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Contents 1 Comments 1.1 Relations with Israel 1.2 Issues of POV 1.3 Grammar 1.4 Relations with syria 1.5 Several possibilities of addition 1.6 Requested move 1.6.1 Survey 1.6.2 Discussion 1.7 Ben Gurion born in Turkey? 1.8 POV pushing

[edit] Comments

[edit] Relations with Israel

States Turkey and Israel are "ethnically, culturally and linguistically" isolated in the Middle East. This is not true. Turkey may be ethnically and linguistically isolated, but still has many commonalities culturally. Israel is neither ethnically nor linguistically isolated in the Middle East, as Jews are Semites who speak a Semitic language. Culturally speaking, Israel is rather more Western than others, as a result of most of its population being essentially of European descent. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 211.26.166.117 (talk) 21:49, 10 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Issues of POV

Southern Caucaus

Caucasus are important for Turkey as there is political, economic, social and cultural ties with the peoples of the region. Turkey develops policies in this region taking into account of strategic importance due to its energy resources and pipeline corridors. Turkey, recognized all three states of the region came out after the demise of the USSR.

Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize Armenia. Turkey recognized Armenian Republic before it was dissolved. However, territorial policies of Armenia have prevented the establishment of formal diplomatic relations. Also with the current Armenian social studies regarding their attitudes toward Turkey shows that the ethnic hatered is a barrier to normalize the relations. Turkey shares a common language, culture and history with Azerbaijan. Turkey has been a staunch supporter of Azerbaijan in its efforts to consolidate its independence, preserve its territorial integrity and realize its economic potential arising from the rich natural resources of the Caspian Sea.

Turkey has close partnership relations with Georgia. Turkey approaches the Abkhazian and South Ossetian conflicts as a potential danger to peace and stability in the entire region. The resolution of these problems is essential for the preservation of stability in the whole region. Turkey has shown an readiness to be a negotiator for Abkhazian conflict.

Turkey approaches the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict using the Minsk Process and with the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Turkey supported indirect bilateral talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia. With the aim of playing a facilitator role, Turkey initiated a trilateral process of dialogue (Reykjavik, 2002 & Istanbul Summit, 2004) among the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia.

However, territorial policies of Armenia have prevented the establishment of formal diplomatic relations. Also with the current Armenian social studies regarding their attitudes toward Turkey shows that the ethnic hatered is a barrier to normalize the relations.

POV

Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize Armenia.

That thing is not really true, Turkey recognized the borders of Armenia as a garanty that such borders will be delimitated, before even the Karabakh statue was decided. Turkeys delimitated Armenias bounderies as they wished as soon as they could to force other countries to then recognize Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan, and this is confirmed by the fact that while the Republic of Armenia declared its independence before Azerbaijan, Turkey waited to then garanty Azerbaijans territorial bounderies.

Turkey supported indirect bilateral talks

Many will disagree by claiming that one of the obstacles of the talks is the fact that while international organizations ask Armenia and Azerbaijan to make concessions, Turkey is steping there supporting Azerbaijans no-concession policy, making dialogue impossible. So, this statment is just empty and an opinion.

With the aim of playing a facilitator role

POV

WWI Armenian issue

   For more details on this topic, see Armenian Genocide.

Turkey's disputes with Armenia date back to the times of the Ottoman Empire, when friction between Turks and Armenians living in Ottoman territory led to deaths on both sides. The most infamous incident was during the First World War in 1915, when hundreds of thousands of Armenians were deported from eastern Anatolia, where Turkey was fighting Russia, to modern Syria and Iraq resulting in the deaths of many ethnic Armenians.

Armenia has since maintained that the Armenian Genocide was a deliberate and intentional attempt to exterminate Armenians. This view is supported by a majority of nations. The Ottoman government said the deportation was for security measures, claiming that many Armenians were siding with the enemy. Turkey has flatly denied there was a deliberate attempt to kill civilians and the issue remains highly controversial.

date back

That's simply a simplification and generalization.

when friction between Turks and Armenians living in Ottoman territory led to deaths on both sides.

