Merkel Is Going to Win Elections with the Help of Armenians

• 11.28.2016, 17:49
• Arpine Hovsepyan
•  Europe,  Region,  "Insight" Analytical Center ,  Armenia

Germany is getting ready for the Parliamentary elections in 2017. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who heads the "Christian Democratic Union" party, plans to once again nominate herself as a candidate for the post of the head of the government. And in the light of the election campaign, Merkel has begun flirting with both Turkey and the Turkish Community in Germany, which is about 5 percent of the population.

When planning pro-Turkish steps, Merkel has to take into account the possible consequences of those steps, trying not to lose the support of the remaining parts of German society. The most suitable topic for this flirt , as always, is Armenia and the Armenian Genocide.

From this point of view the last statements of the German Ambassador to Armenia about the "necessity to take new efforts for the settlement of the Armenian-Turkish relations" are not accidental. According to the German Ambassador, "difficult situations should not impede the finding of new solutions, the normalization of relations".

Until recently, the international community (firstly, the countries that were directly involved in the process of Zurich - Switzerland, USA, France, Russia, as well as at the state level) was stating that Turkey was responsible for the initiative or for the next step in the process of the settlement of the Armenian-Turkish relations, because it is Ankara to be blamed for the failure of signing the Zurich protocols.

But German Ambassador’s statements put the two sides on the same level or contain elements that present the two sides as equals, which is not the situation. Moreover, instead of putting a necessary pressure on Turkey to open the Armenian-Turkish border, the German Ambassador talks about the possibility "of opening the border for some international groups".

The process has begun much earlier. On June 2016 after the German Parliament (Bundestag) passed a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide of 1915, when it was necessary to calm the anger of Turkey, Berlin said "the resolution is not legally binding". And although it would be wrong to call it  a step back, it was the solution that was acceptable for both sides and gave the chance to both of them keep their face with suitable formulations. It was one of the first signals of pro-Turkish steps.

Merkel's response to the European Parliament's vote on November 22 served the same purpose. Despite the setback of democracy in Turkey, she spoke in favor of continuation of accession talks with Turkey.

It is not excluded that in the near future we will witness new pro-Turkish steps. For example, Berlin may discuss with Ankara something like a creation of a "security zone" in Syria, at the same time trying not to displease the Kurds. With the same logic it cannot be excluded that pro-Azerbaijani statements will be heard in the context of Karabakh conflict in order to get the votes of the Turkish electorate.

It is clear that this cannot be considered as a change in the position of Germany. It is conditioned by the upcoming elections in Germany for raising Merkel's reputation and to get the support of the 3-4 million Turks living in Germany. This practice has become a norm, and will not last long.

In fact, in order to win Merkel this time relies on the "help" of Armenians.