HULIQ (press release), NC
May 24 2008
Turkey’s Claims on ARF Archives False
GLENDALE–Turkey’s recent claims that the Armenian Revolutionary
archives are closed are false, said the ARF archivist Tatul
Sonentz-Papazian Friday, who managed the archives until 2000.
`Actually the archives are open up to 1925,’ Sonentz-Papazian said in
response to recent claims by head of Turkey’s state-funded Turkish
Historical Society Yusuf Halacoglu who told the Hurriyet Monday that
Turkey has offered to give $20 million for the classification and the
opening of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Archives housed in
Boston.
Halacoglu claimed that the archives allegedly contained what he called
"very important" documents about the "incidents" of 1915.
`Anyone can apply to the administration and provide a reason for their
request. The archives are open to academicians and students,’ added
Sonentz-Papazian, who said that they have already been used by several
scholars and students, including Richard Hovannisian, Hagop Manjikian,
who compiled and edited the ARF Album-Atlas, and most recently Dikran
Khaligian. He added that Turkish scholars were welcome to study the
archives as well.
Halacoglu said the Armenians do not want to have the archives opened
because such efforts will "start a real debate over the genocide
claims." Halacoglu said that the ARF archives in Boston allegedly
contain very important documents regarding both the 500,000 Armenians
who currently live in Turkey, and the 1915 incidents.
`I have no idea what Halacoglu is talking about,’ said
Sonentz-Papazian, adding, `There is nothing there that could remotely
be proof of case of the denial. Everything points to the fact that the
Genocide did happen. There is no doubt that it was a state process to
get rid of the Armenian.’
Halacoglu, who is notorious for making bizarre statements regarding
the Armenian Genocide, is also wanted in Switzerland and would face
trial based on that country’s law on Genocide deniers.
"The [Armenians] had said ‘We don’t have money to categorize the
archives, and therefore we cannot open them.’ I frankly told them we
can give you the money needed and open the archives’. But they did not
respond to my offer," Hurriyet was quoted Haracoglu as saying on
Tuesday.
Halacoglu said he also presented his proposal to two Armenian
historians, Ara Sarfian and Hilmar Kaiser, adding he heard no word
back, and noted that the opening of the archives in Boston would
launch a real debate on the issue. "This would directly open a debate
over the genocide claims. Armenians are aware of this and therefore
they are doing their best not to sit at the table," he claimed.
`I saw Hilmar a few months ago. We talked for quite a long time and he
never mentioned anything of the sort,’ said Sonentz-Papazian, who also
reported that the archives, which are stored in a
temperature-controlled vault, were currently being digitized and work
was being done to restart the cataloging.