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TURKISH AUTHORITIES PERSECUTE TURKS RECOGNIZING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: TURKISH PROFESSOR
arminfo
Wednesday, June 20, 20:25
Since 1960 I have been trying in vain to understand the policy of the
Turkish Government, Murat Belge, writer, professor of Bilgi University,
said on Wednesday during a discussion on Turkey organized by Civilitas
Foundation.
He said that in Turkey there are people who oppose the Kemalist
ideology as nationalist and are persecuted for that by their
government.
Belge believes that Turkey's denial of the Armenian Genocide
is forcing France, Germany and the United States to take some
countermeasures. He said that Turkey cannot recognize the genocide
for personal purposes. He noted that it is easy to apologize, but
it is hard to forgive. Even if the governments reach some agreement,
the relations between the peoples will still remain problematic.
Belge said that some 10 years ago few of his students were aware of the
events of 1915 as the authorities sponsored universities so they wrote
books denying the events. Today, they don't do such things, but they
are still happy when some researcher denies the Armenian Genocide on
his own initiative. For example, one Turkish researcher was awarded
the degree of doctor for an essay saying that the Armenians are an
underdeveloped nation because they had no statehood for centuries.
Belge believes that though proclaimed a doctor, that man needs a
doctor himself.
arminfo
Wednesday, June 20, 20:25
Since 1960 I have been trying in vain to understand the policy of the
Turkish Government, Murat Belge, writer, professor of Bilgi University,
said on Wednesday during a discussion on Turkey organized by Civilitas
Foundation.
He said that in Turkey there are people who oppose the Kemalist
ideology as nationalist and are persecuted for that by their
government.
Belge believes that Turkey's denial of the Armenian Genocide
is forcing France, Germany and the United States to take some
countermeasures. He said that Turkey cannot recognize the genocide
for personal purposes. He noted that it is easy to apologize, but
it is hard to forgive. Even if the governments reach some agreement,
the relations between the peoples will still remain problematic.
Belge said that some 10 years ago few of his students were aware of the
events of 1915 as the authorities sponsored universities so they wrote
books denying the events. Today, they don't do such things, but they
are still happy when some researcher denies the Armenian Genocide on
his own initiative. For example, one Turkish researcher was awarded
the degree of doctor for an essay saying that the Armenians are an
underdeveloped nation because they had no statehood for centuries.
Belge believes that though proclaimed a doctor, that man needs a
doctor himself.