Epress.am News from Armenia
The Istanbul-based think tank the Centre for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies (EDAM) has conducted a public opinion survey about Turkish policy toward the Armenian Genocide. EDAM’s survey is part of a larger group of Turkish foreign policy public opinion surveys.
The think tank asked 1,508 individuals from the general Turkish electorate during November 7 to December 7, 2014. They began the survey with “Next year, memorial services will be conducted and messages will be released throughout the world in remembrance of the Ottoman Armenian that lost their lives in 1915. Before these events, which of the following policies that I will read out should Turkey do regarding the Armenian issue according to you?”
Among the overall participants 9.1% stated that Turkey should apologize for the loss of Armenian lives in 1915 and admit it as genocide. Participants were also categorized within political party affiliations, 24.4% of respondents affiliated to the Kurdish-led BDP have the highest percentage abiding to the latter statement. While President Erdogan’s AKP consists of only 7%, the Kemalist CHP with 8.7%, and the ultra-nationalist MHP party with 4.6%.
Equally, 9.1% of participants stated that Turkey should apologize for the lost Armenian lives in 1915 but take no further steps. 13.4% of the CHP agreed to the statement as the right foreign policy move. While 7.1% of the AKP agreed and 4.1% and 4.3% of the BDP and MHP.
An overwhelming percentage of AKP (26.9%) and BDP (36.9%) affiliates responded that Turkey should “express regret for all the Ottoman citizens that lost their lives in 1915” because Armenians were not the only group to have lost lives.
Almost half of participants believe that Turkey ‘should take no steps” (21.3%) or have “no idea/no response” (25%).
EDAM also asked a 150 foreign policy experts the same question. 18.7% believed that Turkey should admit to the genocide. While 36.7% believe that Turkey should express regrets to all Ottoman citizens that lost their lives in 1915.
For complete survey results and analysis by EDAM click here.