with
Turkey, officials in Ankara declared late last month.
Complaining against the more than 20 legislative declarations passed
by Argentine lawmakers, Turkish officials argued that the strength
of the "Armenian diaspora" in Argentina is hurting the relationship
between the nations.
Addressing the Armenian issue the Turkish ambassador and Director
General for the Americas Ali Kaya Savut said at a meeting with
Argentine journalists:
"These events happened in 1915 at the end of the Ottoman Empire. It's
true that atrocities and many tragic events happened... we don't
deny this."
"But what we don't accept is that we can qualify this as genocide. It
was not premeditated," he added. "There were fights on both sides."
Argentina is one of approximately 30 countries in the world which
recognizes the tragic events of 1915 as an act of genocide. The
"Armenian issue," as another Turkish official called it, hangs heavily
over relations between Argentina and Turkey.
"In Argentina, the Armenian diaspora is very powerful, economically
and also (in terms of) numbers in the population," said Savut.
"In Argentina, you passed a law which declared that April 24 was
a day of respect for the Armenians and they can take this day off
(work) legally.
"Until this year, more than 20 resolutions were passed in the
Argentine Congress. This year, seven or eight (further) resolutions
and other declarations were passed in the Senate and the Congress,"
he added. "Thirteen others were also adopted by the local governments.
"I think that it's a pity. First of all, it's not the job of the
parliaments to decide what happened 100 years ago... they (lawmakers)
are not historians, they cannot be objective... they think about the
votes and the next elections, not what happened 100 years ago.
"Secondly, it poisons our bilateral relations. Our trade volume is
lower than others and (diplomatic) visits are not at the level we
would like," Savut added.
"We cannot reach the true potential of our bilateral relations because
of this issue, which is not a bilateral issue -- it has nothing to do
with Turkish-Argentine relations but unfortunately, it has a negative
effect on our relations. It makes it harder to normalize relations
with Armenia too."
An example of the strength of feeling over the Turkish-Armenian
'controversy,' as it's called in a new Turkish book, is evidenced by
one diplomatic fallout five years ago.
In 2010, then-Turkish prime minister Tayyip Recep Erdogan cancelled
a trip to Argentina, during which he was to unveil a bust of Turkey's
founding father Mustafa Kemal Ataturk at the Jorge Newbery park.
Pressure from the "Armenian diaspora" led to the trip's cancellation,
Turkish officials said, after permission for the bust was revoked.
There have been attempts to build bridges since then however.
President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner visited Turkey in 2011 and
earlier this year, in January, Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman
visited Ankara, meeting with Turkish diplomats and ambassadors,
but trade has still failed to soar higher.
LATIN AMERICAN TIES
In the Ottoman Empire, officials referred to Argentina in their
mother tongue as "silver land," and Argentina and Turkey have had
a long diplomatic relationship, with embassies in each other first
being established in 1938.
But with trade between the two countries now at such a low level,
both sides seem eager to improve their relationships. Turkey is also
keen on pushing deeper into Latin America as a whole.
"In the last century, we opened six embassies, in the main (Latin
American) capitals," said Savut, before conceding that trade between
Argentina and Turkey has been "limited" in recent years.
Turkey has strong ties with the Organization of American States, the
Pacific Alliance and "some dialogue" with the Mercosur trade bloc,
the ambassador observed. In 2006, Turkey made a conscious effort to
push into Latin America and the Caribbean, he added, opening new
embassies in Colombia, Ecuador and Central America, bringing the
regional number to 12.
But while relations and trade with Brazil, Mexico, Chile and Colombia
have improved -- in the last 10 years, Turkish trade with the region
rose ninefold, reaching US$8 billion -- contacts with Buenos Aires
have been few and far between.
In truth, total trade between the two nations currently rakes up less
than half a billion US dollars. This ranks far behind Turkey's main
regional partners -- Brazil, Mexico and Colombia.
"(The figure) does not represent what we can do," said Savut.
"It's much less than the potential we have, since we are both G20
countries... we still have much less trade volume than with Brazil,
with Mexico, with Colombia, with Chile... it's a pity, we should
increase this," he added.
"We hope this will increase."
