Don't Trust Karo Paylan, He Has No Connection to Armenia's Interests: Turkey Expert

“Don’t trust Karo Paylan, he has no connection to Armenia's interests, don't spread Turkish theses,” wrote Turkey expert Ruben Melkonyan on his Facebook page.

“DON’T TRUST KARO PAYLAN, DON’T SPREAD TURKISH THESES. That Turkey's 'soft power' policy is multi-layered, well-developed, and actively applied is a well-known fact, but that this policy is sometimes implemented through Armenian origin figures to the Armenian public for objective reasons is perhaps less known.

For years, I have spoken numerous times about this Turkish modus operandi, one of the modern-day heroes of which is Karo Paylan, a member of Turkey's parliament who has visited Armenia again. The fact that Karo Paylan has nothing to do with Armenia's interests is natural and consistent, but it's also a fact that his often incorrect and misleading perception in the Armenian public can play a role in promoting Turkey's interests.

Many in Armenia accept him with emotional joy that has no rational basis. He meets with politicians and officials, and if this serves to convey Turkey’s messages, then it is reasonable; that is, Karo Paylan should be seen as a Turkish messenger.

However, in the case of the Armenian public, such a mistaken and emotional perception of Karo Paylan's character is particularly dangerous, especially at a time when our society has become almost defenseless against Turkish 'soft power' actions. If one pays a little attention, one will see the theses that the Turkish parliament member puts forth: ‘Before 1915, Armenians and Turks lived as brothers’ (this is a complete falsehood), ‘now there is a window of peace’ (in reality, peace under Turkish conditions), ‘the security of Armenians in Artsakh is important’ (there is no mention of Artsakh's independence and self-determination), ‘hostility must cease and be managed,’ ‘nationalism and revancheism are obstacles,’ etc.

Who else states these same theses almost verbatim? Correct, the President of Turkey, the Foreign Minister, as well as some representatives of the current government in Armenia, pro-government propagandists, and occasionally a former official visiting from across the ocean. By the way, is it a coincidence that Karo Paylan and Jirair Liparitsyane are in Armenia at the same time?

For me, as a Turkey expert, this raises a professional research question—predictable and expected to some degree—yet for the Armenian society, it represents yet another blow to its already weakened vigilance, and this blow comes from someone perceived as ‘our Karo.’ I advise and urge the media, representatives of various segments of society to ignore both the visit of Karo Paylan to Armenia and his calls, as well as the anti-Armenian theses being employed. Do not believe him, do not be gullible, do not succumb to national sentimentality.

Karo Paylan has been and remains an advocate of a narrow and limited worldview within Turkey's leftist ideology, and his recent speeches clearly reveal a political figure who has not freed himself from false pacifistic and democratic clichés, who has not understood the significant and ideological differences between the words nationalism and ethnonationalism in Armenian.

As an Armenian Turkey expert, I consider it my responsibility to communicate all of this to my society; therefore, my message is not so much political as it is civic. P.S. In the coming days, I will present to broader segments of society my scientifically substantiated analysis of the false ideological basis and its architects of the 'peace era' in both written and oral form,” stated the Turkey expert.