Hatem CABBARLI

The Armenian government considers so-called Armenian genocide issue as headstone for national unity and cooperation, solidarity, collaboration and Armenian foreign policy. For the acceptance of their claims by international public opinion, National Academy of Sciences of Armenia and World Armenian Organization began to prepare “Evidence File” by the support of the government.

For this purpose World Armenian Organization summon a conference at the hall of National Academy of Sciences of Armenia on the date of May 6 – 7, 2004 named “Factor of
Genocide in the issue of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations”. In the press conference organized by Ara Abramyan, chairman of World Armenian Organization, he stated that specialists regarding “genocide” issue from Armenia, Germany, Greece, France, Italy, USA, Russia, Austria, Canada and Switzerland would participate the conference.

The principal object of the conference is to define Armenian claim within limits of international law and to announce to world public opinion. To achieve this aim, it is decided to found a special commission from specialists of the issue at different states, at the end of the conference to give broader information. The documents and juridical interpretations that will be obtained as a result of the work of the commission will constitute official document and resource for introducing so-called Armenian genocide at international arena. It is aimed to impose Turkey, which faces serious pressure at international arena, so-called Armenian genocide by referring to mentioned work.

History professor Andranik Migranyan declared his point of view about the issue and told that he believed the summon of this conference would support Armenian claims at international arena. The recognition of “genocide” at international arena would have a far-reaching influence on Turkey concerning recognition of “genocide”, stated Migranyan, he also added that land and indemnity must have been demanded from Turkey. Migranyan also uttered that the Armenian Diaspora and Armenian state had amended point of views about the issue and couldn’t reduce to a common denominator yet. Furthermore, he notified that he didn’t approve the statements of President Robert Kocharian regarding so-called Armenian genocide, which was “For us the recognition of the genocide is important. The demands of land and indemnity are claims of Diaspora not Armenian state.”

Migranyan expressed that Turkey had pre-conditions to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia. He also notified that the Armenian policy of recognition of so-called genocide by Turkey was the right policy. He particularly emphasized on not to withdraw the claim of recognition of “genocide” by Turkey and the propaganda of “genocide” by Armenian government even if diplomatic relations were established between two states, the border gates were opened and the economic relations improved.

In a period that Armenian government speeds up the work about recognition of so-called genocide at international arena and Turkey, also, keeps going on the propaganda of land and indemnity demands, renounce of 1921 Kars Treaty, especially at Russia and Europe, the declarations about opening the border gates between two countries by some political and academic circles endangers national security of Turkey. The aforementioned ideas of Migranyan shows that even in the normalization period of the relations between two countries, Armenia will continue the propaganda of so-called genocide. In this case, Turkey’s decision about opening of the border gates and establishing diplomatic relations will be named as victory both by Armenian government and public opinion, and the belief of rightfulness in the contention will improve. In addition, Kocharian regime, which faces serious difficulties because of problems in domestic policy, will try to strengthen its position by asserting that the force against Turkey yielded results. Whatever the reason is (closed border gates or unlawful actions in Armenian economy) the problems that cannot be solved in economy and social life by Armenian government will lead to weakness of Kocharian regime, which has antagonistic attitude towards Turkey. Such a progress will be to the advantage of Turkey.