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Ferruh Demirmen Archive
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Armenian ‘G’ claims: A matter of balance and due process
Posted on April 29, 2012 | No CommentsHurriyet Daily News, April 28, 2012 FERRUH DEMİRMEN We have just passed April 24, when Armenians of various walks of life commemorate the anniversary of the arrest of the Armenian... -
Analysis: Turkey helps pull the rug from under Nabucco
Posted on December 24, 2011 | No CommentsTurkey acceded to the aspirations of the Azeri brethren, while ignoring those of the Turkmen brethren. Over the past year, as the EU delegates approached repeatedly Ashgabat for Turkmen gas, Turkey chose to stay on the sidelines. This was a strategic mistake. -
Atatürk will remain a towering figure among Turks
Posted on August 23, 2011 | 1 CommentNotwithstanding, there is little doubt that Atatürk will remain a towering historical figure among Turks. Reactionary forces that resist change and want to hold on to the past will not hold the Turkish nation hostage to their hatred and bigotry. -
Taner Akçam, amid contradictions and charges of betrayal, loses credibility
Posted on November 22, 2010 | 3 CommentsBy Ferruh Demirmen, Ph.D. Taner Akçam, Associate Professor of History at Clark University (Worcester, MA) and the “prince charming” of the Armenian lobby, got himself trapped in contradictions on interpreting... -
Taner Akçam, amid contradictions and charges of betrayal, loses credibility
Posted on November 8, 2010 | No CommentsTaner Akçam, the “prince charming” of the Armenian lobby, got himself trapped in contradictions on interpreting the results of Turkey’s September 12, 2010 referendum on Constitutional changes. He inadvertently brought to surface some unsavory aspects of his past. Akçam’s younger brother, Cahit Akçam, used the occasion to chastise and mock his brother. The portrayal of Akçam that emerged was a professor that had a biased approach to historical events, and one that was short in scruples and trustworthiness. -
Armenia engagement derailing Turkey’s energy policy
Posted on December 10, 2009 | No CommentsA misconceived engagement with Armenia has boomeranged beyond diplomacy to impact Turkey’s energy policy. The developments so far are already worrying, and further negative consequences may follow. Turkey’s energy policy is held hostage, and the culprit is a short-sighted Armenia rapprochement that has ignored Azerbaijan’s legitimate concerns on Nagorno-Karabakh. -
ATAA’s analysis of Turkish-Armenian protocols gives no comfort
Posted on October 16, 2009 | No CommentsIn conclusion, ATAA’s analysis, no doubt reflecting an idealistic outlook, is based on presumptive logic, or wishful thinking, and cannot be supported. ATAA says the normalization protocols are based on the concept of "constructive ambiguity" by which each side interprets the language as it sees fit. This is an interesting approach, but offers no comfort for the Turkish side – or, for that matter, the Azeri side. -
Normalization of Ankara-Yerevan relations cannot be supported: Turkish expert
Posted on October 11, 2009 | No CommentsThe United States, New York, Oct.10 /Trend News K. Pashayeva / The process of normalizing the Ankara -Yerevan relations, developed on the incorrect basis, cannot be supported, Energy Expert Ferruh... -
Current Turkish “opening” to Armenia cannot be supported
Posted on October 9, 2009 | No CommentsThe normalization process, in its present form, is ill-founded, ill-advised, and cannot be supported from the Turkish point of view. The arguments advanced for normalization, while sounding reasonable, and in principle commendable, represent to a large extent wishful thinking for the Turkish side, not backed by the two diplomatic protocols announced by Turkey and Armenia. The protocols give no assurance or confidence that Armenia will take steps expected with normalization. The indications are that the Turkish government has forced itself into a predicament, possibly even a trap, of its own making. -
Obama’s April 24 statement no comfort for Turks
Posted on April 26, 2009 | 1 CommentIt is becoming almost an annual ritual for American presidents to issue commemorative declarations every year on April 24 to remember the Armenian "victims" of a tragic historic episode that took place almost 100 years ago. How many such historic episodes nearly a century old do the American presidents commemorate every year? The answer: "zero." -
Science gives way to religious dogma in Turkey
Posted on March 17, 2009 | No CommentsThe recent censorship of the Darwin story in the "Science and Technology Journal," published by The Scientific and Technological Research Council (Tübitak) of Turkey, caused consternation in the scientific community in Turkey and beyond. The censorship, first time of its kind in Tübitak's 46-year history, was an event that would shame any respectful scientific organization. -
Drama in Davos: A reading of the bizarre incident
Posted on February 6, 2009 | No CommentsIn summary, a badly administered panel discussion was at the root of a bizarre incident in Davos. Although there will be challenges, Turkey and Israel should put the bizarre incident behind and move on. The Jewish state should use the Davos incident as a wakeup call from a friend for resolution of the long-festering Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On Turkey’s part, it should weigh carefully its association with Hamas. -
Memo to President Bush: A grim assessment of his legacy
Posted on January 28, 2009 | 1 CommentBy Ferruh Demirmen Dear Mr. President: I am sorry that I am late writing this memo to you. It is not because of negligence on my part. Rather, I wanted... -
The Sarah Palin affair: World should breathe a sigh of relief
Posted on November 19, 2008 | No CommentsNow that the presidential race is over, the world can breathe a sigh of relief that Sarah Palin will not be one heartbeat away from the presidency. The consequences of a wayward or dangerous U.S. foreign policy and its impact on world peace under her leadership, if it were to be, are discomforting to imagine. -
Obama Presidency: Perils and Prospects for Turkey
Posted on November 11, 2008 | 9 CommentsThe Obama administration holds both perils and hopes for Turkey, and for U.S.-Turkey relationship. The imponderables abound, and a prudent stance is “wait and see.” But both countries should look forward to a closer partnership in a renewed spirit without the mistakes of the last eight years. -
TRANSFORMATION AT TDN
Posted on September 6, 2008 | No CommentsDear Turkish Forum readers, The article, “The new ‘moderate’ Turkey” By Robert Ellis (August 15, 2008) published in Turkish Forum recently reminded me of an incident similar to the...
