In an interview with Tert.am, Jason Ture, a Greek Doctor of Philosophy who now resides in Germany, shared his comments on the Bundestag’s resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
He elaborated particularly on the impact of the German legislators move upon Turkey, and the international community at large.
According to him, Turkey is not likely to make any changes in its continuing policy of denial unless it faces serious pressure.
“I think The [Turkish] government will try practically to do what it is doing right now: deny it, pretend as if nothing happened,” he said, noting that the country is becoming more and more alone on the international arena.
Mr Ture said he nonetheless expects the decision to have a strong pressure effect on the Turkish society. “The Bundestag decision will put more pressure on the Turkish society and the Turkish state; it would deepen the breaking point. I eventually see this as a post of sign, but under the hand in Germany, I think that we have to focus more on the German involvement, because Germany had a very important role in the whole Genocide. And also we have to see what’s going to happen next in the Germany, i.e. – how they will treat a Turk when the Turks denounces the Genocide. I think that’s an important question,” he added.
Asked to comment on Turkey’s move to recall its ambassador from Germany after the resolution’s passage, Mr Ture described the gesture as just a form of internal propaganda.
“Turkey doesn’t have cards to play – nothing more. It’s just going to be a kind of internal propaganda. I don’t think that anything else can possibly happen. Germany is the biggest trade partner of Turkey, and Turkey, at the moment, doesn’t have the means to stand against that. They cannot do anything more serious than pulling the ambassador back for some days. There are millions of Turkish citizens living in Germany, and as soon as the Turkish [diplomatic] missions in this country close, they will need to explain what’s happening to these people, because they do expect services from their consulates and embassies as well.”
Mr Ture noted further that France, which had earlier recognized the Armenian Genocide, is also an important partner for Turkey. “There are so many countries which have recognized the Genocide. And Turkey had closed links and relations with those countries as well. We all are sitting at the turmoil; we all are sitting at a breaking point of the state and the people in Turkey. So, on one side, it will have a huge effect in that sense, it will have a major effect. But for the Turkish state, I don’t think that much will change, because this kind of things are going to happen only with a real pressure.”
The Greek philosopher, who was earlier a guest professor in Istanbul, said he really expects the German parliament’s move to set a good precedent. “I consider it a very nice example for other countries to accept the Genocide and put sanctions on Turkey. And sanctions in the long run may really cause something. The key point here is not the decision of the Bundestag but the sanctions which may follow.
“The moment the Turkish state acknowledges the Genocide, the Turkish state will cease to exist as we know it. So many things will have to change. It’s not just saying ‘Oops, we’re sorry’; it won’t just do the trick. The whole ideology of the Turkish state is built on the Genocide,” he said.