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Zoryan Open Letter re the Protocols to Pres. Sargsyan

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  • Zoryan Open Letter re the Protocols to Pres. Sargsyan

    ZORYAN INSTITUTE OF CANADA, INC.
    255 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite 310
    Toronto, ON, Canada M3B 3H9
    Tel: 416-250-9807 Fax: 416-512-1736 E-mail: [email protected]
    www.zoryaninstitute.org


    September 30, 2009

    President Serge Sargsyan
    Republic of Armenia
    26 Marshal Baghramian Avenue
    Yerevan
    Republic of Armenia, 0077
    E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

    Dear President Sargsyan:

    The Protocols for establishing diplomatic relations between Armenia and
    Turkey, although intended to help normalize relations between the two
    countries, raise serious questions about the process, and contain pitfalls,
    which I have set out below for your kind consideration.

    My interest in the Protocols arises from being a scholar of genocide studies
    for most of my career, a founder of the International Association of
    Genocide Scholars, Chairman of the Academic Board of Directors of the Zoryan
    Institute, and a recipient of the Movses Khorenatsi Medal last year, awarded
    by you, Mr. President, for my "considerable contribution to the
    international recognition of the Armenian Genocide."

    I and other scholars, who have no personal, ethnic or political motive for
    affirming the Armenian Genocide, feel we must point out one significant
    aspect of the Protocols, the clauses that call for

    a dialogue on the historical dimension with the aim to restore mutual
    confidence between the two nations, including an impartial scientific
    examination of the historical records and archives to define existing
    problems and formulate recommendations

    and

    the establishment of an intergovernmental bilateral commission which shall
    comprise sub-commissions for the prompt implementation of the commitments
    mentioned in operations paragraph 2 above in this Protocol.

    Does "the historical dimension" article refer to the Armenian Genocide, and
    does the "intergovernmental bilateral commission" article refer to a
    historical commission? If not, then how can Armenia hope to have normal
    relations with Turkey while ignoring a major cause of the tension between
    the two countries? If so, then they are a source of grave concern, because
    there is a broad scholarly consensus that genocide unquestionably occurred
    in the case of the Armenians.

    You are well aware, Mr. President, that numerous distinguished historians,
    political scientists, sociologists, legal scholars, and authoritative
    institutions around the world have investigated the Genocide many times
    over, issued academic publications, and even made public declarations. These
    scholars have devoted their professional lives to conducting scientific
    research with the highest levels of academic integrity. As a result of their
    work, scholars have identified the Armenian Genocide as the archetypal case
    of modern genocide, whose pattern has many similarities with subsequent
    cases. Therefore, any commission that purports now to conduct "an impartial
    scientific examination of the historical records and archives" in effect
    dismisses all of the extensive research that has already been conducted for
    decades and implies that none of it was impartial or scientific. This is
    offensive to all genocide scholars, but particularly non-Armenian scholars,
    who feel their work is now being truly politicized.

    I am sure you can appreciate that they have no confidence that a politically
    organized commission would not compromise historical truth, especially
    considering the imbalanced power relations between Armenia and Turkey. This
    assessment is particularly exacerbated when one considers the following:

    1. The national archives of France, Great Britain, and the United States, as
    well as Turkey and its wartime allies Germany and Austria, to name only a
    few, are full of incontestable documentation of the genocidal intent and
    nature of the annihilation of the Armenians.
    2. The historical records of the official investigation by a Turkish
    military Tribunal in post-war Turkey, recently published, based on
    authenticated, official Turkish documents, found irrefutable evidence of
    centrally organized mass murder against the bulk of the Ottoman Empire's own
    Armenian citizens. The prosecutors were Turks, the judges were Turks, and
    most of the witnesses were Turks, including high ranking military officers.
    3. The International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), reviewing the
    Armenian case for the Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission (TARC),
    concluded that "the Events, viewed collectively, can thus be said to include
    all of the elements of the crime of genocide as defined in the Convention,
    and legal scholars as well as historians, politicians, journalists and other
    people would be justified in continuing to so describe them."
    4. Prime Minister Erdogan has stated repeatedly that Turkey would never
    accept there was an Armenian Genocide, and even if a historical commission
    found that the Armenian case is genocide, it is argued, Turkey would just
    ignore the decision, as it did the report of the ICTJ, which led to the
    resignation of all the Turkish members of TARC.

    But most importantly, Mr. President, the scholars are concerned that a
    historical commission would embolden those who would consider perpetrating
    genocide in future years by showing how easily genocide can be relativized,
    especially by the powerful.

    In 2001, the Zoryan Institute issued a rare public commentary about
    Turkish-Armenian relations, in which it stated

    Normally, dialogue is the first step towards the possible resolution of any
    conflict, and therefore reconciliation. The participants in a dialogue
    generally need to define the key issues which divide the parties and
    establish a process by which the dialogue will be conducted. There must be a
    sincere desire for mutual understanding and willingness to accept the
    factual issues in contention, even if emotionally highly charged..

    Turkey does not have the capacity to enter into a process of dialogue to
    define the key issue of the Genocide. Even if genocide were to be affirmed
    by "an impartial scientific examination of the historical records and
    archives," Turkey would not be able to accept this, as it is currently bound
    by a strict penal code that makes it illegal for anyone from Turkey to even
    mention the Armenian Genocide. Therefore, was the negotiation of the
    protocols, so long in the making, done all this time in bad faith?

    If not, then perhaps what is required is a modification of the wording in
    the Protocol referring to the "historical dimension," or a modification of
    the Turkish penal code, which currently criminalizes discussion of this
    subject, to make the Protocols viable.

    If such modifications are not possible due to diplomatic pressures at this
    time, then perhaps it would be prudent to stage the process so that
    discussion of the "historical dimension" is deferred. This would allow the
    people of both countries, but especially Turkey, the opportunity to
    demonstrate "a sincere desire for mutual understanding and willingness to
    accept the factual issues in contention, even if emotionally highly
    charged." In the meantime, Turkey and Armenia could proceed with the
    establishment of a diplomatic exchange, which, in itself, would be a major
    step towards reconciliation.

    Yours respectfully,

    [signed]

    Roger W. Smith, Chair, Academic Board of Directors
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