AZG Armenian Daily #097, 28/05/2005

Turkey

EUROPE RESPONDS TO POSTPONED CONFERENCE IN TURKEY

The university administration of Bosphorus University in Turkey postponed
“Ottoman Armenians at decline of the Empire. Scientific Responsibility and
Issues of Democracy” workshop after the threatening speech of Turkish
justice minister Cemil Ciceq on May 24.

The fact of the conference’s postponement was largely echoed in both Turkey
and Europe. The decision of the university administration hit the headlines
of many influential papers of the world.

If the Turkish press aims at minister Ciceq, the government and political
parties then Europe’s target is Turkey as a whole.

As a significant counterattack came the statements of the Union of Human
Rights of Turkey and Turkish History Foundation on May 25. If the Union
“condemns all politicians in the persons of justice minister and
oppositional party speaker who do not tolerate freedom of thought in the
country and threaten Bosphorus University to wreck the workshop”, then the
Foundation underscores that “the campaign against the workshop that launched
in Mejlis is the next manifestation of Turkish chauvinism peculiar to ruling
elite. It once again blocks the roads leading to democracy and mutual
understanding”.

Meanwhile, the organizers of the workshop turned to the American Historical
Association, Middle East International Establishment and International Union
of Lawyers. And Bosphorus University published a statement with 109
signatures of the University staff.

The statement expresses worry that the scientific thought is being
encroached upon, condemns every political interference, indicates that it
contradicts Turkey’s official stance of “impartial discussion of the
Armenian issue” and reveals University’s resolution to hold the workshop the
soonest possible.

On May 26, Bilgi University of Istanbul released an identical statement
signed by 130 staff members condemning officials’ encroachment on
independent activities of the university. The 43 scientists including Taner
Akcam, Murad Belge and Halil Berktay that were supposed to report at the
workshop also came out with a statement.

Turkish Milliyet newspaper writes about international response to the
postponement in its May 26 issue. The paper writes that European diplomats
commissioned in Ankara strongly opposed to the fact of rescheduling. They
said that the justice minister’s words disappointed them and emphasized that
the statement disagrees with Prime Minister Erdogan’s and Turkish
parliament’s position that was also widely received in the US and Europe.

Response came from the EU as well, which noted that the postponement will
not assist Turkey’s accession. According to Milliyet, a EU official
expressed hope that Turkey will mature to openly discuss the Armenian cause.
He called the suspension of the workshop “display of intolerance”.

A representative of EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Oli Ren, confirmed
latter’s words saying, “EU wants and contributes to creation of atmosphere
of mutual trust between Armenia and Turkey. We hope that this atmosphere
will have positive impact on Turkey’s EU membership”. Joost Lagendijk,
co-chair of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliament Committee, responded from
Brussels. In a written statement he said that the fact of putting the
conference off will open doors for comments over absence of free scientific
thought and existence of taboos in Turkey. Answering to Milliyet’s question
Lagendijk said, “The words of justice minister Ciceq show that in Turkey it
is still the state that decides should an issue be discussed at a university
or not”. Those are serious responses, and Turkey is expected to hand out
official reply.

Turkish Foreign Ministry accepted that the postponement of the workshop
contradicts the spirit of both “Erdogan’s letter to RA President Kocharian”
and “reforms unfolded in the country on its way to the EU”.

Opposition to the suspension of the workshop having gone far beyond Turkey’s
borders cannot go without consequences for Turkey. A May 26 article in
Milliyet considers postponement “a big mistake”, saying that it will pose
Turkey to international pressure, moreover, will show Turkey as a country
that does not tolerate free discussion over historic issues, thus adding
momentum to Armenians efforts for getting the Genocide recognized.

By Hakob Chakrian