TURKISH-ARMENIAN ACADEMIC CRITICIZES TURKEY’S POLICY OF DENIAL
Tert.am
12.04.10
Thorny relations between Turkey and Armenia and the Armenian Genocide
in 1915 were the subject of a tense live TV debate last week between
two controversial figures.
"I attended the program not because I am Armenian, but because I am a
citizen of Turkey," said Turkish-Armenian academic Sevan NiÅ~_anyan,
who appeared on a Haberturk television program along with Yusuf
Halacoglu, the ex-president of the Turkish Historical Society.
"I work and produce for this country," NiÅ~_anyan told the Hurriyet
Daily News & Economic Review in an interview. "All that affects this
country’s destiny is my concern, not only the Armenian issue."
During the program, Halacoglu said he used archival documents as
the basis for his case that the events of 1915 in no way constituted
genocide – an argument that NiÅ~_anyan dismissed as "official Turkish
history."
NiÅ~_anyan confirmed that he received threatening messages after the
program, but dismissed them, saying he does not really care about
such threats. Asked about whether he might face the same risk as
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, who was assassinated Feb. 19,
2007, he said: "I do not believe that a spontaneous murder could be
committed in this country; it is not the right milieu for that.
Threats are a part of my life and I know very well where they come
from."
The academic said he was initially hesitant about being on the program,
but then decided to participate after all. "[If it were not Halacoglu
on that program] it would have been Yalcın Kucuk. I had to pick the
best of the worst," he said. "I attended because it was time that
somebody stood up against the lies. I defended historical facts that
are well-known by the whole world."
Despite the tension between the two countries, NiÅ~_anyan said he
believes the problems could be overcome if the Turkish and Armenian
peoples establish a dialogue, adding that even the Turkish public
itself is now questioning the events of 1915. "Turkish society is a
conscientious society. The problem is Ankara," he said.