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TURKEY'S APOLOGY TO ARMENIANS ONLY A FIRST STEP
The Japan Times, Japan
April 30 2014
by Cesar Chelala
On April 23, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered his
condolences to the descendants of the Armenians who were killed by
Ottoman troops during World War I -- in what many consider to be the
first genocide of the 20th century. Although it is an historic apology,
Erdogan's statement is only a first step that should be followed by
other measures to restore ties with the Armenian government.
Stating that "The incidents of the First World War are our shared
pain," Erdogan said. "It is our hope and belief that the peoples of an
ancient and unique geography, who share similar customs and manners
will be able to talk to each other about the past with maturity and
to remember together their losses in a decent manner. ... And it is
with this hope and belief that we wish that the Armenians who lost
their lives in the context of the early 20th century rest in peace,
and we convey our condolences to their grandchildren."
Turkey still categorically rejects the term genocide and claims that
only 500,000 Armenians died of fighting and starvation in 1915. In
2013, during a trip to Yerevan, the Armenian capital, Turkey's foreign
minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, called the events of 1915-1916 a "mistake"
and an "inhuman act."
However, Armenians want Turkey to recognize the killing of 1.5 million
people as genocide.
Armenians' claims received an unexpected support from German Chancellor
Angela Merkel. During an official visit by Erdogan to Germany in
February, Erdogan asked Merkel and her ruling Christian Democratic
Union party to be cautious in addressing the upcoming centennial of
the 1915 events.
Undaunted by Erdogan's request Merkel publicly scolded Erdogan: "Turkey
must come to terms with its history. We cannot compare the Armenians
living in Armenia with the Armenians who were forcibly dispersed around
the world." Erdogan replied, "You are asking us to accept something
that we have not done," adding that the entire Turkish archives are
open to the world, an assertion that is not universally accepted.
Also at stake is the opening of Turkey's border with Armenia. Although
Turkey recognized Armenia's independence from the former Soviet Union
in 1991, it closed its land border with Armenia in 1993. Turkey has
refused to establish diplomatic ties because of Armenia's occupation
of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and part of Azerbaijan during a war
in the early 1990s.
Turkey's government claims that it had overcome a "psychological
threshold" during the visit to Armenia by Turkey's foreign minister,
Ahmet Davutoglu. He attended a meeting in Armenia of the Organization
of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, where he underlined the
importance of improving relations between the two countries.
During a visit to Armenia I was able to see that many of these
psychological scars persist, particularly among the older Armenian
generation. Talking to an Armenian businessman who conducts frequent
trade with Turkey, he told me, "Every time I look at Mount Ararat I
feel like crying."
Mount Ararat is the national symbol of the Republic of Armenia,
which was lost to Turkey in 1915.
My talks with several Armenians of different ages allowed me to
conclude that there is a generational divide on how to approach
relations with Turkey. The older generation insists that the Turkish
government should apologize for the 1915 massacres of Armenians and
accept their responsibility in the genocide carried out.
The younger generation, on the other hand, without rejecting historical
facts, believe that they should overcome the negative effects of
those memories and move forward to peaceful coexistence between
both countries.
Erdogan has taken an important first step. It should be complemented
by accepting Turkey's historical responsibility in the Armenian
genocide and by the creation of a commission of both Turkish and
Armenian historians under the auspices of the United Nations and with
representatives from the International Court of Justice at The Hague.
The task of such commission would be to analyze historical documents
that can shed light on past events and enable commission members to
reach consensus on their significance. It is only by finding out the
truth and creating bridges of understanding that we change a paradigm
of war for one of peace and progress between both countries.
Cesar Chelala, M.D. and Ph.D., frequently writes on human rights and
foreign policy issues. He is a winner of the Overseas Press Club of
America Award.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2014/04/29/commentary/world-commentary/turkeys-apology-to-armenians-only-a-first-step/#.U2FiV8aKDIU
The Japan Times, Japan
April 30 2014
by Cesar Chelala
On April 23, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered his
condolences to the descendants of the Armenians who were killed by
Ottoman troops during World War I -- in what many consider to be the
first genocide of the 20th century. Although it is an historic apology,
Erdogan's statement is only a first step that should be followed by
other measures to restore ties with the Armenian government.
Stating that "The incidents of the First World War are our shared
pain," Erdogan said. "It is our hope and belief that the peoples of an
ancient and unique geography, who share similar customs and manners
will be able to talk to each other about the past with maturity and
to remember together their losses in a decent manner. ... And it is
with this hope and belief that we wish that the Armenians who lost
their lives in the context of the early 20th century rest in peace,
and we convey our condolences to their grandchildren."
Turkey still categorically rejects the term genocide and claims that
only 500,000 Armenians died of fighting and starvation in 1915. In
2013, during a trip to Yerevan, the Armenian capital, Turkey's foreign
minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, called the events of 1915-1916 a "mistake"
and an "inhuman act."
However, Armenians want Turkey to recognize the killing of 1.5 million
people as genocide.
Armenians' claims received an unexpected support from German Chancellor
Angela Merkel. During an official visit by Erdogan to Germany in
February, Erdogan asked Merkel and her ruling Christian Democratic
Union party to be cautious in addressing the upcoming centennial of
the 1915 events.
Undaunted by Erdogan's request Merkel publicly scolded Erdogan: "Turkey
must come to terms with its history. We cannot compare the Armenians
living in Armenia with the Armenians who were forcibly dispersed around
the world." Erdogan replied, "You are asking us to accept something
that we have not done," adding that the entire Turkish archives are
open to the world, an assertion that is not universally accepted.
Also at stake is the opening of Turkey's border with Armenia. Although
Turkey recognized Armenia's independence from the former Soviet Union
in 1991, it closed its land border with Armenia in 1993. Turkey has
refused to establish diplomatic ties because of Armenia's occupation
of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and part of Azerbaijan during a war
in the early 1990s.
Turkey's government claims that it had overcome a "psychological
threshold" during the visit to Armenia by Turkey's foreign minister,
Ahmet Davutoglu. He attended a meeting in Armenia of the Organization
of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, where he underlined the
importance of improving relations between the two countries.
During a visit to Armenia I was able to see that many of these
psychological scars persist, particularly among the older Armenian
generation. Talking to an Armenian businessman who conducts frequent
trade with Turkey, he told me, "Every time I look at Mount Ararat I
feel like crying."
Mount Ararat is the national symbol of the Republic of Armenia,
which was lost to Turkey in 1915.
My talks with several Armenians of different ages allowed me to
conclude that there is a generational divide on how to approach
relations with Turkey. The older generation insists that the Turkish
government should apologize for the 1915 massacres of Armenians and
accept their responsibility in the genocide carried out.
The younger generation, on the other hand, without rejecting historical
facts, believe that they should overcome the negative effects of
those memories and move forward to peaceful coexistence between
both countries.
Erdogan has taken an important first step. It should be complemented
by accepting Turkey's historical responsibility in the Armenian
genocide and by the creation of a commission of both Turkish and
Armenian historians under the auspices of the United Nations and with
representatives from the International Court of Justice at The Hague.
The task of such commission would be to analyze historical documents
that can shed light on past events and enable commission members to
reach consensus on their significance. It is only by finding out the
truth and creating bridges of understanding that we change a paradigm
of war for one of peace and progress between both countries.
Cesar Chelala, M.D. and Ph.D., frequently writes on human rights and
foreign policy issues. He is a winner of the Overseas Press Club of
America Award.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2014/04/29/commentary/world-commentary/turkeys-apology-to-armenians-only-a-first-step/#.U2FiV8aKDIU