Jump to content

Armenia–Turkey relations: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
CzarNick (talk | contribs)
695 edits
Reverted edits by 207.112.69.94 (talk) using MWT
Line 25: Line 25:
===During the Armenian Genocide===
===During the Armenian Genocide===
{{main|Armenian Genocide}}
{{main|Armenian Genocide}}
The Ottoman Empire, under the command of the [[Young Turks]] at the time, carried out a genocidal campaign that uprooted all of the [[Armenians|Armenian]] population of Eastern Anatolia, taking, depending on estimates, between 500,000 and 1.5 million lives. Since then, the relations between the two communities have been tense, and according to Balakian, it is still the greatest stumbling block towards a true peace in the [[Caucasus]] region,<ref>Burning Tigris, The: The Armenian Genocide and America's Awakening to International Human Rights By Peter Balakian</ref> which consists of three states, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The turks KILLED TORCHORED AND MURDERED by having fun 1.5 million ARMENIANS in the 1915-1918. They are bloodthirst IDIOTS that should not hav the rite to do anythin gbut to pay the consequences wich is GIVE THE ARMENIANS THEYRE LAND!!'''Bold text'''
The Ottoman Empire, under the command of the [[Young Turks]] at the time, carried out a genocidal campaign that uprooted all of the [[Armenians|Armenian]] population of Eastern Anatolia, taking, depending on estimates, between 500,000 and 1.5 million lives. Since then, the relations between the two communities have been tense, and according to Balakian, it is still the greatest stumbling block towards a true peace in the [[Caucasus]] region,<ref>Burning Tigris, The: The Armenian Genocide and America's Awakening to International Human Rights By Peter Balakian</ref> which consists of three states, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.


===Democratic Republic of Armenia===
===Democratic Republic of Armenia===

Revision as of 03:33, 24 April 2007

Armenian-Turkish relations
Map indicating locations of Armenia and Turkey

Armenia
Turkey

Template:Combi

|

|

|}

There are currently no formal relations between Armenia and Turkey. Armenia gained its independence from Soviet Union in 1991. Turkey became one of the first countries to recognise Armenia, but for various stated reasons, primarily involving Karabakh, refused to establish diplomatic relations. In 1993, Turkey closed the borders over the Nagarno-Karabakh War between Armenia and Azerbaijan, a Turkic nation that has close ties to Turkey.[1] Direct air travel was allowed a few years later.[1] Bitter arguments about whether mass killings of Armenians in Ottoman Empire in 1915 is a genocide is another main cause of conflicts between the two countries.[1]

Separate from governmental relations, the Armenian Diaspora has played a large role in Armenian-Turkish relations as its communities have often sought both genocide recognition in their adopted countries, as well as built commemorative monuments and held ceremonies. This has led to confrontation with newer Turkish Diaspora communities in countries such as Holland. School curriculum issues related to the Armenian Genocide have also become points of contention in both Massachusetts and Germany in recent years. The Turkish government has taken an active role in trying to minimize mention of the Armenian genocide, which has been highlighted in the mailing of a letter from the Turkish Ambassador to an American author which accidentally included a draft version, and a memo, both written by Heath Lowry.[2] During the Soviet period, Armenia and Turkey also did not have direct links, since all of Soviet Armenia's foreign relations taking place through Moscow. During this period, the Armenian Diaspora played the primary role in Armenian-Turkish interaction.

Before Turkish Migration to Anatolia

Armenians had few to no contacts with Turkic tribes prior to the Turkic invasion of the Armenian-inhabited areas towards the 10th and 11th centuries.[citation needed] The Persian Empire sometimes employed ethnic Armenians as generals in its armies, and have sent them to Turkestan on a number of occasions.

After Turkish Migration to Anatolia (circa 1000 AD)

The nomadic Turkic tribes moved towards the Middle East and Anatolia in expense of the local populations of Greeks, Armenians, Assyrians and other natives.

