TURKEY UNWILLING TO DISCUSS ITS CRIMES, CE COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

news.am
March 23 2010
Armenia

Historical controversies should not hold human rights
hostage. One-sided interpretations or distortions of historical events
have sometimes led to discrimination of minorities, xenophobia and
renewal of conflict. It is crucial to establish an honest search for
the truth" said Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe Commissioner
for Human Rights, in his latest Viewpoint published on March 22.

Atrocities in the past must be recognized, documented and learned
from — but not distorted or misused for political purposes.

Gross human rights violations in the past continue to affect relations
in today’s Europe. In some cases the right lessons have been learned;
genuine knowledge of history has facilitated understanding, tolerance
and trust between individuals and peoples. However, some serious
atrocities are denied or trivialised, which has created new tensions.

There are also cases where violations in the past have been exploited
in chauvinistic propaganda, causing division and hatred. Bogus
interpretations of history have in fact been used to justify
discrimination, racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia.

"Coming to terms with history is always essential, but particularly
crucial in cases of massive atrocities and human rights violations.

Such crimes cannot be ignored without severe consequences. Prolonged
impunity or lack of acknowledgment over several generations tends
to create bitterness among those who identify themselves with the
victims. This, in turn, can poison relations between people who
were not even born when the events in question took place," said
the Commissioner.

He also states that "even more controversial has been — and is —
the very description of the enforced mass displacement, the ensuing
deaths as well as the outright killings of ethnic Armenians in 1915
under the Ottoman Empire. Even though this happened before the creation
of the new Turkish republic, there has been unwillingness there to
discuss these crimes. Writers and journalists who raised the issue
were brought to trial. Now, the first steps towards recognizing the
facts have at long last been taken — through academic discussions —
but more needs to be done."

What is important is an honest search for the truth and a sober,
facts-based discussion about the different versions. Only then can
the right lessons be learned, said Hammarberg.