Ankara Foreign Ministry officials were keen to emphasize that some
Turkish companies (textiles, PVC producers) are operating in Argentina,
as well as the strength of Istanbul's textile-exporting powerhouse
companies and the success of Turkish Airlines which has signed up
national soccer team captain Lionel Messi as a brand ambassador.
POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH
The Turkish authorities are keen to stress their desire to develop
closer trade links with Argentina and Latin America as a whole. The
government instigated an outreach programme to Latin America and
the Caribbean in 2006, establishing and improving and opening new
embassies to help with the demand. One of the key companies involved
is Turkish Airlines, the worldwide carrier company now running flights
to Buenos Aires (with a stop in Sao Paulo).
The company hopes, in the near future, to expand in the region with
new routes taking in Bogotá and Mexico City.
It has also made somewhat tentative eyes at Havana, although officials
from the airline indicated that dealing with Cuba was difficult and
the route was unlikely to come off.
Turkey's Erdogan visited Havana back in February, earlier this year,
where, Turkish officials said, he had "a long chat with Raúl (Castro)"
and proposed his government build a mosque in the Cuban capital.
The Turkish government has also sought to make inroads on the continent
via TIKA, otherwise known as the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination
Agency.
Dr Rahman Nurden, the agency's chief departmental head for Latin
America, says that their work has focused on "underdeveloped, below
middle-income countries," especially in Central America and the
Caribbean. He says TIKA -- a body funded by the government's foreign
aid budget and private partnerships -- "is an instrument for countries
to get to know each other with a 'mandate to reach out to the wider
world" and was keen to highlight the agency's new offices in Mexico
and (imminently) Colombia.
"The Latin America region has been neglected by Turkey for many years,"
Dr Nurden said, adding that he hoped this would change in the years
to come.
Economy, election
Turkey's economy is now in the hands of the new government, which
will take office soon following yesterday's election. This article was
written prior to the vote, but in the final week of campaigning, some
data emerged indicating voters' concerns over a weakening economy,
which has -- for the last decade, generally -- been a plus for the
governing Justice and Development Party (AKP), still led by Erdogan,
who is now Turkey's president.
The economy, worth an estimated US$850 billion according to most
market estimates, is now a worry, with unemployment -- now at a
five-year high of 11 percent -- concerning voters the most.
One survey quoted by the Wall Street Journal last week, even concluded
that 57 percent of voters disapproved of the government's handling
of the economy, with a record-low 34 percent approval. The poll,
carried out by the Metropoll Strategic and Social Research Centre,
indicated that stagnating growth figures, worsening investor confidence
and concerns over the centralization of power were responsible for
the findings.
The AKP however remains an electoral powerhouse, winning six
consecutive elections over the last 13 years and despite the unrest
emanating from some sections, remains on track to take a substantial
share of the vote, it seemed on Friday.
EUROPEAN AMBITIONS?
One of the burning questions for the Turkish government concerns
its hopes to become a member of the European Union (EU), which have
seemingly stalled in recent years.
Speaking to Argentine journalists in Ankara, officials from the
government indicated they feel key EU members are blocking the path
to the eurozone.
"Some countries are against Turkey joining the EU," said one official,
who suggested that Turkey's huge 74-million-strong population scared
the bloc's members. "(We are) too big. We would have a big say if we
join... it could change the balance of power."
The sheer number of Turks would indeed alter the EU, as Turkey would
secure a huge number of seats in the European Parliament. Should its
bid be approved, the country would become the second-largest nation
in the eurozone, after Germany.
Some citizens and officials suggested, on a personal level, that
they felt the predominantly "Christian, Westernized" EU feared the
introduction of millions of Muslims into the block, especially with
immigration a hot topic on the continent of late.
The outcome of yesterday's election will of course set Turkey's
path for the immediate future and with economic problems seemingly a
growing concern on voters' minds, looking further afield may perhaps
take a back seat for the new government as domestic priorities come
to the fore. Nonetheless, the current administration remains keen on
expanding its influence in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Editor's note: The author visited Turkey alongside seven other
journalists, as part of an invitation to Argentine journalists from
the Turkish government.
