EASTERN PROVINCES ON A MAP OF TURKEY MARKED AS HISTORIC ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Jan 28, 2010

WASHINGTON, JANUARY 28, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. During a seminar
recenly held at the George Washington University, a map of Turkey,
on which the Eastern provinces were marked as Historic Armenia,
was used, Marmara reported, citing Milliyet.

The George Washington University Law School hosted the seminar entitled
"The Armenia-Turkey Protocols: Reality and Myths". Maps with the
Eastern provinces marked "Historic Armenia" were distributed to the
speakers. An official from the Turkish embassy in Washigton made
a protest in this connection, saying that the map contradicted the
seminar’s subject. The Turkish official also complained that no Turkish
representative had been invited to the seminar in order to express
the viewpoint of Turkey. In his words, during the seminar the 1915
events were presented from the Armenian point of view. He presented
the Turkish viewpoint, reminding that Turkey had proposed establisihing
a commission of historians, but Armenia rejected that proposal.

One of the seminar organizers – Professor Sean Murphy said he had
taken the map from Google. True, the Eastern provinces were shown as
Historic Armenia on the map, but the map was used to demonstrate why
Turkey is concerned about the border issue. "I wish we had not used
this map, but my purpose was to draw the speakers’ attention to this
issue and encourage them to speak about it. I apologize for causing
confusion," Prof. Murphy said, adding that the seminar is open to
all those wishing to make a report. Some territories of Azerbaijan,
Georgia, and Iran were shown as Historic Armenia on the map.

Among the speakers was Prof. Catherine Kessedjian of the Pantheon-Assas
Univeristy, Paris. She said: "The history will show whether the
Armenia-Turkey protocols were a shame, or a source of hope". In her
opinion, a committee of arbiters can be created to help with solition
of the existing problems between the two countries.