Hundreds Attend Akcam Lectures in Beirut
By Armenian Weekly Staff
January 24, 2010
BEIRUT, Lebanon (A.W.) – On Jan. 8, Taner Akcam, a Turkish historian and
outspoken critic of Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide, gave a
lecture titled `The Armenian Genocide as Part of a Demographic Policy’
in the Aztag Daily newspaper’s `Punik’ auditorium.
Akcam speaking at Aztag’s "Punik" auditorium
The event was attended by deputies of the Lebanese Parliament Nebil
Nikola, Edgar Maalouf, Alen Aoun, Gassan Mukhayber, Nedim Jemayel,
Farid, Khazen, and Hagop Pakraduni, Lebanon’s ARF Central Committee
member Hovig Mkhitarian, as well as academics, professors, community
leaders, students, and the general public.
The opening remarks were made by Vera Yakoubian, the ANC Middle East’s
executive director, who noted that within the past few years, in the
public, academic, and diplomatic spheres, Armenian-Turkish dialogue
has become a central topic – not only for Armenians and Turks, but also
for regional and international actors. Yakoubian added that despite
the numerous documents signed between Armenia and Turkey, serious
agreements cannot be reached as long as Turkey refuses to face its
history, and does not take steps to neutralize the effects of the
genocide.
Yakoubian introduced Akcam, noting that he is the author of 11 books
and hundreds of articles that deal with the Ottoman Empire’s crimes,
Turkey’s nationalistic politics, and the Armenian Genocide.
A scene from the audience at "Punik" auditorium
Turkey’s demographic policy was not solely directed at its Armenian
population, began Akcam, since alongside the Armenians were other
Christian peoples, non-Turkic Muslims, and Kurds, stalling Turkish
plans. He noted that the demographic policy’s main goal was to create
a homogeneous Turkish society, prompting the ruling party to apply
various policies, examples of which are the displacements and
deportations. Within one week, the homes of the deportees were
repopulated by Muslims, while Armenian-owned lands and properties were
either nationalized or sold (to create a wealthy class), and the
financial resources were used to sponsor the war effort. These
policies were not reactions to the war. They were carefully drafted
plans, clearly mapped out, and with a pan-Islamic focus. The rulers of
the Ottoman Empire were careful not to directly involve themselves in
these policies; that way, masking the truth or blaming others would be
an easier task. Their archives tell a different story, however.
Akcam concluded by expressing the need for Armenian-Turkish dialogue,
and added that the case would not be solved through financial
reparations alone. If reparations were given, he said, and Turkey
continued to ignore the rights of its minorities, then essentially
nothing will have changed. He spoke of the importance of justice and
equality, maintaining that the murder of Hrant Dink was a failure for
those he planned it, because his death marked the beginning of change,
a struggle for minority rights and justice.
Lecture at the Catholicosate
Earlier that week, on Jan. 4 at the Catholicosate in Antelias, Akcam
delivered his first lecture to the Lebanese Armenian community. Among
those present were the Catholicos of Cilicia Aram I, religious and
community leaders, parliamentarians, deputies, Lebanese and Armenian
intellectuals, and activists.
Catholicos Aram I and Akcam
Akcam’s lecture, titled `The Turkish Recognition of the Armenian
Genocide and Turkish National Security,’ covered four main points.
First, he explained that for Turkey, the issue of genocide recognition
is in fact a matter of national security. Second, he recalled the
words of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, who
referred to the events of 1915 as `this shameful act.’ (Akcam
interpreted those words as Kemal’s `confession,’ which had been an
opportunity for the Turkish government to take a step towards
recognizing the genocide. Unfortunately, the Turkish government has so
far been incapable of taking such a step; instead, they have taken
steps backward.) Third, he pointed out that there are two ruling
powers in Turkey, the army and the ruling elite. (For the Armenian
Genocide to be properly recognized, the democratic elements in Turkey
must be supported, he said.) Finally, Akcam noted that Turkey joining
the European Union would in effect benefit the issue of genocide
recognition, since members of the EU may pressure Turkey to accept its
past. In conclusion, he restated that Turkey must recognize the
Armenian Genocide and that any denial efforts hurt Turkey.
The closing remarks were made by Catholicos Aram I, who began by
asking whether it was fathomable that there would come a day when the
Armenian Catholicos, bearing the burden of the legacy of 1.5 million
martyrs, would utter the closing remarks of a lecture by a Turkish
intellectual, in that same holy Catholicosate where the bones of
innocent victims lie in the world’s first memorial-chapel. The
Catholicos, in this strange turn of events, saw a man (Taner Akcam)
who was able to reject his government’s official stance, and through
his writings, stand by the truth.