The New Anatolian, Turkey
Aug 24 2007
Anti-Defamation League extends support to Turkey’s proposal to
convene a joint commission
The New Anatolian / Ankara
24 August 2007
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) released a new statement in which it
extended support to Turkey’s proposal to convene a joint commission.
The new statement signed by Glen S. Lewy, ADL National Chair and
Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, indicated, "we must
encourage steps to create an atmosphere in which Armenia will respond
favorably to the several recent overtures of Turkey to convene a
joint commission to assist the parties in achieving a resolution of
their profound differences."
"We believe there are many renowned historians, human rights
activists and distinguished world leaders who are willing to lend
their knowledge, experience and judgment to this cause. We know that
earlier this year, Prof. Dr. Elie Wiesel and more than 50 of his
fellow Nobel Laureates called for concrete steps to be taken by
Turkey and Armenia to find a way forward to reach the goal of
reconciliation, and that, last week, Professor Wiesel reaffirmed his
support for efforts to create a body in which both Turkish and
Armenian experts can come together to work cooperatively in
re-examining the shared past of both peoples," it said.
"Although independent scholars may have reached a consensus about the
genocide, in an effort to help accomplish the reconciliation there is
room for further dispassionate scholarly examination of the details
of those dark and terrible days. ADL and the American Jewish
community should focus their attention on supporting efforts to urge
Turkey and Armenia to make this happen," the ADL said.
Earlier in the week, the ADL released a statement in which it
described the incidents of 1915 as "genocide". Upon the statement,
Turkey expressed its uneasiness and Turkish Ministry of Foreign
Affairs said, "the statement released by the ADL is lack of
historical and legal ground. The ADL’s attempt to rewrite the history
is quite contradictory. On the other hand, Jewish community in Turkey
is a part of our society. We consider this statement, which is also
unjust against the memory of victims of the Holocaust, unfortunate."