LIGHT SEEN AT THE END OF TUNNEL FOR A COMMON FUTURE BETWEEN TURKEY, ARMENIA

Kaan Soyak from Turkey and Arsen Ghazarian from Armenia are the two men behind that difficult, but surely historical process. Of course, some other secret contributors , such as Michael Lemmon, U.S. Ambassador to Yerevan did a lot for the improvement of “human relations” between the two countries as well.

A workshop organized by the Diplomatic Correspondents’ Association based in Ankara, Yerevan Press Club and the New Generation Journalists’ Union of Azerbaijan reflected the small, but important results of these efforts.

When the Turkish journalists group stepped foot in Yerevan, they were welcomed at VIP level. Kaan Soyak, co-chairman of the Turkish Armenian Business Development Council told the Turkish Daily News later that it was the committee who requested such treatment for the Turkish group.

Soyak, who answered TDN questions while describing that important process, used the magic word for describing the Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission meetings:

“Start by looking at each other’s eyes! Don’t be afraid of that… Eye contact has a key role in human relations”

SOYAK- Because there is no direct contact between the two countries, misunderstandings occur quite often and cannot be prevented. Despite the fact that Turkey was the first state to have diplomatic ties with Armenia, there is no such thing today.

Due to our Azerbaijan centered policy, we have been made to deal with resolutions throughout the past year. Most state institutions and all Embassies have been putting money and effort into their prevention. Turkey has the right to listen to Azeri advice concerning what can be done about all this. The losses we have faced should be calculated and reflected on the prices of Azeri natural gas we purchase.”

TDN- How can you comment on recent developments concerning Turkish-Armenian relations, in the light of developments related with your effort and work of the Reconciliation Committee?

SOYAK- We have been paying efforts for the realization of the projects and for the establishment of a direct dialogue between the two countries, supporting such dialogues. We will visit EU embassies

so as to gain EU support. The importance given to the Reconciliation Committee, which was more than it should have been, created great expectations that can result in great disappointments. It should be understood that the sole way of dialogue is not the Reconciliation Committee

We lost a certain amount of the support lent to our cultural and trade projects due to the words of one commission member citing the only reason for their group’s membership in the commission as

“preventing the acknowledgement of genocide drafts.” There is no pressure on people urging the issuance of such a statement. There also is no pressurizing situation forcing this statement to be taken

very seriously and thus reflect it on future relations. Suffice to say that one should not have great expectations but should lend full support to the activities of organizations working in the name of the

Turkish-Armenian dialogue. There has been dialogue ever since 1997.

Agreements among universities, chambers of commerce, journalists and pilgrimages…

The Foreign and Interior Ministries of both states fully support these efforts. A meeting is to be held in October in Kayseri so as to discuss planned projects. The aim of plans consisting of businessmen

from Malatya visiting Armenia, the Virtual Agricultural Wholesale Market Project encompassing Erzurum Kars and Armenia and all others is the same…To start diplomatic relations among the two countries.

TDN- Could you describe the current situation of Turkish-Armenian business relations?

Soyak- Turkish-Armenian business relations and the issue of the current and future dimensions of these relations have been passing through a great change and improvement process in the last four

years. As a result of years long studies, we can see that the Armenian Diaspora has a characteristic that it can easily get into all kinds of economic and political relations at the country that it presents

and unified with the country politically and economically.

Economic relations to be formed with Armenians are very important concerning the economic future of the Eastern and Southeastern Anatolian people, who have believe they’ve been ignored for a long

time, no matter what their language or belief was.

TDN- How did you decide to establish the committee?

Soyak- Turkish-Armenian Business Council was formed mutually in Armenia and Turkey on May 3, 1997.

In the year of its establishment, there was approximately $100 million worth of trade volume between Turkey and Armenia, which was being realized via Georgia and Iran.

The goal of our founding was to gather traders from both countries and to help them get to know each other.

Too many meetings were held, mutual visits were realized and in the end, the businessmen from both countries started to use the third countries as a “documentation country.” The economic advantage was huge for both sides.

We have had so many joint work with the help of the Armenians in Russia. Armenians in Russia provided industrial load, iron and sunflower oil with appropriate conditions and for a long time.

Our main partners in trade in Russian ports have been the Armenians. As a result of these relations, an atmosphere of confidence has been established. On our last trip, a decision was taken for changing the name of the committee and for meeting under one single umbrella, which is Turkish

Armenian Business Council.

We continued our work at the Turkish-Armenian Business Council, which had two co-chairmanship. We plan to have the same organization with the same name in the United States, Europe and Russia.

TDN- You are familiar not only with ARMENIA, but also with the Diaspora Armenians. How will you describe the two and what is the relationship between Armenia and the Diaspora Armenians?

Soyak- The development of the thought that families are facing economic hardships because the Turkish border is closed might put distance between the peoples of the two countries.

Even though genocide has never been the top issue of the agenda in Armenia, media connections from the extremist Diaspora Armenians, strengthening ties with Armenia created an environment in the local

press, where the issue of genocide has always been discussed. Just like all other societies, there are radicals and moderates in the Armenian society.

