Zaman, Turkey
April 23 2005
Open Border Gates with Armenia
SAHIN ALPAY
We cannot expect the Armenian Diaspora to give up the claim that the
Ottoman Empire committed genocide against its Armenian citizens
during World War I and its efforts to put pressure in Western
parliaments that it is incumbent upon Turkey to recognize this.
Undoubtedly, the unforgettable disaster tens of thousands of Armenian
families experienced as a result of the Union and Progress Party’s
decision in 1915 to deport the Armenians in order to suppress
separatism partly explains for these efforts. The “genocide” claim
has, however, not only played a role in maintaining the Armenian
identity among the Diaspora, it has become a tool that is being used
by various countries against Turkey in the arena of international
politics and in domestic political struggles of certain countries.
What is worse is that the “genocide” label not only triggers ethnic
nationalisms, but also debars the Turkish society from facing the
events that took place between 1915 and 1916.
As it cannot be expected that the Armenian Diaspora will give up the
genocide claim, it can similarly not be expected that the Turkish
public opinion and thus Turkish governments will recognize it.
Because characterizing the tragic events that resulted from
deportation as “genocide committed by Muslims and barbaric Turks
against Christians and civilized Armenians,” and holding the Turkish
Republic and all Turks responsible for this, is unacceptable. All
these are true, but there are certain things the Ankara governments
can do to stop the “Armenian genocide” claim from being used as a
tool against Turkey. It must be evident by now that historians with
varying approaches can shed light on the various aspects of the
events of 1915 – 16, but they cannot solve the problem. The first
thing that Turkey can do is to continue with determination the
reforms towards consolidating a liberal, pluralist democracy at
European Union (EU) standards, without yielding to provocations to
stop them. And thus, to lift all legal and other obstacles to the
free investigation, discussion, and comprehension of the question as
to “What happened in 1915?” And thus, ensure the democratic rights of
all citizens regardless of ethnicity and religion. No kind of
blackmail can work against Turkey when citizens of Armenian origin
proudly embrace their state.
It is time to normalize relations with Armenia. Former Armenian
President Levon Ter-Petrosian, had removed “recognition of genocide”
as a conditions for the normalization of relations between the two
countries. But he could not stay in power when Ankara did not
respond. Nowadays, speakers for the Armenian government are against
stating time and again that the recognition of genocide is not a
condition for the normalization of relations, that the Turkish
Republic cannot be held responsible for crimes committed by the
Ottoman Empire, that the Kars Treaty signed between Turkey and the
Soviet Union in 1921 draws the border line between Turkey and
Armenia, and that Armenia has no territorial claims on Turkey. The UN
Genocide Convention does not in any way cover events that took place
prior to its adoption in 1948. Azerbaijan is currently negotiating
with Armenia to find a solution to problems between the two
countries. Under these conditions, Ankara can take steps to improve
relations with Armenia. The survey conducted for the Turkish Economic
and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) explicitly indicated that the
people of both Turkey and Armenia support the opening of borders and
establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. This
will be beneficial to Turkey’s economy at least as much as that of
Armenia. If these steps are taken, Turkey will find important friends
among the Armenian Diaspora and will be able to play a much more
influential in helping Azerbaijan and Armenia to overcome the
problems between them. These steps are also a requirement of the
“zero problem with neighbors” policy that the Justice and Development
Party (AKP) government has pledged to pursue.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is said to have sent a letter to
the Armenian President Robert Kocharian, calling for the
establishment of a joint commission to investigate the events between
1915 and 1916. This is most welcome. But can anyone tell me how can
two countries who do not have diplomatic relations with each other
set up a joint commission?