Journal of Turkish Weekly
April 12 2005

Turkish Armenians Talk about ‘Genocide’
TNA Parliamentary Bureau /Ankara

Complaining about the attitude of the diaspora, Etyen Mahcupyan,
Hrant Dink, and Levon Debagyan maintain it’s stuck living in 1915

For the first time in Turkish history, Armenians voiced their point
of view on the genocide allegations under the roof of the Turkish
Parliament.

Agos Turkish-Armenian weekly Editor Hrant Dink, Zaman reporter Etyen
Mahcupyan, and author Levon Debagyan all stressed that Armenians
living in Turkey, rather than the Armenia diaspora, should be
representatives in the genocide debate .

Establishing diplomatic ties with Armenia, and opening the Armenian
border would be an important step to help ease tension in the
genocide controversy, Mahcupyan and Dink went on to say.

Both Mahcupyan and Dink, acting as mediators, tried to persuade
Turkish deputies to establish ties with Armenia.

Increasing international pressure on Turkey to recognize the
so-called genocide has caused Parliament to discuss the events that
took place in 1915 during the Ottoman era.

Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk on the
ashes of the Ottoman Empire.

Following calls of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party,
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and opposition Republican
People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal to seek the truth in the
archives, U.S. history Professor Justin McCarthy last month addressed
Parliament on “The Truth about the Armenian Genocide Allegations.”

Three Turkish Armenians, as well as retired diplomats, made speeches
recently at a joint meeting of Parliament’s Commissions for European
Union Harmonization and Foreign Affairs.

No tension was observed during the meeting, which last more than
three hours.

It highlighted the differing views held by various persons.

Diaspora not important

Here are excerpts of Mahcupyan’s testimony before Parliament:

– Discussing the death toll is not very helpful. We can’t know the
exact figures for similar events in history. Who knows the exact
death toll during the French Revolution? Consequently, I don’t
believe focusing on the death toll alone is that helpful.

– Armenians would probably act the same way if they were in Turkish
shoes. The point of view was clear: The state is under threat, and if
we don’t do something radical, we will lose control of the state. In
such circumstances, would you do something radical, or would you
agree to lose your state?

– The ‘genocide’ is currently a foreign policy issue. In terms of
Ottoman law, it was a crime, and, a result of this, an inquiry
commission was formed at the Ottoman Parliament. There were Armenian
deputies in that Parliament. This commission passed on its findings
to the War Crimes Tribunal and tried hundreds of people. This shows
that it was clearly considered a crime.

– Turkey should implement proactive politics by establishing contacts
with Azerbaijan and Armenia. This will help Armenia to create a more
rational environment for discussion. And if Turkey aims to write an
alternative version of history by saying, ‘History wasn’t like that
but like this,’ it will only cause a deadlock.

-Criticisms of The Blue Book, and inviting Justin McCarthy, were big
mistakes. The Blue Book is a work of propaganda and such books are
based on factual but selected documents. Apart from two documents,
the rest of what was used can be found in the U.S. archives.

– The diaspora is not important and we can leave them out of this
discussion. The main representatives for this discussion are
Armenians in Turkey because they are citizens of this country. Next
comes Armenia, as it’s a neighboring country.

The world is acting irresponsibly

Here are excerpts of Dink’s testimony:

– I would prefer that this issue were kept inside Turkish borders
rather than being seen it as a Western issue. The world, especially
the West, today, as well as in the past, is acting really
irresponsibly. If someone has to pay the cost for what happened 90
years ago, then we must lay the responsibility with Western
countries. They’re repeating the same mistakes as they made in the
past.

– Angela Merkel [German opposition leader] has other concerns, such
as seeking an excuse to prevent Turkey’s membership in the European
Union. When I visit the Armenian diaspora, I could tell them to wake
up and see that Merkel is not doing it for their sake. How can we put
so much power into Merkel’s hands? There’s only one way, to bring the
issue to here, Ankara, and discuss it. And most important of all, the
quick establishment of healthy relations between Turkey and Armenia.

– Nothing can be achieved without having contact with Armenia. This
is the essence of Armenia’s message. There are no conditions attached
to establish ties with Turkey. This will be the first step towards
curing damaged relations in the region.

– In Turkey, [Turkish] people can built monuments and hold ceremonies
to the memories of their relatives killed by Armenians. I am a
Turkish Armenian and I, too, lost my grandparents at that sad time.
But I can’t commemorate them because if I do so, this would be
misunderstood. Can you imagine such a panorama: Turkish Armenians
commemorating their beloved ones every April 24. This would be the
best answer that could be given to the world.

Why does it matter to Pamuk?

Here are excerpts of Debagyan’s testimony:

– Armenians living in Turkey should take part in the discussion.
Turkish Armenians are the Turkish representatives. Let’s come
together and say, ‘This is our issue. Why does matter that it took
place in Turkey? What’s the point?’ These are the questions nobody
asks.

– All of this is part of games played on Turkey. Its aim is to incite
enmity between us. I listened to one of the Armenian diaspora myself,
and he’s telling real lies. The word belongs to the Turkish
Armenians. No other party, including Armenia itself, can have a say
in this issue.

– They shouldn’t forget the existence of Armenian gangs of insurgents
in the southeast and east who came from Russia and Armenia at the
time. Nobody wants to be abused. They say 1.5 million Armenians died.
Who did the counting? Turkish Armenians should think about whether
its correct. This is part of an ongoing game being played on Turkish
Armenians.

– Why did Orhan Pamuk get involved in this issue? Did we ask him to
do so? He’s a writer and he should stick to writing novels. There are
some who let Orhan Pamuk talk. Why? The goal is enmity between Turks,
Kurds, and Armenians as they want civil war in Turkey. And they want
to use the Armenians again in this civil war.

Source: The New Anatolian, 12 April 2005