The Armenians suffered from persecution and forced assimilation under Seljuk, and later Ottoman rule.[citation needed] The Armenians lived in their own villages, separate from the ethnic Turks. In the big cities, on the other hand, like Istanbul and İzmir (then called Smyrna), Armenians played an important role in the lives of these cities. Even though following the First World War many of the remaining Armenians have immigrated to other countries, there remain active Armenian communities in these cities.

Armenians have made tremendous contributions to Ottoman society, notably in the field of architecture, for example, the Balyan family. The Armenians were very skilled craftsmen and artists, and thus contributed greatly to the cultural life of the Empire. Arguably, it is also said that Mimar Sinan, one of the best Ottoman architects, was either of Greek[3][4][5] or Armenian[6] origin (it is impossible to tell as only religious information was recorded in Ottoman censuses).

During the Armenian national movement of the late 19th century some Muslims didn't hesitate to help the Armenians in their national resurrection.[citation needed]

First World War

During the Armenian Genocide

Main article: Armenian Genocide

The Ottoman Empire, under the command of the Young Turks at the time, carried out a genocidal campaign that uprooted all of the Armenian population of Eastern Anatolia, taking, depending on estimates, between 500,000 and 1.5 million lives. Since then, the relations between the two communities have been tense, and according to Balakian, it is still the greatest stumbling block towards a true peace in the Caucasus region,[7] which consists of three states, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

Democratic Republic of Armenia

The establishment of Armenian Republic in 1918 caused tensions originating from territorial disputes. After the Treaty of Brest-Litowsk on March 3 1918, between Russia and Central Powers, including Ottoman Empire, following the Russian revolution, all lands Russia had captured from the Ottoman Empire in the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878), specifically Ardahan, Kars, and Batumi, returned to the Ottomans. In early May, 1918, the Ottoman army attacked the newly declared Democratic Republic of Armenia. Although the Armenians managed to inflict one defeat on the Ottomans at the Battle of Sardarapat, the Ottoman army won a later battle and scattered the Armenian army. The Republic of Armenia was forced to sign the Treaty of Batum in June, 1918.

1920 - 1991

See also: Turkish-Armenian War and Armenian SSR

Interwar period brought the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire. The Turkish revolutionaries waged the Turkish War of Independence against Ottomans and invading forces. Turkish revolutionaries had also armed conflicts with Democratic Republic of Armenia. On September 20, 1920, Turkish General Kazım Karabekir moved his forces into Wilsonian Armenia and near the pre-Sèvres Armenian-Turkish frontier. In response, the DRA declared war on Turkey in September 24 and the Turkish-Armenian War began. In the regions of Oltu, Sarikamis, Kars, Alexandropol (Gyumri) Armenian forces clashed with those of Turkish General Kazım Karabekir. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk then sent several delegations to Moscow in search of an alliance. This proved disastrous for the Armenians. In September 1920, the Turkish revolutionaries moved in on the capital. First an armistice was concluded, on November 18, and then a full peace treaty - Treaty of Alexandropol on 2nd and/or 3rd of December 1920. With the coming developments the DRA became Armenian SSR in Soviet Union. The Treaty of Kars was signed in Kars on October 23, 1921 and ratified in Yerevan on September 11, 1922 between the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (which was declared Turkey in 1923) and representatives of Bolshevist Russia, Soviet Armenia, Soviet Azerbaijan and Soviet Georgia (all of which formed part of the Soviet Union after the December 1922 Union Treaty).[8][9] Most of the territories ceded to Turkey in the treaty were acquired by Imperial Russia from the Ottoman Empire during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. The only exception was the Surmalu region.

