Daily Sabah, Turkey
April 18 2015
The statement of condolences and potential reconciliation
KILIÇ BUÄ?RA KANAT @KilicKanat
Almost a year ago, in April 2014, an important breakthrough took place
in the case of disputes over historical narratives between Turkey and
Armenia. For the first time in the Republic of Turkey’s history, then
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an released a statement of condolence
in regards to the events that took place in 1915. The statement was
paving the way for a paradigm change in Turkish-Armenian relations.
The spirit of this letter is still alive and the potential for
reconciliation, despite all the odds, still does exist. However time
is of the essence. Before it is too late, the two nations need to
rescue their relationship and turn history into an element that unites
them instead of one that divides.
In a week that will be occupied by the debates on historical
narratives, collective memories and relations between Turkey and
Armenia, it is important to remember this statement and its potential
to reconcile the differences and disputes between the two countries.
The statement that was released by the Prime Minister’s office in
April 2014, stressed important steps needed for the reparation of
ties. It represented a paradigm shift in three ways. First of all, the
statement highlighted the shared pain that Turks, Armenians as well as
millions of other citizens experienced in the First World War. This
was a new perspective from which to approach the incidents that took
place at this fateful turning point of history, and provided a common
ground for Turks and Armenians to rebuild their relations. In this
statement, ErdoÄ?an said, “Any conscientious, fair and humanistic
approach to these issues requires an understanding of all the
sufferings endured in this period, without discriminating as to
religion or ethnicity. Certainly, neither constructing hierarchies of
pain nor comparing and contrasting suffering carries any meaning for
those who experienced this pain themselves…. It is a duty of
humanity to acknowledge that Armenians remember the suffering
experienced in that period, just like every other citizen of the
Ottoman Empire.”
A second important dimension of the letter was breaking the taboo of
the Turkish politicians to avoid talking about these incidents.
Instead, ErdoÄ?an encouraged historians and researchers to debate and
discuss these issues pertaining to the events of 1915 in a pluralistic
and open manner. He mentioned this argument by saying that “In Turkey,
expressing different opinions and thoughts freely on the events of
1915 is the requirement of a pluralistic society, as well as of a
culture of democracy and modernity. Some may perceive this climate of
freedom in Turkey as an opportunity to express accusatory, offensive
and even provocative assertions and allegations. Even so, if this will
enable us to better understand historical issues with their legal
aspects and to transform resentment into friendship again, it is
natural to approach different discourses with empathy and tolerance
and expect a similar attitude from all sides.”
Finally then, Prime Minister ErdoÄ?an took a dramatic step forward
regarding the events and extended his condolences to the grandchildren
of the Armenians who lost their lives in 1915 events. ErdoÄ?an also
warned that both Armenians and Turks need to be careful about those
who try to use these historical events to incite hostility and those
groups who attempt to turn the issue into a political conflict.
Those who know the history of the contestation of the narratives on
the 1915 events considered this statement as a potential facilitator
of reconciliation between the two nations. For the last few years, the
government has been taking significant steps in order to repair its
ties with non-Muslim communities living in Turkey. For example, as
part of a major reform process, in 2011 the Turkish government amended
the Law on Foundations and expanded the property rights of these
foundations around Turkey. The reform included the return of the
properties of non-Muslim communities, including Armenian foundations
and churches. Among those foundations whose properties were returned
included the Yedikule Surp Pirgic Hospital Foundation and the
Diyarbakir Surp Giragos Armenian Church Foundation. Even before this
reform took place, the government had already ordered the restoration
and renovation of historical structures with religious importance.
Akdamar Armenian Church was probably one of the most significant of
these structures. In addition, there were significant renovation and
restoration projects carried out throughout Turkey: the Armenian Supr
Giragos Church in Diyarbakir was restored and opened for religious
services, the Surp Vortvots Vorotman Church was restored, and several
building in the Armenian Cemetery in Malatya were rebuilt during this
process. These developments were also acknowledged by the USCIRF in
its reports.
The return of properties and rights were not the only developments. In
the last few years, with the increasing democratization and opening up
of society, there appeared a larger space for the discussions of the
1915 events in Turkey. The words, concepts and discussions that were
considered taboo previously, began to be discussed and debated freely
in Turkey. Universities started to organize conferences bringing
together researchers, intellectuals and historians from different
ideological viewpoints. Various books were published about the 1915
events. Together with these discussions, an optimism about a possible
solution to this problem also emerged rapidly in the country. As a
result, when the above-mentioned statement was released, people from
different walks of life acknowledged that two nations that had lived
side by side for hundreds of years needed to mend their ties by
remembering each other’s tragedies together.
These steps can seem insignificant to some, but for those who
understand the nature of the dispute, each and every one of these
steps was revolutionary. However, the call of the Turkish government
was not responded to positively on the Armenian side. This has the
potential to generate a serious problem for finding a resolution to
the conflict, since the failure of this process will make it extremely
difficult for Turkish policymakers in the future to take such
initiatives. Although the letter has not been responded to positively
yet, the doors for reconciliation are not totally closed. Both
countries that have lived side by side for hundreds of years need to
realize that it is in their best interests to revive their relations
and to form neighborly ties with each other. The last one hundred
years of confrontation, dispute and struggle, especially in Western
capitals, did not bring any good to these two nations. In such a
volatile region of the world, both nations need the support,
friendship, and open doors of their neighbors. Brave policymakers who
are able to persuade the hardliners to benefit from reconciliation,
and who can challenge those that resist this process by building an
active and attentive civil society, can protect and develop a
reconciliation. If the international community genuinely cares about
the region and the people, they can play a role by contributing to
this process of reconciliation and facilitating dialogue and
conversation between Turkey and Armenia.