Turkish Press
May 26 2005

Error In The Equation

BY OKTAY EKSI

HURRIYET- The conference on `Ottoman Armenians During the Fall of the
Empire,’ which had been scheduled for this week at Bogazici
University, was a misguided attempt, because it was made without
taking into consideration the context in Turkey.

It would be wrong to hold this conference to disprove the views of
those who argue that the Armenian genocide never took place.

Moreover, the subject should be handled in an objective manner and
though scholarly discussions. For example, those who represent the
opposing view should also be represented there equally. That this
wasn’t done was probably the biggest mistake.

However these were not the only mistakes made… Justice Minister
Cemil Cicek accused those who planned the conference of `stabbing
Turkey in the back’ and after that made statements a good democrat
should never make: He accused them of treason. This was the biggest
mistake of all.

I don’t find the government’s reaction democratic, but in fact very
wrong, as I wrote above.

I wish that the conference had been held and we could find the answer
to these two questions:

1. Could you hold the opposite version of this conference -which
could not be held because Turkey is not democratic enough – in
Armenia? For example, could a conference on `The Armenian Genocide
Allegations Are Based on Lies’ be held in Armenia?

2. Those who say that the Armenian genocide is real, when in some
European countries laws were passed making denying the allegations a
crime, did you oppose this with even a single breath?

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress