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The Armenian Weekly; Volume 73, No. 35; Sept. 1, 2007
News:
1. Genocide and Holocaust Scholars Criticize ADL
By Khatchig Mouradian
2. `Turkey Would Not Be Accepted in the EU if It Touches Even One Jew’
By Khatchig Mouradian
3. The 4th Pan-Armenian Games Were Beneficial to the Provinces, Too
By Nayiri Mgrditchian-Daghlian
***
1. Genocide and Holocaust Scholars Criticize ADL
By Khatchig Mouradian
WATERTOWN, Mass. (A.W.)’On Aug. 23, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
released a statement that reiterated its objection to the Armenian
Genocide Resolution pending in Congress and continued to ambiguously
recognize the Armenian genocide by calling `for further dispassionate
scholarly examination of the details of those dark and terrible days.’
`The force and passion of the debate today leaves us more convinced
than ever that this issue does not belong in a forum such as the
United States Congress,’ the statement read.
`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,’ it continued.
Several genocide and Holocaust experts expressed outrage over the idea
of convening with Turkish state historians who have made a career out
of denying and trivializing the Armenian genocide. When Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested the idea of a `joint
commission’ a few years ago, the International Association of Genocide
Scholars (IAGS) sent an open letter to Erdogan saying, `We are
concerned that in calling for an impartial study of the Armenian
Genocide you may not be fully aware of the extent of the scholarly and
intellectual record on the Armenian Genocide. ¦ We want to
underscore that it is not just Armenians who are affirming the
Armenian Genocide but it is the overwhelming opinion of scholars who
study genocide: hundreds of independent scholars.’
Genocide and Holocaust scholars in the U.S. and Europe, contacted by
the Armenian Weekly today, harshly criticized the ADL’s statement as
well as its hypocritical approach to the Armenian genocide in general.
`ADL is getting into the issue a bit late to be of any substance,’
said Dr. Stephen Feinstein, director of the Center for Holocaust and
Genocide Studies at the University of Minnesota. `Furthermore, by
Foxman saying there was a need to protect the Turkish-Jewish
community, the question is, protect from what if they have lived as a
loyal minority for 500 years? This suggests that the ADL is missing
the point and cannot be part of the discourse,’ he added.
`A commission now would be a disaster. The Turkish state must make
clear that they have a very strong intention to resolve this
issue. The rhetoric of the Turkish authorities is not conducive of a
solution. As long as people like Yusuf Halacoglu’a very radical,
nationalist, even racist historian’Gunduz Aktan and Sukru Elekdag give
the tone for the policy of Turkish government, I don’t think that you
can reach any result from a commission,’ said Turkish-born historian
and sociologist Taner Akcam, author of A Shameful Act: The Armenian
genocide and the Question of Turkish responsibility. `For them the
commission would be the continuation of the war they are waging
against the Armenians, whom they consider as the enemy,’ he added.
`We don’t need a historical commission. We need historians to have
completely free and open access to the archives in Turkey so scholars
and anyone else can research, write and talk about this history
without fear of intimidation,’ said Professor Eric Weitz, author of A
Century of Genocide: Utopias of Race and Nation. `That is the key
issue: free and open debate without intimidation from the state and
from anti-democratic organizations that are allowed to operate with
the tacit support of the state.’
`Furthermore, not the regional ADL leader [Andy Tarsy] but Abraham
Foxman should be fired,’ Weitz added. `He should have been fired a
long time ago for many other statements and comments in addition to
his long-standing refusal to recognize the Armenian genocide.’
`I’m entirely in agreement with Eric Weitz on the access [to archives]
and free debate,’ said Dr. Donald Bloxham of the University of
Edinburgh who was recently awarded the 2007 Raphael Lemkin prize for
his book The Great game of Genocide: Imperialism, Nationalism and the
Destruction of the Ottoman Armenians.
`And I reject the silly commission idea,’ Bloxham added.
——————————————- ————————-
2. `Turkey Would Not Be Accepted in the EU if It Touches Even One Jew’
By Khatchig Mouradian
WATERTOWN, Mass. (A.W.)’The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) cites the
security of the Jewish community in Turkey and Israel’s alliance with
Turkey for why it has failed to unambiguously recognize the Armenian
genocide and support its recognition by the U.S. Congress. Treasurer
of the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS)
Prof. Jack Nusan Porter believes the well being of the Jews in Turkey
is not at stake.
