PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Director
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: info@ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org
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PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I: THE RECOGNITION OF GENOCIDE IS A SINE QUA NON FOR A
REAL RECONCILIATION BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND TURKISH NATIONS.

DR. TANER AKÇAM: ACKNOWLEDGING HISTORIC WRONG DOINGS, MUST BE INTEGRATED
INTO A POLICY OF NATIONAL SECURITY.

On Monday 4 January, in the evening, at the Gulbenkian Hall of the Cilicia
Museum, Prof. Tamer Akçam lectured on the topic "The Armenian Genocide and
Turkish National Security". A number of Lebanese government officials,
religious and political representatives, academics and representatives of
non-governmental organizations joined the large audience.

Dr. Taner Akçam started his lecture by stating that "In Turkey today, any
attempt to openly discuss historic wrong doings, is denounced as a covert
move in a master plan to partition the country and is therefore against the
‘national security of Turkey’. This is not just the view of some political
elites or some ultra-nationalist organizations. It also underpins legal
decision making." Then mentioning the judgment in 2007 against two
Turkish-Armenian journalists Arat Dink, son of assassinated journalist Hrant
Dink and Sarkis Seropyan, who received suspended sentences of a year
imprisonment, for using the term ‘genocide’, Dr. Akçam referred to the
decision of the Turkish court: "Talk about genocide, both in Turkey and in
other countries, unfavourably affects national security and the national
interest. The claim of genocide… has become part of and the means of
special plans aiming to change the geographic political boundaries of
Turkey… and a campaign to demolish its physical and legal structure." The
ruling stated further that the Republic of Turkey is under "a hostile
diplomatic siege consisting of genocide resolutions… The acceptance of
this claim may lead in future centuries to a questioning of the sovereignty
rights of the Republic of Turkey over the lands on which it is claimed these
events occurred." Due to these national security concerns, the court
declared that the claim of genocide in 1915 is not protected speech. To
quote, "the use of these freedoms can be limited in accordance with aims
such as the protection of national security, of public order, of public
security". (Court Decree, 2nd Penal Court of First Instance for The District
Of Sisli, File Number: 2006/1208, Decree Number: 2007/1106, Prosecution No.:
2006/8617).

According to Dr. Akçam "The situation is not that different in the United
States. Even though by joint declaration of Congress in September 9, 1975,
April 24th was declared a "National Day of Remembrance" for the Armenian
Genocide and the President of the United States is authorized and requested
to issue a proclamation, since then NONE of the United States Presidents,
except Reagan in 1981, has used the term Genocide. The main reason for this
attitude is "national security concerns of the United States in the Middle
East".

Elaborating the ‘national security concerns’, Dr. Akçam said that "actually
there are two set of arguments which are brought up in opposition to one
another; ‘National security’ versus ‘morality’ or in other phraseology
‘realists’ versus ‘moral fundamentalists.’ The ‘realists’ emphasize national
security concerns of their country. On the other side the ‘fundamentalist
moralists’ emphasize the supremacy of morality against ‘real interests’."

The main argument of Pof. Akçam was that "putting ‘National interest’
against ‘morality’ as mutually exclusive is just plain wrong. In fact what I
really believe is that any security policy in the Middle East that excludes
morality cannot ultimately be a ‘realistic’ policy that will work and that
eventually it undermines national security. Indeed, if one knows Turkey and
the Middle East, one would easily recognize that history and historical
injustices are not just dead issues from the past; the past IS the present
in the Middle East. So therefore morality are a very real issue, and for
realpolitik to be successful in the region; moral values, in this instance,
the specific one of acknowledging historic wrong doings, must be integrated
into a policy of national security."

Dr. Akçam pointed out that "there is a strong interconnection between
security, democracy and facing history in the Middle East. Even a passing
glance at the region makes it clear that historical injustices and the
persistent denial of these injustices by one or another state or
ethnic-religious group is a major stumbling block, not only for the
democratization of the region, but also for the establishment of stable
relations between different ethnic and religious groups." In fact, his
central argument was that "a failure to confront history honestly is one of
the major reasons for insecurity and instability in the region."

Concluding his lecture Dr. Akçam said that "The question that I have
struggled to find the answer to is, why is the discussion of historical
injustices, something that goes to the heart of human rights perceived as a
threat to Turkish national security? I have taken the argument about
"national security" of Turkey very seriously and tried to examine the roots
of this mentality and to show the reasons why it must be changed."

After Prof. Akçam lecture the floor was open to questions from the audience.
The evening was concluded with remarks from His Holiness Aram I.

His Holiness Aram I described Dr. Taner Akçam as one of those Turk
intellectuals who had the courage to raise the question of genocide in the
midst of denial and negativism and call for its recognition by Turkey. His
Holiness then summarized his observations in four points:

1) "The interconnection between human rights and national security concept
is crucial. Any attempt to create dichotomy or polarization between the two
is a moral and political heresy", he said and emphasized "the necessity to
develop a new perception of national security with a holistic approach".

2) Speaking about history, His Holiness reminded that "history deals with
facts, not fiction; therefore, a subjective interpretation of objective
realities, may endanger the integrity of and distorts the very nature of
history. We cannot escape history; we cannot erase from the annals of
history the Armenian genocide. Turkey must reconcile with its past,
accepting the truth".

3) His Holiness reminded that "the Armenian genocide is not only for the
Armenians a fact of history, it is deeply rooted in the common memory and
consciousness of our people. The Armenians do not learn about it, they are
formed by it; it is inseparable part of the very texture of Armenianness.
The reaction of the Armenians to what is called Armenia-Turkey protocol must
be perceived within this framework", said Aram I.

4) "There should be a clear distinction between normalization and
reconciliation" according to His Holiness. He said that "reconciliation
takes place on the basis of truth and justice". Reminding the "Truth and
Reconciliation Commission" of South Africa, His Holiness stated that the
Armenians are "against cheap reconciliation; true reconciliation implies
acceptance of truth and restoration of justice". His Holiness Aram I
concluded his remarks by reminding that "as Christians we believe in
forgiveness, but forgiveness is given when there is confession. We are still
waiting for Turkey’s confession".

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View the photos here:
tos/Photos424.htm
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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.
From: Baghdasarian