BILLION: ARMENIAN DIASPORA SHOULD LEAVE LIVING IN THE PAST

Tuesday, 15 September 2009 09:48

Deputy chairman of the Paris based International and Strategical Relations Institute (Institut de Relations Internationales et Stratégiques -IRIS) Didier Billion said, “I hope Armenian diaspora does not prevent realization of protocols.”

Deputy chairman of the Paris based Institut de Relations Internationales et Stratégiques, Didier Billion evaluated the process of normalization between Turkey and Armenia. Billion observes Turkey and Turkish world closely and has two books and several articles about Turkey.

Turkey specialist Didier Billion stated that the protocols that are initialized with Armenia is a great opportunity. Billion stressed that Nagorno-Karabakh problem should not be forgetten and that it should be resolved meantime. Billion stated that Armenian diaspora should stop growing hatred with using the pain in the past and intead of trying to prevent the solution, it should focus on the future.

French expert stated that most of diaspora Armenians are traditionally against rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia. He said that diaspora Armenians demand recognition of so called Armenian genocide as a precondition for establishment of good relations between two countries. Billion said, “In my opinion, that is a great mistake. Turkish and Armenian administrations were so clever to not to propose any preconditions. They do not hide anything. As we see in the protocols, a sub-committee will be established that include historians from Turkey, Armenia and third countries to make researches on 1915 events. That is a perfect method. I hope Armenian diaspora does not prevent realization of this protocols.”

Billion said, “Even we do not agree on the term of ’genocide’, massacres and terrible events had happened. But i believe that we cannot live in the past. We should look to future.”

Stating that there are politic circles in Armenian diaspora who are interested to use the pain in the past, Billion said, “They do all they can to prevent Armenians to learn about Turks.”

NAGORNO-KARABAKH SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE PROCESS

Stating that the process of normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia should not be independent of Azerbaijan, Billion said, “Prime Minister Erdogan had stated that they will not open borders unless Nagorno-Karabakh problem is resolved. But we see that there is no such thing in protocols. There we witness a political struggle there. I believe in the dynamism of Turkish diplomacy. With usage of the dynamism that emerges with the efforts of OSCE Minsk Group, Nagorno-Karabakh problem will be brought to the center of discussions.”

Billion stated that Turkey should be one of the co-chairs in the OSCE Minsk Group with Russia, United States and France. “Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should not be ignored because if that problem remains nothing else could be solved. Normalization of relations, opening of borders, unzipping Armenian diaspora and responding to the demands of Azerbaijan; those should be solved all together.”