The moderates, who want to cooperate with Turkey, can voice less loudly in the last years because the diplomatic and economic ties they had hoped for have not been set up.

For example, the personal views of the head of a human rights association in Armenia, raising territorial demands, appeared in our press as the view of Armenia. The ones sharing these views present these arguments as their own look, since they do not have official posts.

But, sometimes, such personal views appear in our press as the argument of the state, putting positive work into a more difficult situation.

Later on the Armenian Foreign Ministry stated that this piece of news reflected not the views of the state, but those of that particular person. Nevertheless, this correction was not published in our

papers. Many misunderstandings occur due to the lack of communication among the two states and preventing such happenings from taking place is hard. In fact, Turkey is the first country to have diplomatic ties with Armenia, but today there is no such thing. Diplomatic connections with Armenia must be set up. Armenia is ready, Turkey should solve its problems with Armenia directly.

When we ask how people in Armenia advocating a tough stance perceive Turkey, we get the answer that Turkey should recognize the genocide and should be receptive to our demands. These requests are made up of land and compensation. They received credible financial support in recent years from radicals of the political spectrum in the United States and France.

The current administration in Armenia does not act as if there has been no genocide, it simply does not put this forth as a condition for bilateral relations. It is perceived to be a subject that can be

taken up after the starting of relations. Certain things have happened in history, there are problems. They want to discuss this problem and probe into it together. The recognition of the genocide

is a demand mostly voiced by the Diaspora. The Diaspora is behind the genocide draft passed by French Parliament and the one that is to be taken up by the American Congress. It is hard to thwart such efforts because they are already underway. When we say Diaspora, we don’t mean the Armenians of Armenia but those of Turkey. Almost 90 percent of these people have roots linked to Anatolia. Genocide is a psychological problem for them. For some, Diaspora is a society living in trauma. Apart from devising legal solutions, based on documents if necessary, we can also come up with a strategy that relieves them from the stress resulting from 1915.

Armenian people can not openly state their dislike of genocide resolutions due to formalities, but in off the record discussions, they state their dislike of tension and their want of establishing economic and diplomatic relations with Turkey. Cooperative Armenians can only be strengthened via the establishment of relations among the two countries.

TDN- What kind of a role can Turkey play at this point?

Soyak- Turkey can listen to everyone in the region and have an objective stance. We are located in this region as well, no one can change the geography. We will live together, we should trust each

other and should come up with confidence building measures. Turkey has had the chance of solving regional problems, including that of Nagorno-Karabagh, for some time now. We could not benefit from this opportunity, mainly because our Caucasus policy is concentrated on Azerbaijan. Turkey can not build its foreign policy on religious and ethnic principles. The state of our economy is no big secret. Due to our Azerbaijan centered policy, we have been made to deal with resolutions throughout the past year. Most state institutions and all Embassies have been putting money and effort into its prevention. Turkey has the right to listen to Azeri advice concerning what can be done about all this. The losses we have faced should be calculated and reflected on the prices of Azeri natural gas we purchase. This should be carried out as soon as possible because Azerbaijan and Armenia will make up this year and we will be left empty handed as a result of our policy.

Turkey should reach consensus with Russia in regional relations. It should not be forgotten that both countries have 70 year old ties with Russia and we should benefit from the possible advantages of

these ties. Russian Armenians are very active in Russia and Central Asian Republics.

TDN- Now coming to the economic side of the issue… Pipelines to be constructed for the transportation of the Caspian energy resources to the West are on the agenda. Where does Armenia stand concerning this matter?

SOYAK- For Armenia, opening up to Turkey means gaining access to the seas. The only railway that links Turkey to Central Asia and Russia passes via Armenia. Turkey could evolve into the exit of Central Asia and could have an active role in the world economy along with the Caucasus. Many European states existing under the umbrella of the EU, the U.S. and Russia want an influential role in the Caucasus. Turkey is very advantaged because of its geographical location. It may play a key role in important co operations. Pipelines and energy are two important factors for the economic relations between both countries. There are pipelines in Armenia coming from Russia. Another fact is that Armenia is the only country in the region that has the necessary underground storage space enabling constant use of natural gas. The transfer of Azeri natural gas via Armenia and its storage there is

also important. An extra pipeline can be built over Armenia, without disturbing the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan route, and this new pipeline can be connected to others in Central Asia. Of course, once we look at a map, we can see that pipelines coming via Iran are half those of Baku

Ceyhan and are more economic. Petroleum companies are aware of this too. But the United States has placed an ILSA (Iran-Libya Sanctions Act) embargo on Iran, which was renewed for five more years recently.

The renewal of this embargo gave another chance for an additional pipeline via Armenia. We can cooperate with the Armenian Diaspora to work on the realization of this pipeline. Why shouldn’t the Diaspora be called “Lobby of People From Turkey or Anatolian Lobby” for these reasons?

