Armenians-Turks: Open the doors already

Actually, we were aware of them, but we would have never imagined the situation was so bad.

If you ask me, the most shocking part of the study is how Armenians see Turkey.

Can’t you just imagine? The people of a neighboring country are saying that they wouldn’t entrust their body to the care of a Turkish doctor if their life were at stake. They also say that even if their daughter were in love, they wouldn’t permit her to marry a Turk. They see Turks as murderers. More importantly, compared to the past, they are more convinced of the so-called genocide. They set Turkish recognition of the genocide as a precondition to any relations. Nationalism in Armenia is constantly growing.

The Turkish people, on the other hand, know absolutely nothing about Armenians. They only know that they are the enemy.

We are faced with a mutual ignorance of each other.

How will we resolve our differences under these conditions?

We definitely need to change the way things are going.

After the study was published, I spoke with Hrant Dink, Kaan Soyak and Can Paker on the "Manset" program on CNN Türk. They all agreed that things had to change.

I would like to share a few points on which all those who are investigating the issue scientifically agree on.

1. The Armenian issue is gradually coming to dominate the agenda, and ignoring it won’t solve anything. Turkey definitely needs to take the initiative. If the current inactivity persists, the genocide allegations will become established fact for the world and it will taint us forever.

2. Documentaries and books are no longer enough to rid ourselves of such allegations. The international public has accepted the Armenian genocide allegations as fact after 80 years of a public relations campaign. Such publications should definitely be encouraged, but we should go beyond that. The matter is now political.

3. In order for Turkey not to collapse under the weight of such an international reaction, it needs to take important measures that have political connotations. One of the most important measures would be to end the 12-year embargo on Armenia. If Turkey allows trade with Armenia and implements an open door policy, Armenians will see Turks in a different light. This will have an immense contribution in ridding Turkey of international pressure.

When one mentions any of these points, everyone cites the Azerbaijan obstacle. They start claiming that our Azerbaijani brothers will be left defenseless. However, if Turkey opens its door to Armenia, its clout in Yerevan will increase considerably, as will its use to Azerbaijan.

If we leave such measures until it’s too late, Turkey will come under significant international pressure and will be of no use to Azerbaijan. International pressure will force the Turkish public to take a position, and no one will be able to resolve the problem.

Let’s talk about it:

The Turkish public at the present time, as compared to the past, is more open as regards the Armenian issue; however, there are still certain boundaries that when crossed cause significant consternation. People are afraid to exceed these boundaries because it produces a serious reaction.

However, Turkey has nothing to hide.

The only thing Turkey needs is courage and the willingness to demonstrate its self-confidence.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government has taken many bold steps up until now. Why is it so uncertain now?

Do we think opening our borders with Armenia will result in an invasion of about 4 million people?

No. That can’t be it.

Now is the time to take the necessary steps.

Does Armenia recognize the border with Turkey?:

There is a widely held belief that the Republic of Armenia does not recognize the 1921 Kars Treaty that established its present borders with Turkey. There are many such statements that originate from Armenia.

David Philips, from New York’s Council for Foreign Relations, conducted a study about this issue and makes an interesting point.

He notes that the Kars Treaty was signed by Turkey and the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic and cites a statement made by current Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan in an interview in January 2005: “Armenia is the continuation of the Soviet Union. All treaties signed with third parties are applicable.”