Soviet Union and Turkey remained officially neutral after the Treaty of Kars, and there was no hostility between Turkey and Armenian SSR. After the WWII, Soviets raised the issue of Turkey returning Kars and Ardahan to them. Turkey refused and formed strong military ties to the west.[10]

ASALA

Main article: Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia

The primary development in the post wars period was the birth and death of the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA). ASALA was a Marxist-Leninist guerrilla organization that operated from 1975 to 1991.[11] The stated intention of ASALA was "to compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its alleged responsibility for the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland".[12] The territory to be ceded would be the area promised to the Armenians at the Treaty of Sevres in 1920 (which never came into effect) by US President Woodrow Wilson, "Wilsonian Armenia".[13]

ASALA was a Diaspora organization, without any known ties to the Soviet Armenian government and it primarily attacked Turkish government officials, especially Turkish Ambassadors in the West, as representatives of Turkey.

Both ASALA and PKK were rumored to have been brainchildren of Armenian KGB officer of Karen Brutents.[14]. The group planned attacks worldwide, and had internal disagreements and splinter groups. According to MIPT website, there had been 84 incidents involving ASALA leaving 46 people dead, and 299 people injured.[15]

Armenian independence 1991

Turkey was one of the first countries to recognise Armenia's independence in 1991.[16]

Border

The border between Turkey and Armenia is in diffuse as Armenians insist that “Modern Turkey is the assignee of the Ottoman Empire and fully accounts for the events in 1915,” as the “Hay Dat” Office head underlined.[17] The meaning of compansation in these claims are unknown at this stage, which could extend to re-drawing of the border that was settled by the Kars treaty. The most of "Historic Armenia" lies in Turkey. The current Republic of Armenia has not commented on the Kars treaty which settled the current border and population issues. At unofficial and unbinding situations Armenian officials claim that there is no issue of border between Turkey and Armenian, such as the Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian on December 13, 2006. "Armenia has never made a problem of validity of the Treaty of Kars, as Armenia remains loyal to all agreements inherited from the Soviet Union", he said.[18]

While Turkey voices that treaty is in doubt as Armenia did not acknowledge it, Oskanian states that the treaty is in doubt by Turkey. Oskanian noted that Turkey itself does not put a number of articles of the treaty into practice. Turkey closed its Armenian border, since the war over Nagorno-Karabakh between Azerbaijan and Karabakh Armenian separatists. Oskanian states that by this action, Turkey is putting the validity of the treaty into doubt. For instance, the treaty called for Turkey to open a consulate in each of the three Transcaucasian republics.[18] Due to tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, Turkey has blockaded Armenia and severed diplomatic ties with it, thus violating this article. Armenia[citation needed] claims that Turkey is using the blockade to isolate the country with projects such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline and the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku railway all of which directly bypass Armenia despite the economic logic of incorporating Armenia. A rail line from Kars to Baku already exists in fact, but is closed by Turkey, it passes through the Turkish-Armenian border.

The Armenian demand to unify Karabakh to Armenia, which proliferated in the late 1980s, began in a relatively peaceful manner; however, as the Soviet Union's disintegration neared, the dispute gradually grew into a violent conflict between the ethnic groups in Nagorno-Karabakh, resulting in ethnic cleansing by all sides.[19] Closing of the border was interpreted by Turkey as a prevention of a possible extension of the conflict by ultra-nationalist Armenian groups to Turkey. Armenian Revolutionary Federation, the major political force in Armenia, claims that part of Turkey belong to Armenians along side the Nagorno-Karabakh. The unsecure relations was also reflected by Armenian President Robert Kocharian which declared that Armenia continues to be under threat by Turkey.[20] Later Turkey took the step of partially opening the airspace to Armenia, and land trade is merely diverted through Georgia.

The possible Armenian claims over Turkey based on Armenian Genocide and activities of ultra-nationalist Armenian groups in Nagorno-Karabakh keeps the border closed between these states.

Nagorno-Karabakh

Turkey approaches the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict using the Minsk Process and standing by the principal of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Turkey supported indirect bilateral talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia. With the aim of playing a facilitator role, Turkey initiated a trilateral process of dialogue (Reykjavik, 2002 & Istanbul Summit, 2004) among the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant

Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant continues to be an issue between Armenia and Turkey.

