TURKEY'S ARMENIANS EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR BORDER OPENING

Saturday, 26 September 2009 09:55

Turkish Armenians have expressed hope regarding the opening of the border between Armenia and Turkey, saying such a step would help the two peoples remember that they do not have only sad memories of each other, but also have a long common history.

On Aug. 31, Ankara and Yerevan announced that after talks which have been continuing under Swiss mediation, they have decided to launch an internal consultation process on both sides before signing two protocols aiming to normalize relations by opening the closed border between the two countries and re-establishing diplomatic ties after 16 years. Earlier this week, speaking in New York, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo“an stated that he expects to present Parliament with documents on establishing diplomatic ties with Armenia by early October. In its latest edition, the bilingual Agos newspaper spoke with Armenian citizens of Turkey concerning the recent developments. The founder of Agos, Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, was shot dead outside the newspaper’s offices in January 2007. Dink’s murder trial is still ongoing.

Lerna Kuyumcu, a 67-year-old housewife, voiced her pleasure over the protocols, saying she believed they would serve for the good of both countries, while Tabita Toparlak, an 18-year-old student, reflected her enthusiasm over the developments.

“Open the borders so that both of the countries can breathe fresh air. We have gradually become rusty, since we remained closed [to one another],” Toparlak was quoted as saying by Agos.

A middle-aged finance employee, Vartkes Hergel, 43, was cautious in welcoming the developments. “As a Turkish Armenian, I consider the signing of these protocols as a beautiful start, though I’m not very hopeful. Despite dragging their feet, supporters of the status quo on both sides will not be able to block the rapprochement of the two peoples. Progress will continue on this road on which Hrant Dink took big steps,” Hergel said. “My dream is to cross the border one day together with my Turkish friend”afak, hand in hand. Even if “afak and I cannot do this, our children will make it happen,” Hergel added.

Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic ties and share a history of animosity stemming from the killings of Anatolian Armenians by Ottoman Turks during World War I. Turkey denies the 1915 killings amounted to genocide but has agreed to set up a commission of international experts on the issue under a protocol it signed with Armenia.

Ankara has said it hopes to open its border with Armenia by the end of the year and establish diplomatic ties. Anticipation over an Ankara-Yerevan thaw has been growing ahead of a planned visit by Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan to Turkey on Oct. 14, when he is due to attend the return leg of a World Cup qualifying soccer match between the two countries.

Jeweler Hagop Can Hulyar, 49, was critical of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), which has not lent its support to the government’s steps for rapprochement with Armenia. “I never vote for the CHP, and I will never do so. I also have the conviction that a sane Armenian indeed should not vote for the CHP,” Hulyar said.