THE ARMENIAN DIASPORA’S DILEMMA: GO TO TURKEY OR ARMENIA?

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
April 2 2015

by BARCIN YÄ°NANC

“The Stanford Global Studies Division, in conjunction with the Handa
Center for Human Rights, the Center for Russian, East European,
and Eurasian Studies (CREEES), and the Abbasi Program in Islamic
Studies, has agreed to sponsor three Stanford University students
to participate in the Armenian Genocide centennial commemoration in
Istanbul, Project 2015 said today,” read the statement dated March 3.

The statement was published on the website of
When you go to the website it has a
logo for Project 2015 Istanbul and the title is Armenian Genocide
Centennial Commemoration.

Let’s continue to read:

“We are delighted that Stanford University will support the efforts of
Project 2015 to support a global commemoration of the Armenian Genocide
in Istanbul this April,” said Seepan Parseghian, Project 2015 board
member. “We look forward to having Stanford students take advantage of
this great opportunity to join the historic commemoration activities.”

“Being able to discuss issues such as the Armenian Genocide with
scholars from Armenia and Turkey is of profound importance for our
students’ intellectual growth,” said Norman Naimark, Fisher Family
Director of Stanford Global Studies. “This fits into the mission of
Stanford Global Studies of providing unique opportunities for students
to explore complex issues from multiple perspectives.”

Project 2015, a U.S.-based organization, is working to ensure that
a large contingent of Armenians come to Turkey for the historic
centennial commemoration. Working with “DurDe,” its partner
organization in Turkey, Project 2015 ensures a meaningful opportunity
to honor the victims of the genocide and recognize the resilience
of the survivors. Project 2015 also makes a limited number of study
grants, of a minimum $750, available to students wishing to travel
to Turkey for the commemoration events.

A decade ago, an initiative to ensure that a large contingent of
Armenians come to Turkey to commemorate what they believe amounted
to genocide would have made the headlines all over the media. The
headline would have been about the efforts of the Turkish government
to stop such an initiative.

After a small inquiry, I found out that the government today had no
problem with the Armenian diaspora coming for the historic centennial
commemoration. Obviously, those who will be coming just to make the
point of shouting to the world “this was genocide” on Turkish soil
will not be highly thought of by many. But it seems to me that any
initiative encouraging Armenian diaspora members to visit their
homeland is welcomed by the government.

It must be quiet a difficult choice for the Armenian diaspora: To go
to Turkey or to go to Armenia?

In fact, I am hearing that a special plane may take off from Armenia
to Turkey on the day of the commemorations, for those trying to make
it to the ceremonies in both countries.

My understanding is that Ankara is highly concerned and uneasy about
the rhetoric used in Armenia and efforts by some in the Armenian
diaspora to turn the commemorations into “Turkey-bashing.”

Despite this unease, the government seems to have decided to keep a
low profile and to maintain moderate rhetoric in its counter campaign
against what it perceives to be initiatives pushing the limits of
Turkey-bashing. It is therefore trying to facilitate initiatives such
as visits by members of the Armenian diaspora.

In fact, I would not be surprised if the government surpasses its
move last year on April 23, when the Prime Ministry issued an official
statement remembering Armenian sufferings and offering condolences.

April/02/2015