Buenos Aires Herald, Argentina
June8 2015
By James Grainger
Herald Staff
Ankara government officials say their country is keen to develop
ties,but that Argentine lawmakers' rulings in Congress are 'poisoning
relations'
ANKARA -- Recent and repeated resolutions by Argentine lawmakers in
the National Congress this year, on the centenary of what Armenians
call an act of "genocide," are hurting the South American country's
ability to develop and improve its bilateral trade relations with
Turkey, officials in Ankara declared late last month.
Complaining against the more than 20 legislative declarations passed
by Argentine lawmakers, Turkish officials argued that the strength
of the "Armenian diaspora" in Argentina is hurting the relationship
between the nations.
Addressing the Armenian issue the Turkish ambassador and Director
General for the Americas Ali Kaya Savut said at a meeting with
Argentine journalists:
"These events happened in 1915 at the end of the Ottoman Empire. It's
true that atrocities and many tragic events happened... we don't
deny this."
"But what we don't accept is that we can qualify this as genocide. It
was not premeditated," he added. "There were fights on both sides."
Argentina is one of approximately 30 countries in the world which
recognizes the tragic events of 1915 as an act of genocide. The
"Armenian issue," as another Turkish official called it, hangs heavily
over relations between Argentina and Turkey.
"In Argentina, the Armenian diaspora is very powerful, economically
and also (in terms of) numbers in the population," said Savut.
"In Argentina, you passed a law which declared that April 24 was
a day of respect for the Armenians and they can take this day off
(work) legally.
"Until this year, more than 20 resolutions were passed in the
Argentine Congress. This year, seven or eight (further) resolutions
and other declarations were passed in the Senate and the Congress,"
he added. "Thirteen others were also adopted by the local governments.
"I think that it's a pity. First of all, it's not the job of the
parliaments to decide what happened 100 years ago... they (lawmakers)
are not historians, they cannot be objective... they think about the
votes and the next elections, not what happened 100 years ago.
"Secondly, it poisons our bilateral relations. Our trade volume is
lower than others and (diplomatic) visits are not at the level we
would like," Savut added.
"We cannot reach the true potential of our bilateral relations because
of this issue, which is not a bilateral issue -- it has nothing to do
with Turkish-Argentine relations but unfortunately, it has a negative
effect on our relations. It makes it harder to normalize relations
with Armenia too."
An example of the strength of feeling over the Turkish-Armenian
'controversy,' as it's called in a new Turkish book, is evidenced by
one diplomatic fallout five years ago.
In 2010, then-Turkish prime minister Tayyip Recep Erdogan cancelled
a trip to Argentina, during which he was to unveil a bust of Turkey's
founding father Mustafa Kemal Ataturk at the Jorge Newbery park.
Pressure from the "Armenian diaspora" led to the trip's cancellation,
Turkish officials said, after permission for the bust was revoked.
There have been attempts to build bridges since then however.
President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner visited Turkey in 2011 and
earlier this year, in January, Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman
visited Ankara, meeting with Turkish diplomats and ambassadors,
but trade has still failed to soar higher.
LATIN AMERICAN TIES
In the Ottoman Empire, officials referred to Argentina in their
mother tongue as "silver land," and Argentina and Turkey have had
a long diplomatic relationship, with embassies in each other first
being established in 1938.
But with trade between the two countries now at such a low level,
both sides seem eager to improve their relationships. Turkey is also
keen on pushing deeper into Latin America as a whole.
"In the last century, we opened six embassies, in the main (Latin
American) capitals," said Savut, before conceding that trade between
Argentina and Turkey has been "limited" in recent years.
Turkey has strong ties with the Organization of American States, the
Pacific Alliance and "some dialogue" with the Mercosur trade bloc,
the ambassador observed. In 2006, Turkey made a conscious effort to
push into Latin America and the Caribbean, he added, opening new
embassies in Colombia, Ecuador and Central America, bringing the
regional number to 12.
But while relations and trade with Brazil, Mexico, Chile and Colombia
have improved -- in the last 10 years, Turkish trade with the region
rose ninefold, reaching US$8 billion -- contacts with Buenos Aires
have been few and far between.
In truth, total trade between the two nations currently rakes up less
than half a billion US dollars. This ranks far behind Turkey's main
regional partners -- Brazil, Mexico and Colombia.
"(The figure) does not represent what we can do," said Savut.
"It's much less than the potential we have, since we are both G20
countries... we still have much less trade volume than with Brazil,
with Mexico, with Colombia, with Chile... it's a pity, we should
increase this," he added.
