TURKEY MULLS PUTTING GENOCIDE CLAIMS TO INTL ADJUDICATION
The New Anatolian, Turkey
Nov 16 2006
Behind-the scenes efforts are underway to find a method to bring the
Armenian genocide claims before international adjudication, Turkish
diplomatic sources said yesterday.
Retired diplomats, respected Turkish and foreign jurists, and Turkish
officials are behind the efforts.
Both Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and main opposition
Republican People’s Party (CHP) Istanbul Deputy Sukru Elekdag
signaled Ankara’s efforts and willingness to bring the alleged issue
to international adjudication after Turkey’s proposal for the formation
of a joint committee of historians to study the genocide claims failed
to bear fruit.
In a letter to Armenian President Robert Kocharian last year,
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan proposed the formation
of a committee composed of Turkish and Armenian historians, but the
proposal was rejected by Armenian president, stressing that such
joint work could only be done after the two countries establish
diplomatic relations.
Foreign Minister Gul, speaking to reporters ahead of his visit to
the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), stated yesterday that
Ankara is considering bringing the issue to international adjudication
but the final decision will be given following detailed work and
consultations. "However, this work should not be considered a quick,
magic bullet solution to the problem that stems from a period of
history," Gul added.
CHP Istanbul Deputy Elekdag, in a speech Monday to Parliament’s
Planning and Budget Commission, suggested Turkey’s application to
"international arbitration" to prevent the Armenian genocide claims
from becoming legitimate.
"Turkey should announce that it will evaluate the events of 1915
in line with the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and
Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and should apply to international
arbitration to implement it," Elekdag said. "Armenians will reject
this. However, this action will be an indicator showing Turkey’s
moral and legal just cause and will prevent the political abuse of
the issue against Turkey."