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 Turkish daily “Vatan” said national committee on Armenian-Turkish relations was closed after the Armenian-Turkish normalization process was suspended. Panorama.am talked to Levon Hovsepyan, researcher at Institute of Oriental Studies, having focused on that issue.

-What do you know about the closure of that committee, and what mission was it carrying out?

-Some Turkish mass media outlets linked the closure of the committee with failing of Armenian-Turkish process. In particular, Turkish daily “Vatan” has made such an emphasis. This is an obvious, intentional step linking the closure of the committee with the Armenian-Turkish relations. That committee carried out anti-Armenian propaganda and published “scientific” reports about Armenian cause and Armenian Genocide. Thus, the committee was not going to normalize relations between the two states, it was a typical anti-Armenian committee. Hence, Turkish media is aimed to mislead people.

-Do you have any information about the activities of that committee?

- In 2003 national committee on Armenian-Turkish relations was formed focused on the Armenian issue, Armenian culture, politics, social, demographic and historic studies and assessment. It was aimed to coordinate and to guide experts specialized in this issue. Fifteen members of the committee were representatives of National Security Council and National Intelligence Organization. Hence, the committee was guided by the special services of that country.

-Do you have any facts regarding the activities of that committee?

-Sure, there are. The committee published some reports about the Turkish approach to the Armenian issue, they are submitted in different countries, in different educational institutions. Renowned Turkish analysts Sedat Laciner and Shenol Kantarji were among the experts.

- Why was it closed?

-I think it’s not closed; it may become a new structure with new and different approaches and demands.