Posted by “The ASALA terrorist organization’s attempt to take the stage again is a part of the Armenians’ smear campaign against Turkey to be strengthened in 2015,” head of Center for Strategic Studies of Bahcesehir University, specialist on the fight against terrorism Ercan Citlioglu told to APA’s Turkey bureau.
“Processes in Syria made ASALA terrorist organization issue a statement against Turkey after a long period of time. Answering the question “Nothing was heard about this terrorist organization for a long time, what is the reason for its re-emergence?”, Ercan Citlioglu said “I estimate it as a part of the Armenians’ smear campaign against Turkey on a global scale in 2015. There are 400 000 – 500 000 Armenians in Syria, Turkey want the Armenians to live in a democratic atmosphere like other ethnic minorities. This serious attempt of the ASALA terrorist organization aims to turn the world against Turkey by taking advantage of the situation in the region. This is blackmail against Turkey.”
There are claims that in case of Syria’s collapse, some of the local Armenians can be resettled in Nagorno Karabakh. Elcan Citlioglu regarded this as an absurd: “This is completely absurd. The entire word recognized the occupation of Azerbaijan’s territories by Armenia and the UN Security Council has passed 4 resolutions on unconditional withdrawal of forces from the occupied lands. Azerbaijan has the right to intervene in the attempt to resettle in Nagorno Karabakh the Armenians not only from Syria, but also from anywhere and change demographic situation there. The world community can not admit it.”
The experienced expert also commented on the possibility of the reactivation of ASALA terrorist organization taking advantage of the situation in the region: “ASALA terrorist organization killed 35 Turkish diplomats in 1975-85 and was abolished after a number of terrorist attacks against Turks. In the mid 90s, Armenians carried out activities at the world parliaments and municipal assemblies to achieve the international recognition of their claims on the so-called “Armenian genocide”. I don’t assume that Armenians will further use the method of terrorism against Turks.”