Another important subject is the electricity surplus in Armenia. Current lines enable easy sale of this source of energy. Construction can take place in Armenia in return for electricity. Visiting officials had once made such an offer — concerning Armenian relations with Turkmenistan and Central Asia. This should be assessed seriously.

TDN- What about tourism?

SOYAK- Tourism is a field in which both countries can speed up cooperation. There are undiscovered touristic sites in the region which have not been revealed to the global community yet. The advantage of this region vis-a-vis others is that its consumers are all ready. It should be taken into account that there are some 6.5 million Diaspora Armenians with roots that can be traced to Eastern

Anatolia most who have got high levels of income.

The city given most importance by all Armenians is Kayseri. We experimented with this by bringing American tourists with Armenian backgrounds in the framework of Faith Tourism and in cooperation with the American Armenian Church, located in New York. The number of visitors might have been small but still, the hospitality displayed is sure to turn the Eastern and Southeastern regions of our country into a tourist rich location.

TDN- What can you say about other sectors?

Soyak- Armenia has an important place in the world when it comes to IT and expert programmers. Large numbers of European and American firms visit Armenia, the technological brain of the former USSR, to hold talks in the fields of telecommunications, IT, all sorts of software production, programming, computer parts and work industries linked to the above stated spheres.

Textile and the cement industry are two fields in which Armenia is good at. Cooperation will benefit us both.

TDN- Armenian network throughout the world is one of the main grounds

of business cooperation, isn’t it?

SOYAK- This is the field in which most cooperation should take place. Ever since the establishment of our Council, we have perceived Armenia to be a second Israel. Armenians have an important place in the public and private sector of nearly all of the countries on the world, with the East and West Diaspora. Canada, the United States, Argentine, Brazil…

We, as the Council, consider the chance of Turkish companies’ to take the tenders opened in these states, if they get into partnerships with Armenian companies. Our biggest goal within this framework is to create co operations between the businessmen in Eastern and southeastern Anatolia and the Diaspora Armenians, who speak almost with the same dialect. With this aim, we have formed the Anatolian Business Development Center in Ankara. We started to work for bringing the persons living in the Diaspora from these cities together. Regional business conferences are the steps which we

planned to start initially.

TDN- Do you have plans to organize in other countries?

SOYAK- We are about to conclude our efforts for establishing Turkish-Armenian Business Council in the United States. Prominent members of the Diaspora Armenians are in that cooperation. Our aim is to form an important bridge between the United States-Turkey and the Caucasus. Just like this, we are in contact with the European Armenians concerning a Brussels and Paris-centered European

organization. Russia, on the other hand, is a very important place for us and we plan to arrange joint work in the sectors of construction and energy within this year. We act considering the assumption that working for Turkey, within the framework of the relation to be formed by Turkey and Armenia, will contribute to Armenia, too.

TDN- ANATOLIAN LOBBY

That term does not belong to us. A strong Armenian whom we met in Europe used that phrase of the “Lobby of the Locals of Anatolia” and we accepted this.

Most of the Armenians might not have spiritual or emotional ties with Turkey, but the concept of the “Lobby of the locals of the Anatolia” can be realized, taking the fact into consideration that “a Diaspora working for the benefit of Turkey and Armenia can work more actively for the future of Armenia.”

The lobby of the locals of Anatolia have already been involved in European institutions, and their power in the United States is clear, so that the lobby of the Anatolians will be a clarifying factor for

the promotion of Turkey abroad.

STEPS TO BE TAKEN

Armenia has no interest out of the current tension with Turkey apart from the financial aid coming from the Diaspora. The country does not have any income apart from this financial aid.

The population of Armenia has decreased to 1.7 million from 3 million because of the Armenians who went abroad to find work.

Allegations of genocide will not disappear completely with the improvement of relations between both countries, that is very much up to time and we can mutually solve this problem as long as we manage

to improve the above mentioned economic cooperation.

Armenia does not have the power to stop the genocide resolutions. However, relations to be launched between Turkey and Armenia will manage to ease the drafts.

At least the moderates of the Diaspora, which is the silent majority of the Diaspora can start to question their support for the radicals concerning the resolutions.

Problems of local Armenian society Three points are constantly put forth on all our trips abroad. The

first has got to do with a declaration issued in 1936, the second with the foundation election system of Churches and the third with the education of religious officials.

If these problems and those similar to these are still of importance, then they should be solved as soon as possible.

Similarities between Armenians and Turks

It is almost impossible for people that have lived together for centuries to be too different. This applies to Turks and Armenians too. Kirk Krikorian, owner of MGM and one of the richest in the United States, donated $1 million after the 1999 earthquake almost immediately.

Their approach to life, attitudes, hand and facial gestures…Two brothers argued once in history and fell apart but now is time for peace and solidarity. A furthering of hostilities and damaging each other’s interests in the international arena is of no use to either of us. Today there is capital abroad which has little knowledge of foreign languages but can be of use to Anatolia. There are lots of Armenians speaking Turkish with an Eastern or Southeastern accent abroad. The only thing is that part of the society lives abroad now…