Sayat Tekir: a Part of Turkish Society Thinks that Germany did an Anti-Islamic Step (EXCLUSIVE)

• 06.08.2016, 11:41
•  Region,  World,  Interview

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The recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Bundestag received a serious response both by international media and the Turkish authorities. "Armedia" IAA has talked with the official spokesman of "Nor Zartonq" Armenian NGO in Istanbul, Sayat Tekir about the moods in the Turkish society after the Bundestag decision.

"After the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Bundestag, the Turkish authorities started to use their propaganda machine with its full potential. Media wrote that the "crusaders" have gathered and carry out anti-Islamic steps. A part of the Turkish society also thinks like this. According to this part of the society, Germany, that has carried out genocide against Jews (Holocaust), so as not to be the only country that has carried out a genocide, now blames us. As for the fact that Germany has also had its guilt in the Armenian Genocide, nothing is being said both in the Turkish media and among the society," Sayat Tekir mentioned, adding that there is also a segment in the Turkish society that recognizes the Armenian Genocide and the Bundestag resolution was an important step for them.

"They, however, want that the voicing about this issue is not limited in the German parliament, but it enters in the Turkish parliament and is at last solved," Tekir added.

As for the Turkish authorities, particularly Erdogan’s rhetoric, when he again reminded about the 100,000 Armenians living in Turkey, Tekir mentioned that there is no serious change in that rhetoric. "I guess it is already the fourth time Erdogan is mentioning about this. There is no change of atmosphere towards Armenians as well. There was always an atmosphere of fear among Armenians, especially during the last 6-8 months, when Kurds are being massacred." According to him the problem is a little bit different for the 20,000 Armenians living in Turkey, who do not have citizenship, but the Turkish authorities use their existence in Turkey to show, how kind they are, that Armenians live and work in their country.

Referring to further developments of Turkish-Germany relations, Tekir mentioned that everyone knows that there are good relations between Turkey and Germany, especially they have developed trade relations. Thus these two countries are important for each other.

"In those days there is no material in the Turkish media condemning Germany. Erdogan talks about women, who do not have children calling them half-women. In this way they want to deviate the attention from the problems with Germany. Turkey now has economic problems and the authorities of the country do not want to worsen their relations with Germany, so as there is no decrease in the level of trade. In this regard Turkey will not do any step. If anything is being done, for example, not signing some agreement, this will be done to show that they answer Germany. We saw that Turkey called the Ambassador back from Berlin, but after several days he will be returned back, about which, however, not much will be talked. Unfortunately Turkish current authorities resort to such manipulations, because of which a large part of the society is not aware of the reality in the country," Tekir concluded.