Artak Shakaryan, “Activation of the Kurdish factor noticed in Turkey on the threshold of constitutional changes”

YEREVAN, JULY 28, ARMENPRESS: “Serious changes are expected in autumn in the inner political life of Turkey, which will also reflect on Armenian-Turkish relations, specialist of Turkish studies Artak Shakaran said today at a press conference. A referendum of constitutional changes will be conducted September 12 in Turkey, and later – on September 18, a holy liturgy will be held in St Khach Church of Van. Besides that, in Armenia - in the neighboring territory of Arzni, the exercises of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are expected, in which Turkish servicemen will also participate, and on August 30 the head of the chief headquarter of the Turkish armed forces will be changed, who is quite an outstanding figure in the country in political regard.

In regard to the constitutional referendum of Turkey A. Shakaryan noted that it has a goal to strengthen the positions of the Islamists in the country and to weaken the positions of the servicemen and judges, who are considered to be the maintainers of the kemalist principles. “Simultaneously, activation of the Kurdish factor is noticed, which, though indirectly, but is beneficial for the servicemen, as by re-consolidating peace in the country, they can prove the population that Turkey still needs the army”.

Referring to the future of Armenian-Turkish relations, A. Shakaryan noted that A. Gule stated it is high time of “silent diplomacy”, so it is hard to expect essential shifts in Turkey before the 2011 parliamentary elections.