STATE-SUPPORTED ARMENIAN ENCYCLOPEDIA COMPLETED
Today’s Zaman
March 4 2010
Turkey
Work has been completed on a three-volume Armenian encyclopedia in
English, exploring Armenian history, culture and politics, with the
support of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey
(TUBÄ°TAK).
The encyclopedia, which has yet to be published, was a result of a
project led by Abant Ä°zzet Baysal University Associate Professor Kamer
Kasım, who is also an expert on the Caucasus at the International
Strategic Research Organization (USAK), and the president of USAK,
Associate Professor Sedat Laciner.
Kasım and Laciner discussed the project with TUBİTAK in 2006. With
its recent increase in interest in social sciences, TUBÄ°TAK responded
positively to the project. The two academics recently completed their
four-year study, and a three-volume encyclopedia now stands ready to
be published.
Stating that there are dozens of works in Turkey on the topic of
Armenians, Kasım explained that they prepared the encyclopedia in
English because few sources produced in Turkey are in a language other
than Turkish. He also said the encyclopedia’s content is arranged
alphabetically, with articles on many subjects ranging from history to
cuisine and from music to politics. The work also explains in detail
the incidents of 1915, during which many Armenians died while being
forcibly deported. Kasım also said they worked to dispel stereotypes
and false beliefs held about Armenians.
TUBÄ°TAK previously supported another social sciences project involving
Turkish-Armenian relations. Titled "Ninelerimizin KomÅ~_uları"
(Neighbors of our Grandmothers), the book, written by Zekeriya
BaÅ~_kal, focuses on the peaceful aspects of Turkish-Armenian relations
and was published recently.