Politics is about real results

by Ara Arutunyan

Published: Friday August 06, 2010

By engaging Iran, Turkey stakes out global role for itself: Turkish and Iranian leaders enjoy warm rapport. IsraelProject.org

Lubbock, Tex. - I came across the article "Genocide recognition, but at what cost?" by Arman Grigorian, in the Armenian newspaper Aravot on July 28, 2010. Since the article was originally published in The Armenian Reporter and discusses core issues of Armenian politics and national identity, I decided to respond to you with my objections to this erroneous analysis and its conclusions.

The analysis is based on false presumptions about Turkey's current role, ambitions, regional initiatives and relations with the US and Israel. As a result the whole article generates false conclusions.

Grigorian writes, "First, and most importantly, we know that trying to slow down the drive to attack Iran is one of the main reasons why Turkey has wound up in the American war party's and Israel's crosshairs. We also know that if Turkey were to be successfully coerced to change its stance, that attack would become more likely. And another thing we know is that in addition to being a disaster for the US and the entire Middle East, such an attack will be a disaster for Armenia, which the Armenians in the Diaspora claim to care about deeply. If that is indeed the case, they should not want such an attack to take place and should instead do everything they can to make it less likely. Jumping on the war party's and Israel's bandwagon to go after Turkey is precisely the opposite of doing so."

Later, in many instances he sees Turkey as a satellite player and makes conclusions on the basis of these initial standpoints.

First, Turkey's regional and global initiatives have nothing to do with Iran, US or Israel. Turkey is trying to gain a status of a major global player. Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's demarche against President Shimon Peres in Davos was a well staged political move, which openly announced Turkey's current, real political motives.

Publicly attacking a renowned Israeli politician and later Israel itself, had only the purpose to announce to the world that Turkey no longer considers itself a satellite state and is ready to enter into the stage of global politics.

As every political analyst is aware, the position of Israel and its supporters in global affairs is enormously high. The easiest way to open the door to global politics is to challenge the authorities of that "decision making room," and directly speak with them. Erdogan and Turkey are simply doing this. 

The moment of the attack was chosen perfectly. For a predictable list of reasons, the attack on Peres was left unattended by Israel, and Turkey went further. By offering nuclear services to Iran, Turkey managed to get involved in the Iran-USA confrontation and take another go at global politics. This was an unexpected challenge for the US. Again, because of a predictable list of factors, the response from the US and Israel was more than peaceful. 

Succeeding in these initiatives, Turkey understood that the "bosses" are more than "sleepy" and it is time to bring into equation some tangible, real results as well, by directly attacking Israel.

The staged incident with the humanitarian ships full of hysteric people and trained army servicemen elevated Turkey into the status of an older, influential brother of Arabs, and fighter for truth and humanism.

As a result, Turkey has already abandoned its "satellite" position and currently has all necessary credentials to act as a dominant decision maker in the region.

Accordingly, the core foundations of Grigorian's analysis that we must do everything possible to prevent Turkey's departure from its previous subordinate position, is just rosy, wishful thinking.

Turkey already is no longer there. It is a technologically, politically and socially advancing country and we - Armenians - must build our future on the recognition of this, clearly "sad" for us, reality.

In my opinion any recognition of the Armenian Genocide - moral, immoral - must be welcomed and taken by every Armenian as a deserved gift.

Politics is not about morality or fairness. It is about real results.

Right now Armenia is facing a war with Azerbaijan, backed by Turkey.

Recognition of the genocide by Israel or USA will critically lower the possibility of this war and give Armenia a chance to gain better diplomatic positions with Turks and Azeris.