"ALLEGATIONS FOR THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE WEAKEN TURKEY"
By H. Chaqrian
AZG Armenian Daily
29/11/2007
Confesses a Retired Turkish Ambassador
Alongside the worldwide process of the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, the positions of the Turkish negationism are being
shattered. With the ideology of negation depleted and the resources
of counter-measures wasted, the Turkish authorities have realized
that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is unavoidable, and
this notion have brought them to the edge of desperation.
In sense of confessing the ineffectiveness of Turkey's counter-measures
against the adoption of resolutions on the Armenian Genocide, the
recent round table discussion, organized on November 22, Ankara,
was rather remarkable.
The discussion was organized at the initiative of "Baskent"
University's Strategic Center.
Ex-Ambassador, opposition MP Sukru Elekdal, head of the Armenian
Studies Institute Omer Engi and professor of Armenian studies of
the Turkish Science Society Kemal Cicek were the main figures of
the discussion.
The round-table discussion was opened by the head of "Bashkent"
University Strategic Center, prof. Selcuk Uslu. In his speech he
noted that the discussion is rather about Turkey's policy on the
Armenian Genocide recognition, than the events of 1915 themselves. "it
seems like Turkey has not worked out a consistent policy against the
allegations of the 'Genocide' of the Armenians," he said.
Rector of "Baskent" University Mehmed Haberal pointed out the necessity
of historical verification of the 1915 events, and prof. Unsal Yavuz
stated that Turkey's publications on 1915 are insufficient to influence
the international social opinion.
Professor Cicek said that the Armenian lobby in the world is
influential enough and explained that fact rather by foreign
assistance, than by the authority of the Republic of Armenia. He
reminded that Armenians do not want Turkey to merely ask for pardon,
but they seek compensation and have territorial claims.
Ex-Ambassador Lutem referred to Turkey's past mistakes in policy on
the Armenian Question. He said that those mistakes were unconscious,
as Armenian claims about the Genocide occurred only in 1950's, to
which Turkey paid no serious attention and responded only in the
1980's. He also underlined that the Armenian Question became subject
of serious international discussion only after the period of ASALA
terror was over.
He suggested twofold model of struggle against Genocide recognition. In
foreign policy Turkey must implement political and economical sanctions
against the states which recognize the Genocide, and in the sphere
of historical science Turkey must thoroughly criticize the works of
a number of Armenian historians, so as to be able to deny the claims
of the Armenians.
In the end of his speech Lutem warned, "Do not think that those
measures will prove productive in and instant. We have faced this
stalemate as a result of a long-term process, and it shall take years
to neutralize its consequences".
Another Ex-Ambassador Elekfag stressed, "The allegations of the
Armenian Genocide, carried through long 92 years, are weakening
Turkey both economically and politically". To his opinion, the
Armenian propaganda unleashed an information war, which Turkey has
almost lost. Due to this circumstance Armenia has obtained certain
political positions, which Turkey cannot match or counter-balance.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
By H. Chaqrian
AZG Armenian Daily
29/11/2007
Confesses a Retired Turkish Ambassador
Alongside the worldwide process of the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, the positions of the Turkish negationism are being
shattered. With the ideology of negation depleted and the resources
of counter-measures wasted, the Turkish authorities have realized
that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is unavoidable, and
this notion have brought them to the edge of desperation.
In sense of confessing the ineffectiveness of Turkey's counter-measures
against the adoption of resolutions on the Armenian Genocide, the
recent round table discussion, organized on November 22, Ankara,
was rather remarkable.
The discussion was organized at the initiative of "Baskent"
University's Strategic Center.
Ex-Ambassador, opposition MP Sukru Elekdal, head of the Armenian
Studies Institute Omer Engi and professor of Armenian studies of
the Turkish Science Society Kemal Cicek were the main figures of
the discussion.
The round-table discussion was opened by the head of "Bashkent"
University Strategic Center, prof. Selcuk Uslu. In his speech he
noted that the discussion is rather about Turkey's policy on the
Armenian Genocide recognition, than the events of 1915 themselves. "it
seems like Turkey has not worked out a consistent policy against the
allegations of the 'Genocide' of the Armenians," he said.
Rector of "Baskent" University Mehmed Haberal pointed out the necessity
of historical verification of the 1915 events, and prof. Unsal Yavuz
stated that Turkey's publications on 1915 are insufficient to influence
the international social opinion.
Professor Cicek said that the Armenian lobby in the world is
influential enough and explained that fact rather by foreign
assistance, than by the authority of the Republic of Armenia. He
reminded that Armenians do not want Turkey to merely ask for pardon,
but they seek compensation and have territorial claims.
Ex-Ambassador Lutem referred to Turkey's past mistakes in policy on
the Armenian Question. He said that those mistakes were unconscious,
as Armenian claims about the Genocide occurred only in 1950's, to
which Turkey paid no serious attention and responded only in the
1980's. He also underlined that the Armenian Question became subject
of serious international discussion only after the period of ASALA
terror was over.
He suggested twofold model of struggle against Genocide recognition. In
foreign policy Turkey must implement political and economical sanctions
against the states which recognize the Genocide, and in the sphere
of historical science Turkey must thoroughly criticize the works of
a number of Armenian historians, so as to be able to deny the claims
of the Armenians.
In the end of his speech Lutem warned, "Do not think that those
measures will prove productive in and instant. We have faced this
stalemate as a result of a long-term process, and it shall take years
to neutralize its consequences".
Another Ex-Ambassador Elekfag stressed, "The allegations of the
Armenian Genocide, carried through long 92 years, are weakening
Turkey both economically and politically". To his opinion, the
Armenian propaganda unleashed an information war, which Turkey has
almost lost. Due to this circumstance Armenia has obtained certain
political positions, which Turkey cannot match or counter-balance.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
