Situation in North Caucasus result of Pan-Turkism, expert says
Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am 21 April 2010
http://europenews.dk/en/node/31509
The current explosive situation in the North Caucasus is, to a great extent, the result of Pan-Turkism, Vladimir Zhakharov PhD, Coordinator of the Center for Caucasian Studies, Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO-University), stated during a Yerevan-Moscow space bridge on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey.
According to him, Pan-Turkism remains a real threat even now. "Nothing more real could exist, and it is spearheaded against Russia, the expert said.
Speaking of the Armenian Genocide, Zhakharov stressed that not only the tragic events in Turkey in 1915, but also the Armenian massacres in Shushi in 1918 and in Baku in 1920, as well as the events that occurred in Azerbaijan 20 years ago, can be termed as genocide. The expert, however, did not dwell on the events in Azerbaijan he reported that the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Russia showered MGIMO with letters of protest at his statements. "We received the last note from the Embassy of Azerbaijan this Monday, he said.
As regards the reasons for Turkeys unwillingness to admit the Armenian Genocide, the expert said that in private talks Azerbaijani politicians expressed their fears. "Ankara is afraid of the financial and territorial responsibility should it admit the Armenian Genocide, Zakharov said.
Commenting on Russias assistance to the Armenians that survived the Genocide, the expert pointed out that Russia helped the Armenians that survived and settled down there, but "it might have done more. Russia must not forget the sacred and tragic date, the expert said. He also proposed the organization of an international conference on the Armenian Genocide and the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. (...)