Turkey perceive the Armenian aging Soviet-built nuclear power plant with safety concerns as a threat to Turkish population living near the border. Turkey's worries are shared by the European Union which asked to shut the plant down due to safety concerns. The plant was closed after a devastating 1988 earthquake, but returned to service in 1995.

Another related issues is the Armenian interest in atomic energy development by opening up uranium mines. Turkey has concerns over its extraction. Turkey wants to see this process established under international oversight with the specialists.

Minority issues

Turkey has been stressing the fact that there are no Turks left in Armenia though there used to be a notable Turkic-speaking population in the country before the Nagorno-Karabakh War (see: Azeris in Armenia). Armenia has expressed concern over the remaining Armenians of Turkey; however, Armenians still continue to be the largest minority group in Turkey with an estimated population of 40,000 to 70,000 (See: Armenians in Turkey). In 2007, Turkish government announced that 40,000-50,000 Armenian citizens, identified as illegal immigrants, were working in Turkey without a legal permit. Referring to these people, Prime Minister Recep T. Erdoğan in a speech said: "Why are these Armenians living in Turkey? They do not have appropriate conditions for living in Armenia. They have come Turkey, and we do not send them away [though they are illegally staying in our country]."[21]

Current Developments

Threat assessment

Armenian President Robert Kocharian said that Armenia continues to be under threat by having Turkey as a neighbor. Kocharian linked non-recognition of Armenian genocide claims as "not only an ethical problem, but poses a national security problem for Armenia". Kocharian said "There is a risk that it (i.e. Genocide) could happen (by Turkey) again".[20]

Hrant Dink assassination

In January 2007, the of assassination of Hrant Dink, a Turkish citizen of Armenian descent, has brought the issue of Armenian-Turkish relations onto a national scale in Turkey. Dink was instrumental in getting Turks to discuss the Armenian issue, which had long been taboo in public discussion. He was also sometimes critical of the Armenian diaspora, which is based mostly in the US and France, for its insistence on the claim of genocide. At his funeral tens of thousands of Turks marched most carrying signs “We are all Armenians” demonstrated a possible reproachment between the two groups.[22] Where this leads in Armenian-Turkish relations remains to be seen.

Recognition issues

At the forefront of Turkish-Armenian relations is the Armenian Genocide. After citing conditions during WWI, FM Abdullah Gül said "But when you call it 'genocide', you have to find another terminology for the Jews that were killed in Germany before and during World War II".[23]

Turkish Armenian Reconciliation Committee

The US State Department secretly sponsored a group of Armenians and Turks to discuss relations and issues between the years 2001-2004. Turks outnumbered Armenians on this committee which was not very popular among Armenians. The group met in various locations and eventually agreed to submit the Armenian Genocide issue to the International Center for Transitional Justice in order to decide the issue. After this agreement, the Turks in the group changed their mind before the report came out and tried to stop the process. The ICTJ finished its report however and determined that the events did constitute genocide.[24]

Communication (study work group)

Turkey has more recently suggested the establishment of a committee of Turkish and Armenian historians to study the claims. Turkey insists that there should be a task force (committee) established from historians that will prove to the Turkish historians that the deaths among the Armenians were not a result of inter-ethnic strife, disease and famine during the turmoil of World War I and there was a genocidal intent behind them. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that they will respect the conclusion of this task force. But Kocharian rejected Erdoğan's proposal, first saying that "the two countries must first establish diplomatic relations and that committees could be formed only within the process of normalization of relations" later he restated by saying "not by the historians, but the politicians".[25] Turkey insists that would fall into error, making a political judgment rather than a historical one.