`This is really just blackmail,’ said Porter, author of `The Genocidal
Mind’ and `Facing History and Holocaust’ in an interview with the
Armenian Weekly. `Turkey would never touch the Jewish community. It
would never be accepted in the European Union if it touched any Jew in
Turkey. The real question is: Why does this blackmail work? Why do
people believe it? In February of this year, Turkish officials met
with Jewish groups here in America and put out the word. Most of the
Jewish leaders disagreed, but some of them’like the ADL leader
[Abraham Foxman]’didn’t,’ he added.
Porter underscored the importance of `educating’ Israel in these
issues. `We, American Jews, have to educate Israel. It’s just the
opposite of what it was historically. The Israelis had to teach us how
to be Jewish. Now, we are going to have to teach them how to be a good
Jew: Take care of all people, not only yourself.’
Turkey’s pressure on Israel regarding the Armenian genocide issue is
not new, he explained. `In 1979, Israel Charny [former IAGS president
and editor of `The Encyclopedia of Genocide’] organized a conference
in Tel Aviv. The Turkish government put pressure on the Israeli
government not to send anybody to that conference. They’ve been
pressuring Israel for all these years,’ said Porter.
Talking about how the Jewish community supports the recognition of the
Armenian genocide, Porter said, `The right wing, ultra-nationalistic,
conservative forces support what’s good for Israel and do not
interfere’even oppose’everything else. But most of the Jews in this
country are universalistic and recognize the genocide.’ He added,
`There was a good coordination of Jewish and Armenian pressure. I hope
it brings the two communities even closer together.’
————————————— ——————————–
3. The 4th Pan-Armenian Games Were Beneficial to the Provinces, Too
By Nayiri Mgrditchian-Daghlian
The Pan-Armenian Games are hosted every four years in Armenia, with
the participation of Armenian athletes from all over the world. The
games are one of the best opportunities to bring diasporan Armenian
youth together with their Armenian counterparts, and instill in them a
link with Armenia and Armenian youth worldwide.
This year, the 4th Pan-Armenian Games took place from
Aug. 18-26. Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, head of the Pan-Armenian
Games committee, said that President Robert Kocharian was very
interested in the preparations for the games. He happily underlined
the fact that with each passing year, the number of participating
cities from all over the world increases. This year, 2,500 athletes
participated from 94 cities.
Amateur Armenian athletes were also able to participate in the
games. The organizing committee made the decision to allow their
participation after agreeing that an athlete’s status is not as
important as encouraging Armenian athletes to visit Armenia, and to
make the games more interesting.
The opening ceremonies were held at the Karni pagan temple, where the
games’ torch was lit. The torch was then transported to Yerevan’s
Republic Field, where the official opening ceremonies were
held. Armenian folk singers performed, along with various dance
troupes.
What made the 4th Pan-Armenian Games unique was that for the first
time, representatives from all of the Armenian provinces
participated. Armenian communities in Russia and other countries also
participated with zeal. Volunteer students had to assist the
organizing committee because it was the first time Armenia hosted an
athletic event of such large proportions. This year, 10 different
events were organized, all of which have a loyal following in the
Diaspora: soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis, track and field,
table tennis, swimming, chess, futsal (mini-soccer) and
badminton. Soccer games were held in Yerevan, as well as Apovian,
Ashdarag, Ardashad and Ararad. All other games were exclusively held
in Yerevan.
Different Ministries were mobilized to organize the games,
particularly the Ministries of Transportation and Health, as well as
the Armenian police. Some venues in Yerevan and elsewhere were
renovated to host football games. Other venues were outside of Yerevan
and in the provinces, which benefited greatly from the atmosphere
created by the games.
Over 5,000 Armenians visited Armenia to see or participate in the
games. The government dedicated 80 million drams for the planning and
organization of the games.
The official closing ceremonies were held on Aug. 26 in the Alexander
Sbentarian Opera in Yerevan and in the National Academy’s
Theater. During the ceremonies, the athletes were awarded their
medlas, and performances were held in the Opera Square.
The 4th Pan-Armenian games ended, and the organizers and athletes
parted determined to meet again in four years, and to organize the
Pan-Armenian Winter Games in two years’ time.