He said the Armenians in the US this year will try to get the US to recognize the 1915 events as a “genocide”.
“However, their efforts may be in vain,” he added. “Since NATO’s Incirlik military base is located in Turkey, its [Turkey’s] interests will be taken into account.”
Cinar further noted that important events for Armenia and Turkey would take place this year.
“Armenia is planning big events dedicated to the centenary of the 1915 events, and Turkey will celebrate the centennial anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Canakkale,” he said.
“Armenia and Turkey give completely different meanings to these dates,” Cinar added. “In this regard, both countries are trying to win the support of international community.”
Earlier, the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan decided to withdraw the Armenian-Turkish protocols on normalization of relations between the two countries. Sargsyan, in a message to the Turkish leader, said almost six years have passed since the signing of the protocols, but they didn’t bring a result.
Cinar told Trend that Armenia is trying to emphasize that Armenians were killed, ravaged and driven out of the Ottoman Empire.
“But nobody forgets the sad events of the past, especially President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,” said Cinar. “Barack Obama too, for his part, has repeatedly stressed this point. However, Armenia is using these events in political and economic purposes. In such circumstances the protocols can’t be effective.”
Earlier, Sargsyan also sent a letter to the chairman of the national assembly of Armenia, Galust Sahakyan, informing him about the decision to withdraw from the parliament the mentioned protocols.
On October 10, 2009 the foreign ministers of Turkey and Armenia, Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward Nalbandian, signed protocols on normalization of relations between the two countries.
However, the protocols have not been ratified by the countries’ parliaments.
Cinar also said that in previous years, for the US Congress not to rule in favor of Armenia, American Jews were supporting Turkey.
“However, the Jewish lobby ceased to support Turkey in this matter after the relations between Israel and Turkey worsened. The relations between Barack Obama and Erdogan have also become chillier,” he said.
The important stages in the worsening of the Israeli-Turkish relations were Israel’s Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip in late 2008 - early 2009, and the capture of the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, by the Israeli Navy.
Mavi Marmara was trying to break the blockade of Gaza on the night of May 30 - 31, 2010.
The diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia were severed in 1993.
The break in relations, as well as, the closing of borders between Turkey and Armenia in 1993 was due to Yerevan’s claims over recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide in the world and Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani lands.
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