Tygris massacres of 1967, costing the lives of thousands, those of 1894-1896, which have costed the lives of over a hundred thousand, or those of 1909, that costed the lives of over 20,000 can hardly be compared to Turkish deaths as to claim "deaths on both sides." One can hardly find a respected historian that will use such a term.

infamous incident

Such a term is not to be used in an encyclopedia, it is to give judgement to the event.

eastern Anatolia

Armenians were not only deported from Eastern Anatolia.

where Turkey was fighting Russia

Since Armenians were not deported only from Eastern Anatolia, this statment can not be attached with the whole area from where the Armenians were deported.

Armenia has since maintained

This is not accurate, the Armenian republic was still not independent when what happened to the Armenians was called a genocide. Hundreds of works have been published about the subject, before the republic has been founded, and nearly all the books published about the topic are published outside of Armenia. So claiming that Armenia has since maintained is simply not supported by the material published about the topic.

flatly

Not an encyclopedic word, gives judgement.

highly controversial

Politically perhaps, but given the disproprtion outside of Turkey, in publications supporting a thesis of genocide against those opposing it, the term highly controversial is not accurate. Maybe replacing it with "politicaly controversial" ?

Fadix 20:36, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

---

Also, Turkey could not have recognized the Armenian republic before it was dissolved, since the republic of Turkey dod not exist when it was dissolved. Fadix 19:38, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

I removed the following text under the Armenia portion of the Southern Caucusus topic: Also, with the results of current social studies originating from Armenia regarding the Armenian attitudes toward Turkey shows that the ethnic hatred is a barrier to normalizing the relations. To whoever wrote this: you need to provide links to these "current studies." --Geelok 00:34, 11 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Grammar

This entire article is badly in need of a grammatical review. There are places in this article where the grammar is simply not there. An example is the fact that in section 1.3, the name of the region Caucasus is misspelled in the title, only to be correctly spelled thereafter. Also, there is a lack of concordance of number with the verb to be (many things is, one thing are etc.) all through the article. Hinakana 13:23, 27 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Relations with syria

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Kurdistan_Workers_Party

claims Turkey almost went to war with Syria when the latter allowed Ocalan in their country. That might be relevant to the relations with Syria. However that article seems to be far from neutral.

What do you think?

Evilbu 22:48, 4 March 2006 (UTC)

Dont judge the relations today to those times. It is true that war is about to begin if that terrorist wasn't sent to Greece. But relations now are calmer though the border issues (Syria claims hatay province) and water issues (Water of Euphrates) are frozen by Syrian side. Due to expansion of Israel and Iran through the region in the absence of Saddam Syria seeks a safe umrella. But Turkey(from ministry level) anounced strictly that Syria must establish democracy soon to have real good relations. In fact turkey and syria has the best relations till syria is free from de facto French rule.

[edit] Several possibilities of addition

Turkey also have ties to and policies towards Turcophone/Turkish speaking communities and countries. After their independence from USSR, the economic and cultural relationships have increased between Turkic Republics in Central Asia and Turkey. I think this issue can be explored in the article.

Turkey also have cultural relationships with Turkish speaking groups living in Balkans and East Europe (in places like Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova). This can be a point of information.

The government help organization called "TİKA" - Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency - has activities towards these communities as well as African countries in need like Sudan or Ethiopia.

I also know there are Turkic Language Conferences organized for example.

This can be explored and added maybe? --Gokhan 15:37, 10 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Ben Gurion born in Turkey?

In the main article on David Ben Gurion, it states that he was born in Poland, yet here it states that he was born in Turkey. While the former is far more likely to be true, it's still possible he was born in Turkey. In any case, this contradiction between articles should be rectified. Loomis 18:47, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

The top results[1][2] [3][4][5] of a Google search all say that he was born in Poland. Koweja 00:53, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] POV pushing

Arsenic please stop POV pushing. VartanM (talk) 01:05, 4 March 2008 (UTC)