NCJ Number
109030
Date Published
1987
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Contemporary Armenian terrorism against Turkey has given rise to speculation concerning possible Turkish reprisals in the form of harassment or counterterrorism.
Abstract
While the pronouncements of public Turkish officials in 1983 and 1984 suggested the possibility of a counterattack, other reports indicated that Turks held a fatalistic and passive attitude toward Armenian terrorism. Although the Armenians have claimed that Turkey has engaged in counterterrorism, with the exception of two military incursions undertaken with permission from Iraq, there is no definite proof of Turkish counterterrorist activities abroad. While Turkish involvement in bombings and other incidents cannot be definitively ruled out, these incidents are just as likely to be the work of Armenian agent provocateurs, Armenian intramural violence, or some other cause. Charges of harassment of Armenians within Turkey are equally difficult to prove. A recent study of Armenian Turks showed them to be prosperous, contented, and patriotic toward Turkey. The Turkish policy toward minorities has been less than ideal, but bureaucratic problems faced by Armenians also are common to Turks. Other charges of human rights violations may stem from the openness of Turkish society to outside scrutiny and cultural differences in what constitutes humane treatment. 62 notes.