OZDEMIR: GIVING BACK THE LEGION D’HONNEUR MEDAL: NOW THAT’S THE WAY TO PROTEST

Hurriyet, Turkey
Oct 17 2006

Historical truths sit clearly, right in the middle for everyone to
see. But for some reason, we don’t seem to be able to convey them or
explain ourselves. Why? It always happens this way: first of all,
disaster befalls us, or is made to befall us (read: the Armenian
genocide bill in France). Then we start to feel the aches and pains.

But from time to time, the reactions we show are actually funnier
than the events themselves.

For days now we have been talking about the French genocide denial
bill. Developments in France and Holland brought this whole issue
onto our agenda again. We are a people who forgets fast though.

Otherwise, those who even slightly followed history would know that:
genocide allegations do not stick to us, and cannot be made to stick
to us.

The events of 1915 were mutual slaughter. Turks and Armenians died.

But the individual Armenian terror which began in 1973 turned into
organized terror by 1975, and since then, 42 of our diplomats and 4
foreigners have lost their lives as a result of it all.

***

Does it always take a catastrophe to bring us to our senses? We
should know by now which "headaches" will appear before us from time
to time. And we should really be prepared. And armed with knowledge.

Known as a faithful sector of the Ottoman Empire, the Armenians were
provoked by the West in 1915, as they being provoked by the West
today. By which I mean, in 1915, the West was a supporter of the
mutual slaughter, and today, is a partner in the baseless accusations.

Speaking to journalist Can Dundar, Ismail Cem pointed out recently
"Chirac’s apology to Erdogan was like a joke. Chirac seems to see
Turkey, the Turkish public, our press, but mostly Prime Minister
Erdogan, as ‘naive.’ If he was even in the slightest bit genuine, he
would have spoken these words of apology not in a private telephone
call, but in front of the world." Don’t you think Ismail Cem is right
about this?

***

Today you will read in the Turkish newspapers about a response
appropriate for Chirac: that Tezic, the president of the Turkish
Board of Higher Education, has decided to return his medal of honor to
France. It had been awarded to him in 2002. In his letter to Chirac,
Tezic underscores the problem, as he sees it, with Chirac’s quick
rush to deny support of the recently accepted "genocide denial" bill:

"In statements, you bring to attention over and over again that the
French government was outside of and not involved in this initiative
by parliament members to approve the bill. But during an official
visit to Armenia at the start of October, you expressed the view that
‘Turks did commit a genocide against the Armenians.’ In saying so, you
clearly made this issue French state policy…..I can no longer carry
the ‘Commandeur de la Legion d’Honneur’ medal which was awarded to me."

Tezic, in returning his Legion d’Honneur, has become the first person
ever to do so. These actions need no more words to explain them;
when you say ‘protest,’ this is the way to do it.