MILLIYET STARTS SERIES OF ARTICLES CONCERNING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 17 2006

ISTANBUL, NOVEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Turkish
Milliyet newspaper started publishing a series of articles the goal of
what is to get to know the Diasporan Armenians’ opinion concerning the
Armenian Genocide. Ece Temelkuran, an author of articles, started the
series with a volumnious interview with Patrick Devedjian, a French
Armenian politician.

The author of the article explains the goal of the newly prepared
series, saying that everybody knows that people living on those
lands in the summer of 1915 saw very dark days. It has been spoken
continuously for ninety years about the issue who is guilty or who is
stronger. "The matter is that we are not ones speaking, we are simply
children of few people who tell much or little. We just confidently
know that unpleasant things happened that summer and can not find a
name for the happened. Sadness ruled over East: elderly people show
stony buildings and say that those buildings were built by Armenian
stonemasons, such a building has never been built after them. We
know in general what happened. What we do not know is the following
"we do not speak, souls speak. That’s why we decided to speak about
the Armenian Diaspora. That’s, with children of the souls."

In the article author’s words, when it was decided to speak with
Patrick Devedjian, many people warned the author that he is very
strict, and that Devedjian himself composed the French law making
denial of the Genocide criminal. He was also the attorney defending
the ASALA. But just the opposite of the expected, the meeting was
held in a very polite and emotive atmosphere. Even more, the article
author and the latter’s companion were very astonished seeing that
Devedjian was crying speaking about the Genocide.

Responding the question concerning the law adopted by the French
parliament, Devedjian mentioned that he was not a supporter of a
similar law, either, but when Turks ("Grey Wolves") attacked Armenian
monuments in Lyon, he understood that a similar law was necessary.

Turk diplomates stated that the Turk people supports those attacks.

"So, our safety became a problem. A law must be adopted which will
defend Armenians living in France," Devedjian said.

P.Devedjian reminded that he wanted that the law did not relate to
scientists. Though it was not adopted, but he would continue working
for exceptions are made. Then a difference will be between Turkey
and France as article 301 exists in Turkey as well.

In Devedjian’s opinion, Turkey may be changed only under heavy
pressures. He mentioned that Armenians have been waited for
continuously 90 years. This is a pain that one can not have every day."