Sunday’s Zaman, Turkey
Oct 18 2009

LDP leader Toker: Let’s commemorate common tragedy and anguish in 2015

Liberal Democrat Party (LDP) leader Cem Toker, who recently visited
Armenia, has asked for the recognition of 2015 as a year for the
commemoration of the common tragedy of 1915.

Noting that such an endeavor would make a great contribution to the
achievement of peace if it is pioneered by the state, Toker said, `We
can eliminate this iceberg made of prejudices.’

Speaking with Sunday’s Zaman about his impressions from his trip to
Armenia, Toker further said: `Both sides suffered from great pain a
century ago. We can initiate such a process to share our common and
mutual anguish without blaming each other and referencing the notion
of genocide. I hope that the 2015 Year for the Commemoration of our
Common Tragedy will make a contribution to the peace process at a time
when protocols have been signed for the normalization of diplomatic
relations and the opening of border gates.’

Recalling that he delivered a message calling for all parties to look
forward at the events he attended, Toker underlined that there is
still time to do this despite a past full of grief and pain. Stressing
that stories are still told to remember the friendships of the past
between the two nations in addition to the references to the pain,
Toker said: `People’s stories of family tragedies are often followed
by remarks of gratitude; they say, for instance: `Our Turkish
neighbors gave us food; they protected us. They saved our lives; they
told us they could look after our babies for us, implying that we
would come back anyway.’ These stories point to the humane part of the
whole story. This is a great potential to look forward.’

Toker, who notes that Turkey occupies a central place in daily
discussions in Armenia, adds that there is no single day where Turkey
is not a subject of discussion. Toker further recalls that the
depicting the eastern part of Turkey as West Armenia are found
everywhere in this country.

Toker notes that the focus on the creation of an Armenia inclusive of
`Western Armenia’ is a hope only held by the extreme nationalists and
also said: `If you want to survive politically there, you have to be
against Turkey; this is the dominant belief in the country. Turkey is
the only issue that people talk about when they get together. It does
not matter whether they hold positive views or not on Turkey. Any
development relating to Turkey is a potential subject for daily talks.
I had a firsthand experience of this during my stay in Armenia. I have
been to local coffee houses and convenience stores. I observed this
myself. Every single day, Turkey was a source of news in the papers,
on the radio and TVs.’

Recalling that some Armenians are still afraid of traveling to Turkey,
Toker stresses that the people have negative sentiments vis-Ã-vis
Turkey. Toker says he was asked on TV shows whether he felt he was in
a hostile country, adding that people believe that Turks are strongly
opposed to the Armenian identity and people. Noting that he had
firsthand observations that extreme nationalists are exploiting the
1915 tragedy to promote their agenda and goals as well as causing
trauma among people, Toker further said: `I am telling you based on my
experiences and observations I got from the streets, face-to-face
talks and the TV programs I attended. Armenians believe that when they
get together, Turks talk about how to slaughter Armenians and invade
their country. Sadly, I observed ungrounded accusations and
allegations.’

Expression of love and grief for Dink shocked people

The LDP leader said special efforts were made to make sure that
positive developments are forgotten, noting that people are surprised
when he tell them 50,000 Armenians work in Ä°stanbul without feeling
that they live in a hostile country, Toker further stresses that the
expression of love and grief by the Turkish people for slain Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink created a shocking impact for Armenians.

Noting that extreme Armenian nationalists attempted to prevent the
emergence of positive sentiments vis-Ã-vis Turkey because of this
development, Toker also said: `Turkish people’s reaction to the Dink
murder shocked the Armenian people. Eager to prevent the emergence of
positive feelings on Turkey, nationalists strove to present this as an
organization of the state; however, this propaganda was not very
influential. People have changed their views on Turkey because of the
slogans chanted at the funeral `We all are Hrant; we all are
Armenians’.’

`I observed prejudices broken down’
Is our 600-year-old common culture ignored?

It is affected by the prejudices. I was positive in my speeches,
talks, discussions and responses. I put emphasis on our common culture
and history. I stressed that we are inseparable, by referencing their
contribution to our commerce, finances, architecture and music. I
asked them to set the past tragedy aside and look forward toward a
common future.

What reactions did you receive?

They are open to positive approaches. I received a few more
invitations after my statement. I had meetings and talks with people
from different backgrounds including political institutions, the
business world and the media. I have observed that the prejudices held
against Turkey are being broken down. The whole thing will become a
lot easier as personal relations become more intensive. Ordinary
people also started changing their views on the diaspora. They now
criticize diaspora actors, noting that it is easy to make
recommendations from remote parts of the world.

Do the protocols mean that the Armenians are giving up on claims over
`West Armenia’?

They are trying to. It is not easy to let these ambitions go; it may
take a long time. It can be compared to our affinity with Selanik as a
Turkish city where Atatürk was born and grew up. They remember Kars as
their city, which used to host a large Armenian population. There are
two kinds of people: The moderates say, `Well, I am ready to erase the
map in my mind; but it will stay alive in my heart.’ The same also
applies to 1915. They say, `I will take the genocide out of my brain;
but I will keep the anguish alive in my heart.’ The others, however,
say: `I will never forget this map; it will always remain alive in my
brain and heart. I will never erase the genocide and the Armenian
cities. These are what make me an Armenian.’

How will your offer affect this process?

I think if the state decides to commemorate 2015 as the centennial of
the common tragedy, it will have positive impacts and contribute to
the achievement of friendship and peace. During this process, we have
to emphasize the development problem of both countries. I have tried
to do this in every opportunity. I stressed that Turkey and Armenia
are in a bad situation in terms of human development as evidenced by
the UN reports. I asked them to make this situation better via
cooperation.

How do you view the reaction of the Azeri people to the rapprochement?

I have difficulty understanding why the Azeri people show such an
excessive reaction to the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations.
It is really interesting to observe that they are so critical of the
moves Turkey has taken to address thorny issues including
Nagorno-Karabakh, the recognition of borders and the genocide
allegations while remaining silent towards Iran’s eagerness to keep
its borders with Armenia open. I do not say Iran should close its
gates; quite the contrary, why did we close while Iran did not? They
do not object to Iran, but they criticize Turkey because we seek a
resolution. This is not acceptable. They should be more concerned
about Iran’s moves towards Armenia considering that this country hosts
a large Azeri population. Do they hold that this would not contribute
to the resolution process if they ask Iran to take more aggressive
steps? Iran increases its trade volume with Armenia whereas they react
to Turkey, which requires an end to the occupation in Nagorno-Karabakh
for the opening of the border gates.

18 October 2009, Sunday
ALÄ° ASLAN KILIÃ? ANKARA