Posted on 08/17/2008 1:34:42 PM PDT by decimon
ANKARA (AFP) - President Abdullah Gul sent a reconciliatory message to neighbouring Armenia on Saturday, saying Turkey is "no enemy" to any country in its region, as he mulled a possible landmark trip to Yerevan.
The conflict between Georgia and Russia shows the need for "early measures to resolve frozen problems in the region and... prevent instability in the future," said Gul in televised remarks in the central city of Nevsehir.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Turkey has been required to admit to the Armenian genocide (Muslims murdering Orthodox Christians). They refuse and, if fact, have launched numerous website claiming it was the Armenians that attacked Turkey.
Easter Turkey was a mix of Turkish Muslims and Armenian Christians living side-by-side. Then the revolting Ottomans, the Pashas, launched their land grab and murdered thousands of Armenians and took their land and possessions.
Now they want to claim that they have no hard feelings. Like the Russians after attacking Georgia ...
Are we talking free soccer tix?
Roadtrip!
Except that the Georgian situation is today and not 90 years ago. I'm not for obscuring history but am for moving on.
Right now is a unique set of circumstances where both Turkey and Armenia can set aside their mutual tragedy, and work together in enlightened self interest. That is, by Turkey reinforcing Armenia’s defenses against Russia, and by doing so, to protect Turkey from Russia as well.
It would be too much to ask either nation to act bilaterally, but again, right now, they could join with many other nations at the same time to work towards self-preservation against Russia.
It would be a new version of NATO, with some overlap. The Baltic states, northern and eastern Europe, Mediterranean nations, and central Asian republics, all could set aside their differences for their mutual defense.
While friendly to this new organization, there most likely would be little need for either western Europe or the US to belong. By refraining from membership, and perhaps asserting neutrality from the major powers, in turn this would make them less threatening to Russia as well.
For while mutual defense is good, having no need for it is even better.
I could see that. Armenia gets a stronger backup and Turkey protects a flank.
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