Anatolian Times, Turkey
Sept 23 2005
Dr. Berktay: The Participants In The Conference Do Not Have Biased
View
ISTANBUL – A member of the organizing team for the conference titled
”Ottoman Armenians During the Fall of the Empire,” Dr. Halil
Berktay of Sabanci University has indicated today that the
participants in the conference do not have a biased view. ”They
describe themselves as out of the official ideology,” told Dr.
Berktay.
According to Berktay, the Armenian conference has been organized by
Dr. Selim Deringil, Dr. Edhem Eldem, Dr. Caglar Keyder and Dr. Nukhet
Sirman of Bogazici University, Dr. Murat Belge of Bilgi University
and Dr. Cemil Kocak and Dr. Aksin Somel of Sabanci University. The
organization committee has 15 members.
Dr. Berktay referred to a statement made by Turkish Foreign Minister
and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul that ”no one hurts us more
than we do” and remarked that the suspension of the conference has
received protests from many political leaders in Turkey.
Asked if the participants in the conference only support one view,
Dr. Berktay noted that ”such an allegation is inaccurate. The
participants in the conference have termed themselves as representing
notions out of the official ideology. Representation of only one side
of the matter is not the actual case,” commented Dr. Berktay.
Dr. Berktay added that the thesis that the Turks committed a genocide
in 1915 is only mentioned twice in 60 presentations or speeches.
Conferences may of course represent different views and opinions,
stated Dr. Berktay.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Higher Board of Education (YOK) released a
statement today that said ”the Istanbul court’s decision to suspend
the Armenian conference is an intervention in universities’ rights to
possess scientific autonomy. Yesterday’s court decision is one that
threatens Turkey’s national values.”
According to Bogazici and Sabanci Universities’ rectors, lawyers
representing the universities have filed an official objection today
to Istanbul Administrative Court no. 4’s decision that suspended the
conference yesterday.
-CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT BILGI UNIVERSITY ON SATURDAY & SUNDAY”-
The Armenian conference will take place at Bilgi University in
Istanbul on Saturday and Sunday. ”Bilgi University will hold the
Armenian conference at its campus for the sake of freedom of thought,
research and expression,” said Rector Dr. Aydin Ugur.