“THE ARMENIAN-TURKISH DIALOGUE IS POSSIBLE IN CASE OF COURAGEOUS VIEW ON
HISTORY AND TRANSFER FROM IT TO THE FUTURE,” WRITES TURKISH JOURNALIST

ISTANBUL, December 21 (Noyan Tapan). Two wrong approaches always throw
obstacles for the Armenian-Turkish dialogue. According to the first
approach, there is no history at all, according to the second one,
it is only history that exists. Turkish journalist John Dyuntar
expresses such an opinion in his regular article. Both of these
approaches, according to the Turkish journalist, make the dialogue
impossible. That’s why they become a reason for the fact that the
supporters of the both of these viewpoints become opponents and start
assuring the third sides that it is they who are right. Meanwhile,
according to Dyuntar, the decision consists of the courageous view
on the history and in transfer from it to the future. In Yerevan
the Turkish journalist had met with Babken Ararktsian, the former
Chairman of the RA parliament, the leader of the “Armat” (“Root”)
organization. B. Ararktsian said that his family is from Van by
birth. He also said that he wants the issue of the Armenian Genocide
not to hinder the Armenian-Turkish relations. John Dyuntar reports that
100 students study at the Department of Turkish Studies of the Yerevan
State University at present. 5,000 tourists from Armenia visited Turkey
last year. But he is puzzled in connection with the fact that meanwhile
the way from Yerevan to Istanbul lasts two hours, it is impossible
to cross the boarder through Kars by land, which takes only half an
hour. It is a great obstacle for trade, and Georgia takes advantage
from it. The dialogue between the two countries, according to the
journalist, may benefit from the circumstance that the Armenians have
friendly attitude towards Islam today, as the Arabs received their
refugees in 1915. According to the Istanbul “Marmara” newspaper, John
Dyunrtar also told about the meeting with Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin II, during which the Supreme Patriarch positively estimated
the visit of representatives of the Turkish intelligentsia and said
such mutual relations help to resolve the available problems. When
the Catholicos was asked if he wants to visit Turkey, he answered
that he ought to visit all his flocks and, of course, wants to visit
Turkey. Karekin II emphasized that one should not turn the issue of
the Genocide into the theme of discussion, as it is an irrefutable
fact. As for the war of religions and civilizations, the Catholicos
of All Armenians said no war is waged in the name of the religion,
all the wars are of political nature.