Turkey tries to benefit from West-Russia tensions on Armenian genocide: Professor
A professor has said that Turkey certainly tries to benefit as much as she can from the crisis, in particular the West’s present deflection of attention toward Russia.
The professor of modern history at the University of Zurich, Hans-Lukas Kieser, said in an exclusive interview with ILNA that "last year’s developments in Karabakh have generally put Armenia in a weaker position than before. Ankara now tries to turn the clock backward regarding genocide recognition. Its policy has become regressive on this issue compared to ten years ago."
Q. This year the 107th anniversary of the Armenian genocide on 24th April will be held under the shadow of the Russia-Ukraine war. Given the fact that Russia is supporting Armenia and the official recognition of this genocide by the west, how do you evaluate this matter?
A.There is a chance to be on common ground regarding this critical historical truth because both sides recognize the Armenian genocide. For the Western countries, in particular, the Europeans, the revision of relations with autocratic countries, triggered by Russia's Ukraine invasion, might in the long term lead to sharper measures against Ankara’s and other countries' anti-democratic rule. In the short term, however, Turkey profits that Western attention is deflected from her own notorious breaches of the law.
Q. What is the impact of the recognition of the Armenian genocide by Joe Biden on US-Turkey relations?
A.US-Turkish relations cooled down for several reasons during the 2010s, in particular, because of Ankara’s support for jihadists, its war against democratic-minded Kurds and the degradation of its justice system. The US presidential recognition was a very serious blow against Turkish historical fictions of 1915 with “alternative facts” on the fate of the Armenians. Many mindful Turks understood that the suppression of truth might have succeeded for decades, but is no longer sustainable.
Q. Will Turkey use the tensions between Russia and the West on legal dimensions of this matter?
A.Turkey certainly tries to benefit as much as she can from the crisis, in particular the West’s present deflection of attention toward Russia. This will not undo, however, the solid recognition of the Armenian genocide by Western countries and by Russia. I do not expect that the growing global recognition of the genocide will be affected.
Q. What is the effect of last year’s developments in Karabakh and Turkey’s support for Azerbaijan, on the issue of the Armenian genocide?
A. The lost war has generally put Armenia in a weaker position than before. Ankara now tries to turn the clock backward regarding genocide recognition. Its policy has become regressive on this issue compared to ten years ago.
Q. Turkey and Armenia during the past couple of months have taken steps to resume diplomatic relations. How do you see the prospects of these efforts?
A. There is a window of opportunity. Turkey is in dire need of economic recovery. She seeks an exit from her diplomatic “shame corner” (as seen from the West) because of her loss of democracy hand in hand with the invasion into Syria, support of jihadism, repression of the Kurds, and her broken justice system. She now pushes for better relations with the West and Israel. This might offer chances for a pragmatic normalization of some relations with Armenia, including the opening of the border. Armenia needs open borders, resumed regional interactions and a new relationship with Turkey.