Armenia--Turkey Protocols:Armenians What it means and Doesn’t, From the Armenian Point of View

As Armenians all over the world woke up on October 12, 2009, nothing in their lives had changed, except for, everything.

A little over a week has passed since the signing of The Armenian--Turkey protocols, which will start the process of international relations and the opening of their shared border.

The New York Times reporters, did a valiant job in taking the readers through the process on signing day, but there are still a lot of issues left unanswered for the Armenian, in the Diaspora and in Armenia:

What the protocols are not, is an emission of guilt from the Turkish government of committing genocide against The Armenians in 1915. Nor do they announce the return of land and property to Armenians, for example Mount Ararat, homes and land, once owned by Armenians.

This agreement, which still needs to be ratified by both governments had millions of Armenians up in arms, protesting their bitterness over what Armenian President Serzh Sargsian was about to agree to: How can Armenia sign an agreement with Turkey without Turkey conceding their guilt, restoring Historical Armenia and bringing peace to us over their acts?

This is the question of the Armenians and what most Armenian groups believed should be included in these protocols.

From The United States, to Lebanon, all the way to Australia, marches and rally cries for Armenia not to accept.

However, even though, The Armenian Diaspora does not agree, for Armenians living inside Armenia, opening of the borders would bring in more trade, more tourism, maybe, even more money to a struggling nation, which, though, claimed independence in 1991 from The crippling U.S.S.R. still think they live, as if, they are under a communistic regime.

Armenians in Armenia, do not live the same way of American-Armenians, or Lebanese-Armenians, due to the country’s lackluster economy and internal conflicts. With Turkey’s opened border and normalized relations, Armenia could be better off down the road.

Yes, it would be nice, from an Armenian view, for Turkey to put an end to this Genocide topic, and fully vindicate Armenians, with money and property, just as Germany did with the Jewish people, but from the Turkish side that wants to be emitted into the European Union, conceding to anything would be national suicide.

Turkey, unlike Germany have not been found guilty of War Crimes by in international court. Germany (The Nazis), made the mistake of killing Jewish people out in the open and leaving evidence behind (concentration camps and marking each victim, on the arm, with numbers.). Turkey has always stated that though killings have happened, it was on both sides and it was due to World War I, both sides suffered casualties.

These protocols have nothing to do with the Genocide and if it happened or not. This is only for Turkey and Armenia to start diplomatic ties, be trade partners and maybe start the discussion on The Genocide issue.

When it comes to The US, do not think, for one minute that The United States’, Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham ClintonHillary Rodham Clinton helped out, due to her good nature. They have political ties with Turkey and use Turkish land as a strategic military point, Turkey, being, half in Asia and half in Europe, The US use this land to continue “The War on Terror” and, The US, does not want, a fellow NATO member to be unhappy, so they leave the Genocide issue alone, even though each Presidential hopeful tells The Armenians that they will “do everything in their power to recognize this travesty that has befallen on you.”

It is in the best interest of Turkey to try and resolve this issue with Armenia, but in doing so, they were careful not to shine any dark lights upon their nation, which was a good job on their part.

Armenians are also offended by this establishment of an “historical coalition” to study the real severity of the “mass killings of 1915.”

Never forget about The Genocide, but remember that moving forward, the more this hangs above our heads, the worse it gets for Armenia.

This could be a good thing, those Armenians who feel it will discredit their ancestors, their past and their suffering...this might lead to the Turkey having no choice, but to admit guilt. If they want to. Turkey is still a nation who criminalizes their citizens for talking out against the government and refuses to admit any wrong doing, but this should be the beginning of a change.

If they open their archives and compare their’s to Armenia’s. Maybe, what Armenians say is true, which is, “in the Armenian archives, there is a note, which Mehmed Talat Pasha signed, ordering the destruction of Armenians and it was taken from the Turkish archive before they were shut, then, this claim will be justified and Turkey will be in a bind, the likings, of which, they cannot deny.

Armenians who feel that Turkey cannot be trusted have to realize that now, Turkey is under extreme International pressure, they cannot be untruthful without the world knowing. Once they signed the protocols, Turkey’s mysterious aura died!

If they try anything fishy, like backing down, or holding Armenia, as prisoners, pressuring them to concede anything (Nagorno-Karabakh) before they concede, they will, in the eyes of the E.U., voting body, be the villains and they will permanently damage their chances of being an E.U. Nation, down the line.

Turkey, as it stands right now, is already, ill favored with The E.U. Nations, over human rights issues, deterring citizens free speech with prison sentences and/or death, not to mention their other issue--Cyprus. This Armenia issue is only one of many that Turkey need to clean up.

Remember Armenians, The Turkish people, living now, did not kill our ancestors, some do not know about this incident in their history. Those who do, are mixed, some, agree it happened, others deny it.

Armenians are scattered, but, though we live in different countries, we are Armenians and our Homeland is Armenia, it is not that lebanese-Armenians, American-Armenians or Argentinean-Armenians are The Real Armenians and then there are those in Armenia. We, as a group are all Armenians and these protocols are just a step. In what direction, well, that needs time to tell, but do not be bitter, this could lead to better things and maybe, a fully recognized Genocide resolution is just around the corner.