ARMENIAN INTELLECTUALS CALL ON THE PRESIDENT OF TURKEY TO RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

armradio.am
09.12.2008 15:05

Nearly 300 Armenian culture and art workers – academicians, doctors,
heads of public and media organizations – addressed an open letter
to the President of Turkey, Abdullah Gul, in which they call on him
to recognize the Armenian Genocide. The letter states, in part:

"Dear Mr. President, The new situation in the South Caucasus
established after the latest events, Armenian President Serzh
sargsyan’s daring step of inviting you to Armenia and the meeting that
took place once again confirm that the establishment of good-neighborly
relations between Armenia and Turkey requires courageous and realistic
solutions. First of all, we face the long-standing issue of recognition
of the Armenian Genocide.

Let’s honestly accept that this problem has been dividing the two
peoples ever since 1915. Mr. President, in this case we deal with a
dreadful crime against humanity. This is not only the demand of the
Armenian people, but also the fair expectation of the international
community.

The current diplomacy of Turkey and the propaganda cannot close the
dark pages of our common history. Your generation should accept the
undeniable truth and recognize the Armenian Genocide. We think this
is first of all necessary to the Turkish people. This way it will
get rid of the burden of history=2 0and will stand next to other
states open-faced. Only this way it is possible to close that page
and confidently step into future.

Your visit to Armenia and Turkey’s initiative targeted at establishing
stability in the Caucasus inspire certain hope that a realistic
political flow is gradually shaping in Turkey, but these efforts may
easily fail if the state does undertake decisive steps by ending its
current policy of Armenian Genocide denial," the letter states.