For the first time an ethnic Armenian historian has agreed to take part in a joint group to explore the disputed events at the end of World War I. Ara Sarafian, a major historian of the Armenian diaspora, accepted the offer of Turkish Historical Foundation (TTK) head Yusuf Halaçoğlu.[20]

International arbitration

Turkish view: Turkey says it is preparing to use international arbitration to settle debate. FM Abdullah Gül said that Turkey had been working on to counter the claims "We had said we'll seek every way including the court option. These are serious studies. Officials, including former diplomats, are working on this and the steps we take will be announced when we are finished with them.[26]." Armenia itself has also never made an "international arbitration" claim, which theoretically Armenia should do as the plaintiff in this issue.

Armenian view: Armenians do not believe that Turkey would risk actually taking this to arbitration.[citation needed] The only similar instance resulted by the Armenian claim, to International Center for Transitional Justice to determine that the events did meet the definition of genocide.[24] The application not include Turkish representation and the result is not "legally" endorsed (no ruling exists that it is a genocide) the claim by 2007.

EU membership

Armenia uses Turkey's EU membership to promote indirect recognition effort. Armenian prime minister declared that Turkey's accession should be directly linked to recognition. Turkey has become a candidate to join the European Union, limited discussion of the event is now taking place in Turkey. The European Parliament suggests that one of the provisions for Turkey to join the E.U. should be the full recognition of the event as genocide, though this has yet to happen.[citation needed] Armenia wants to see Turkey as a full fledged member of the EU when it meets the criteria, as this would bring the EU directly to Armenia's western border.[27] Armenia itself is a member of the EU's New Neighborhood group, which may one day lead to EU membership.[28]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c GlobalHeritageFund.org The Ties That Divide
  2. ^ http://www.ids.net/~gregan/
  3. ^ "Sinan". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-03.
  4. ^ Byzantium and the Magyars, Gyula Moravcsik, Samuel R. Rosenbaum p. 28
  5. ^ Talbot Hamlin, Architecture Through the Ages, University of Michigan, p 208
  6. ^ "Will Sinan's Armenian Origin Finally Be Publicly Acknowledged?". Armenian Reporter. 2001-02-24. Retrieved 2007-02-03.
  7. ^ Burning Tigris, The: The Armenian Genocide and America's Awakening to International Human Rights By Peter Balakian
  8. ^ Template:Ru icon Text of the Treaty of Kars
  9. ^ English translation of the Treaty of Kars
  10. ^ http://www.armenica.org/cgi-bin/history/en/getHistory.cgi?7=1==K-167==1=3=A
  11. ^ Vasn Hayutyan, Vasn Hayrenyats, ASALA publication, 1995
  12. ^ U.S. Department of State. "Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)". Retrieved 2007-01-26.
  13. ^ Pitman, Paul M. Turkey: A Country Study. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355
  14. ^ "Antero Leitzinger (2005) The Roots of Islamic Terrorism: How Communists Helped Fundamentalists"
  15. ^ http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=258
  16. ^ http://www.b-info.com/tools/miva/newsview.mv?url=news/2001-01/text/jan16e.rfe
  17. ^ http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=21531
  18. ^ a b All Armenian Mass Media Association: In Vartan Oskanian's Words, Turkey Casts Doubt On The Treaty Of Kars With Its Actions
  19. ^ "Case Study in Ethnic Strife. (Nagorno-Karabakh)". Foreign Affairs v76, n2 1997. Council on Foreign Relations. June 1997. Retrieved 2007-02-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ a b c http://www.thenewanatolian.com/tna-23426.html
  21. ^ "Ankara not expects negative decision on genocide resolution". Retrieved 12 Apr. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ FT
  23. ^ http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=103763&bolum=8
  24. ^ a b http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=International_Center_for_Transitional_Justice
  25. ^ http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2007/02/786D82CE-E489-47EA-A15C-BABC50859734.asp
  26. ^ http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=65457
  27. ^ http://www.norharevanner.am/news.php?cont=3&rg=2&date=21.12.2006&month=13&year=2006
  28. ^ http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/05/077d3a6b-3883-4119-972e-cc470a9ff6b6.html
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Armenia–Turkey_relations&oldid=125393807"