Turks.US
Jan 4 2005
Be ready for the Armenian tsunami
By Mehmet Ali Birand
I am writing this article for those who have no idea what we will
face during the year. It aims to prepare for the things to come.
A huge tsunami is approaching our shores.
I can almost hear it. The sky is getting darker and the water on the
shore is retreating.
The tsunami I am talking about comes as a result of the earthquake
among the Armenian Diaspora and will soon be upon us. If the
necessary precautions are not taken in a timely manner, we might face
a huge calamity. We might never recover.
The reason why this tsunami formed is that on April 24, 2005 is the
90th anniversary of the symbolic date of the Armenian genocide
allegations.
Armenians want to utilize this chance fully.
For years, due to Turkish indifference, they succeeded in making the
world accept the genocide allegations as a fact. No matter how much
we deny them, Armenian efforts have persuaded the international
public. If you go anywhere, especially in the western world, you will
see 90 percent of the people you talk to believe Armenians had been
the victims of genocide at the hands of Turks.
That is why Armenians do not want to waste this opportunity. They
want a final assault and finish the matter.
(HH) What is the `final assault?’
It is to get their genocide allegations accepted by a broader
community and persuade those countries, whose parliaments have yet to
ratify the claims.
They want to up the tempo on the eve of the centennial, which will
come at a time when Turkey will be approaching full European Union
membership, as part of their `Forcing Turkey to accept the genocide’
campaign.
I do not know how many officials know about this matter. What is
certain is that Turkey, through its indifference, will eventually
have to face the sad truth.
[HH] What is the nature of the tsunami?
The Armenian Diaspora is preparing a huge campaign for the 90th
anniversary of the 1915 incidents. There will be conferences,
meetings, colloquiums and many other activities planned for the
anniversary. Most importantly, they will concentrate on countries
whose parliaments have yet to officially accept that the genocide had
taken place and will be asked to ratify it on the 90th anniversary.
The ongoing battle in the U.S. Congress will be revived. They believe
if the Congress ratifies it, Turkey’s hands will be tied. The same
pressure will be applied to EU member countries and national
parliaments will be asked to demand from the EU Council to make
genocide recognition as a precondition.
They will also try to make the U.N. Security Council pass a similar
decision.
[HH] What can we do?
The only way we can save ourselves from being the victim of this
attack after years of ignoring the threat is for Turkey to reassess
its official policies and take the initiative.
Saying, `We never committed genocide’ is no longer enough. We will be
forced to pay the price of inactivity. We need to do something.
One is to call for the establishment of a U.N. Genocide Allegations
Investigation Commission just like YalÅm Eralp and others
suggest. Turkey is in the right. No one can talk of genocide.
However, it has failed miserably to put its view across. The only way
out is for the matter to be investigated by internationally
acknowledged academics and researchers. This is the only way to find
the truth.
If these studies are initiated, we will gain time. In addition, while
this process continues, Turkey can broaden its economic relations
with Armenia and open the border gate. Such initiatives, with the
international community, in mind, can be taken.
Our biggest mistake would be to do nothing and continue to talk to
ourselves.