Armenians in the UAE express cautious optimism

Dubai: As the relations between Turkey and Armenia are set to thaw with the historic visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul to the Armenia, Armenian citizens in the UAE supported the move while members of the diaspora expressed cautious optimism.

For Anahit G, an assistant manager from Armenia, the "open mindedness" on both sides was a welcome move, but "pending issues" could not be ignored.

"We can't change our neighbours. They are a reality," she said, noting that the closure of borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan and instability in Georgia had put Armenia under a virtual "blockade".

"But for us to forgive them, the Turks need to admit to the genocide," she said, referring to the killing of some 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of the Ottomans during World War One.

Diaspora

But citizens of the Republic of Armenia say that it is often difficult to justify their pragmatic positions to the Armenian diaspora, which has stronger anti-Turkish views.

Anna Kandaryan, an Armenian sales executive, said that while it was necessary not to forget the killings, it was also important to think about the future of Armenia.

"Diaspora Armenians have been personally affected by the genocide and have been reminded about it continuously. They want nothing to do with Turkey," she said.

"But the business potential between Armenia and Turkey is huge".

While diaspora Armenians too welcomed the move, they stressed the need to keep the memory of the killings alive.

For Vartan Mardirossian, an Iraqi born Armenian business consultant, Gul's visit will open more windows and enable dialogue on the killings.

"I have Turkish friends here. I can tell a hundred of them about the genocide and that would be an achievement. Imagine what a million Armenians could do," he said.

For Hrach Kalsahakian, a Syrian Armenian in the tourism industry, if the two sides wanted real normalisation, they needed to discuss "all the issues, including the genocide".

"Personally, I think normalisation is very important for both sides. But at what expense?" he said.

For Armenians, he said, the killings were not a matter of discussion, but a fact. "We [the diaspora] are living proof of the genocide". His grandfather, Kalsahakian explained, was the only member of his family to survive the killings.

Kalsahakian however said he was not interested in "any kind of material compensation" that Turkey fears will be demanded. "I just want moral compensation. I want the memory of my people to be acknowledged and respected. I am not vengeful," he said.