PROFESSOR CLAUDE MUTAFIAN – "FOR THE FUTURE OF ARMENIA THE KARABAKH ISSUE IS MORE IMPORTANT"
Liana Sayadyan

hetq.am/en/politics/klod-mutafian/
2009/04/22 | 16:14

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Professor Claude Mutafian of the Sorbonne, visiting Armenia to
participate in the conference dedicated to the 100th anniversary of
the Adana massacres, stated that in terms of the on-going negotiations
between Armenia and Turkey, "The talks are one thing but the issue
of the 1915 Genocide will not be resolved in that manner since the
fact cannot be overlooked that the bulk of diaspora Armenians are
the inheritors of that tragedy."

Professor Mutafian, originally a mathematician who has specialized
in Armenian history for the past thirty years, noted that Turkey’s
position in linking a settlement of the Karabakh issue to the
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations raises concerns that
the Karabakh issue will be solved "by making concessions regarding
the Genocide".

"It is difficult to oppose the opening of the border, but the important
question to be asked is at what price? For me, as a by-product of 1915,
the recognition of the Genocide is important but, to put it somewhat
crudely, it terms of the future of Armenia the Karabakh issue is more
important," Professor Mutafian stated to Hetq.

When referring to the attitude in the diaspora regarding the
negotiations now taking place between Armenia and Turkey, Professor
Mutafian said, "The diaspora is in a difficult situation. Many
say that they don’t want to upset the talks but the reality is of
course different. I can’t say whether the talks are good or bad. On
principle, negotiations are a good thing. One must always be able
to sit down with the enemy and talk. The same holds true here; but
many are opposed to them. I, however, am opposed to those diaspora
Armenians that claim that this is treachery. I, on the other hand,
don’t say that the talks are a wonderful thing rather, like it or not,
this is the situation. Our interests are different. There are more
Armenians living in the diaspora than in Armenia and still today
what you have at the basis of the diaspora are the descendants of
the Genocide victims. The memories of the Genocide belong more to
the diaspora than to the Armenia of today."

Regarding France’s position on the Genocide, Professor Mutafian stated
that even though it has been recognized by law, legislation to punish
genocide deniers hasn’t been included into the agenda of the French
Senate since, "The French government states that Armenia and Turkey
are now negotiating and that we shouldn’t upset these talks."

Professor Mutafian also sounded a note of caution when it came to the
issue of the campaign, organized by Turkish intellectuals, to collect
signatures apologizing for the events of 1915. "Twenty thousand Turkish
intellectuals signed the statement and that’s good. But we must not
forget that statement refers to the ‘Great Calamity’ and doesn’t use
the word ‘Genocide’. The Turkish authorities understand their role
very well. On the one hand it was a good thing but, on the other hand,
we cannot forget that it lead to other measures. We should never say
thanks for these other actions."

When asked if he thought that demands made by Armenia would produce
results Professor Mutafian responded, "It’s hard to say, but one must
always demand a great deal in expectation of the day when the other
side might be ready to make concessions. You must always go with your
hands full. I find that the possibility of financial reparations is
more realistic. The issue of the supervision of cultural monuments
still exists even though some initial steps have been taken in this
direction. Turkey must, at the minimum, permit Armenian specialists
to oversee the repair and restoration of our monuments in Turkey."