By nominating Armenian candidates for the Turkish Parliament this year, Turkey is trying to achieve two aims: showing Europe and the international community, as well as Armenia, that it does not practice ethnic discrimination against its citizens and getting the Armenian community`s votes, the expert in Turkic studies Ruben Melkonyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am. He pointed out that Armenians had been members of the Turkish Parliament until 1960s.

Referring to poll results, the expert said that the Armenian community is going vote for the ruling Justice and Development Party led by Turkish Premier Recep Erdogan. "The Armenian candidates nominated by the Justice and Development Party are supportive of the ruling forces. For example, the well-known Bedros Sirinoglu is one of the Turkish authorities` most confidential people. And such people in Parliament do not pose a threat to the authorities," Melkonyan said.

As regards the opinion that the Justice and Development Party is seeking the Armenian community`s votes, which can hardly play an essential role, Melkonyan pointed out that he partly shares the opinion. However, most of the 60 to 70 thousand officially registered Armenians are supportive of the ruling party.

The expert pointed out the important fact that it was the Kurdish party Peace and Democracy that nominated an Armenian candidate. If elected, he can represent the Armenian community`s interests.

Armenian News-NEWS.am reminds readers that Turkey`s ruling party, Justice and Development, nominated a number of Armenian candidates for the parliamentary elections scheduled for June 11.

Other political parties, including opposition ones, have nominated Armenian candidates as well.