AZG Armenian Daily #073, 23/04/2005

Armenian Genocide

‘EITHER WE WILL ENTER EU AND WILL BECOME A HEALTHY PEOPLE OR WILL REMAIN
ILL’

Turkish Scientist Says

Daily Azg has informed readers about the participation of Turkish scientists
Murat Belge, professor of comparative literature at Bilgi University, and
Baskin Oran, professor at the faculty of political science of Ankara
University, in the “Ultimate Crime, Ultimate Challenge: Human Rights and
Genocide” international conference. Only one of them, Mr. Belge, gave a
report at the conference.

He said that he bears no responsibility for the Genocide nor do the future
generations but still is a citizen of a country where it was carried out and
will feel responsible as long as his state denies the fact. “I am coming
from a country where individuals have no memory, the state tells us what to
remember and what to forget and we specialize in forgetfulness. Events are
no more a secret for anyone. People certainly new about that all but that
generation passed away and connection between the generations blurred”, he
said.

Afterwards Belge spoke of creation of modern Turkey, said that the society
is being shaped from above as in Soviet regime. He noted that the allies did
not remind of nor condemned the year of 1915 as long as Turkey was valuable
for NATO. Therefore the end of the Cold War was beneficial for the Armenians
but not for Turks. He thinks that Turkey still lives with the Cold War
feeling and, having no practice, is unable to establish normal relations
with neighbors. The allies pose painful questions, including ones about the
Genocide. In such situation Armenians turn into traitors for Turkey. He
added at the end: “However, times have changed, Turkish society entered
adulthood, lest there should be no barriers. Either we will enter EU and
will become a healthy people or will remain ill”.

Baskin Oran in his turn drew parallel between the two peoples and said that
their unity is not only limited to geographical location; they both have
painful issues: for Turkey it is Northern Cyprus, for Armenia it is Nagorno
Karabakh. “But they have common Western allies who tell the Armenians vote
for us and we will adopt your resolution and tell us do as we say in order
to get our denial of the resolution”, he said.

Oran expressed appreciation of Richard Hovhannisian’s speech and noted that
it said everything and there is nothing to add, afterwards he urged
Armenians not to allow third parties to intervene because it stirs up
opposition in Turkey and hinders activities of progressive Turkish
intelligentsia who selflessly try to unveil before the Turkish society the
suffering that the Armenian people underwent in early 19th century.

Rounding off Oran added: “Turkey has many sins but it deserves praise as it
has Akcam, Berktay, Belge, Dinq and Mahtchupian. How many Armenians are so
diligently studying Turkey as they studied Armenia? Do not let the third
party to intervene and try to help us”.

By Hakob Chakrian