Artak Shakaryan: Turkey’s left use Armenian Genocide as weapon against Turkish fascism

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish intellectuals recognizing the Armenian Genocide can stimulate its public acknowledgment, with creating a proper atmosphere, according Turkologist Artak Shakaryan.

“Nevertheless, these intellectuals speak out not for the Genocide recognition but against the Turkish military and leadership,” he said when answering a PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent’s question during a press conference in Yerevan.

“Turkey’s left use the Armenian Genocide as a weapon against Turkish fascism,” he added.

At the same time, he noted that some changes occurred in Turkish perception of the issue.

“Holding of an event on the Armenian Genocide seemed unthinkable in Istanbul ten years ago,” he said, adding that Istanbul can’t be taken for the whole Turkey, as nationalism and Islamism prevails in the country’s east.