"We hope this will increase."
Ankara Foreign Ministry officials were keen to emphasize that some
Turkish companies (textiles, PVC producers) are operating in Argentina,
as well as the strength of Istanbul's textile-exporting powerhouse
companies and the success of Turkish Airlines which has signed up
national soccer team captain Lionel Messi as a brand ambassador.
POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH
The Turkish authorities are keen to stress their desire to develop
closer trade links with Argentina and Latin America as a whole. The
government instigated an outreach programme to Latin America and
the Caribbean in 2006, establishing and improving and opening new
embassies to help with the demand. One of the key companies involved
is Turkish Airlines, the worldwide carrier company now running flights
to Buenos Aires (with a stop in Sao Paulo).
The company hopes, in the near future, to expand in the region with
new routes taking in Bogotá and Mexico City.
It has also made somewhat tentative eyes at Havana, although officials
from the airline indicated that dealing with Cuba was difficult and
the route was unlikely to come off.
Turkey's Erdogan visited Havana back in February, earlier this year,
where, Turkish officials said, he had "a long chat with Raúl (Castro)"
and proposed his government build a mosque in the Cuban capital.
The Turkish government has also sought to make inroads on the continent
via TIKA, otherwise known as the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination
Agency.
Dr Rahman Nurden, the agency's chief departmental head for Latin
America, says that their work has focused on "underdeveloped, below
middle-income countries," especially in Central America and the
Caribbean. He says TIKA -- a body funded by the government's foreign
aid budget and private partnerships -- "is an instrument for countries
to get to know each other with a 'mandate to reach out to the wider
world" and was keen to highlight the agency's new offices in Mexico
and (imminently) Colombia.
"The Latin America region has been neglected by Turkey for many years,"
Dr Nurden said, adding that he hoped this would change in the years
to come.
Economy, election
Turkey's economy is now in the hands of the new government, which
will take office soon following yesterday's election. This article was
written prior to the vote, but in the final week of campaigning, some
data emerged indicating voters' concerns over a weakening economy,
which has -- for the last decade, generally -- been a plus for the
governing Justice and Development Party (AKP), still led by Erdogan,
who is now Turkey's president.
The economy, worth an estimated US$850 billion according to most
market estimates, is now a worry, with unemployment -- now at a
five-year high of 11 percent -- concerning voters the most.
One survey quoted by the Wall Street Journal last week, even concluded
that 57 percent of voters disapproved of the government's handling
of the economy, with a record-low 34 percent approval. The poll,
carried out by the Metropoll Strategic and Social Research Centre,
indicated that stagnating growth figures, worsening investor confidence
and concerns over the centralization of power were responsible for
the findings.
The AKP however remains an electoral powerhouse, winning six
consecutive elections over the last 13 years and despite the unrest
emanating from some sections, remains on track to take a substantial
share of the vote, it seemed on Friday.
EUROPEAN AMBITIONS?
One of the burning questions for the Turkish government concerns
its hopes to become a member of the European Union (EU), which have
seemingly stalled in recent years.
Speaking to Argentine journalists in Ankara, officials from the
government indicated they feel key EU members are blocking the path
to the eurozone.
"Some countries are against Turkey joining the EU," said one official,
who suggested that Turkey's huge 74-million-strong population scared
the bloc's members. "(We are) too big. We would have a big say if we
join... it could change the balance of power."
The sheer number of Turks would indeed alter the EU, as Turkey would
secure a huge number of seats in the European Parliament. Should its
bid be approved, the country would become the second-largest nation
in the eurozone, after Germany.
Some citizens and officials suggested, on a personal level, that
they felt the predominantly "Christian, Westernized" EU feared the
introduction of millions of Muslims into the block, especially with
immigration a hot topic on the continent of late.
The outcome of yesterday's election will of course set Turkey's
path for the immediate future and with economic problems seemingly a
growing concern on voters' minds, looking further afield may perhaps
take a back seat for the new government as domestic priorities come
to the fore. Nonetheless, the current administration remains keen on
expanding its influence in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Editor's note: The author visited Turkey alongside seven other
journalists, as part of an invitation to Argentine journalists from
the Turkish government.
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