Armenian genocide: Issue of global politics?
The world has commemorated another anniversary of Armenian genocide by the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1923. Most countries, as well as Russia, acknowledged the fact of misdeed. However, Turkey refused to do it; anyway, the EU not to accept Turkey. Turkey and Armenia have practically no relations, but international geopolitics is involved in the issue of genocide. The relations between the two countries are improving at local level. Why are politicians so adamant?
On April 24 Armenians in the whole world commemorate an anniversary of Armenian genocide by the Ottoman Empire. Traditionally, solemn and mourning events take place in Yerevan at the Memorial Complex on top of Tsitsernakaberd hill. The monument is 12 inward-leaning slabs that symbolize 12 vilayets (provinces) of the Ottoman Empire, which territory Armenians inhabited before the genocide. The eternal flame is housed in the center of the monument. In Armenian churches there is a funeral service this day. Besides, numerous mourning events are held in different cities of the world: in Moscow, Tbilisi, Paris, Marseilles, Cologne, Berlin, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires and others.
Meanwhile, the fact that Armenian genocide was acknowledged by Turkey, the assumed successor of the Ottoman Empire, long became a stumbling block to the relations between Ankara and Yerevan. Turkey seeks to join the EU, however most EU members demanded the acknowledgement of the genocide. Experts and analysts question: “Will the issue of Turkey’s responsibility for genocide turn into the issue of the world politics?”
It is to be noted that today the fact of the genocide was acknowledged by 15 countries, including Russia, France, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Lithuania and above 30 US states. Last year the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations approved of the resolution that acknowledged Armenian genocide by Turkey, despite the fact that the White House recommended not to do it for fear of possible aggravations in the relations with Turkey. Anyway, the resolution is neither an obligation, nor a law.
Turkey stated in response that it might decrease its help to US troops in Iraq. According to Egemen Bagis, the deputy chairman of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party, “US troops in Iraq are largely dependent on Turkey, and if the USA adopts a law on Armenian genocide, Ankara will have to reduce the help.”
Why has the issue of Armenian genocide turned into the issue of the world politics?” It is not persistence of Ankara and its own view of the history of Armenians and Turks. According to Armenian sources, the genocide claimed 1.5 million lives. At night of April, 24 1915 the government of Young Turks arrested and killed practically all the Armenian intelligence in Istanbul. Then there was a mass deportation of Armenians from all the provinces of the Ottoman Empire.
