Armenian-Turkish Relation
Common Celebration Without Armenian Flags
Turkey spoils own attempts of rapprochement
Trouw (Dutch daily newspaper)
30 March 2007
By Foreign Editor Iris Luduker,
The opening of a restored Armenian church in Turkey was supposed to be a
sign of reconciliation. It degenerated in a good quarrel.
It could have been such a beautiful rapprochement: Turkish and Armenian high
officials together opening a renovated Armenian church on Turkish soil. But
what took place yesterday on the small island of Akdamar in the Lake Van in
Eastern Turkey was still mainly a Turkish celebration.
Turkish flags and a portrait of Ataturk brightened up the 10th century
church. The opening ceremony started with the Turkish national anthem. And
despite the presence of a delegation from Armenia the Armenian flag was
nowhere to be seen.
The level of the dignitaries was another disappointment. The Turks delegated
their Culture Minister, while Armenia was represented by a delegation of 20
persons headed by a Secretary of State.
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan was supposed to be present, as well as the
Armenian Church leader, Catholicos Karekin II. The latter kindly declined
the honour and consequently also Erdogan stayed at home.
Karekin cancelled his visit as a mark of protest against the Turkish
decision to make a museum out of the restored church. The opening ceremony
yesterday was a non-religious one. The Turks also decided to not place a
cross on the roof of "the museum".
The leader of Turkish section of the Armenian orthodox church, patriarch
Mesrob II, did come to the event. Mesrob tried to safe the atmosphere by
thanking the Turkish government for its efforts. But he also asked to open
the church as a place for prayers at least once a year. "If our government
agrees with this, it will contribute to peace between the two communities" .
In general the Turkish promotion stunt turned out to be a failure. This as
Turks just invested 1.1 million euro to improve the relation with Armenia.
The two neighbouring countries have had ice cold relations for decennia and
maintain no diplomatic relations.
The borders are closed ever since in 1993 Armenia waged a war with
Azerbaidjan an ally of Turkey. The Armenian economy suffered considerably
from this war. That is why Armenia said that it welcomes the restoration,
but opening of the borders would have been an even better idea. In that case
the Armenian delegation leaders would not have had to travel to Van by a
roundabout route.
The most painful issue in the relation between the countries is the fact
that Turkey denies that in 1915 Genocide has taken place of the Armenian
inhabitants of the former Ottoman Empire. According to Armenia 1.5 million
people then lost their lives. That the Turkish rapprochement may have been
not entirely sincere is proved by the fact that the opening of the church at
first was planned for April 24. This is the day, that the Armenian community
commemorates the genocide.
Background Information
The church is ready, Let¹s deal with the city now
The church on Akdamar is far from being the only Armenian monument in
Turkey. At the extreme east of the country lies Ani, the capital of Armenia
in the 10th century, by then already counting 100.000 inhabitants. In the
enormous area, right at the border with Armenia, there are tens of rests of
churches and mosques. Ani is hard to reach and despite the impressing
location few people visit the place. To the anger of Armenians, the Turkish
authorities have neglected the matter for years. Just recently, along with
Akdamar it has been placed high on the restoration list. Strange enough the
Armenian government opened a stone quarry opposite Ani. This destroyed the
landscape and affected the restfulness in the area.