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ANKARA: The Armenian Diaspora's Dilemma: Go To Turkey Or Armenia?

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  • ANKARA: The Armenian Diaspora's Dilemma: Go To Turkey Or Armenia?

    THE ARMENIAN DIASPORA'S DILEMMA: GO TO TURKEY OR ARMENIA?

    Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
    April 2 2015

    by BARCIN YÄ°NANC

    "The Stanford Global Studies Division, in conjunction with the Handa
    Center for Human Rights, the Center for Russian, East European,
    and Eurasian Studies (CREEES), and the Abbasi Program in Islamic
    Studies, has agreed to sponsor three Stanford University students
    to participate in the Armenian Genocide centennial commemoration in
    Istanbul, Project 2015 said today," read the statement dated March 3.

    The statement was published on the website of
    www.Armenianproject2015.org. When you go to the website it has a
    logo for Project 2015 Istanbul and the title is Armenian Genocide
    Centennial Commemoration.

    Let's continue to read:

    "We are delighted that Stanford University will support the efforts of
    Project 2015 to support a global commemoration of the Armenian Genocide
    in Istanbul this April," said Seepan Parseghian, Project 2015 board
    member. "We look forward to having Stanford students take advantage of
    this great opportunity to join the historic commemoration activities."

    "Being able to discuss issues such as the Armenian Genocide with
    scholars from Armenia and Turkey is of profound importance for our
    students' intellectual growth," said Norman Naimark, Fisher Family
    Director of Stanford Global Studies. "This fits into the mission of
    Stanford Global Studies of providing unique opportunities for students
    to explore complex issues from multiple perspectives."

    Project 2015, a U.S.-based organization, is working to ensure that
    a large contingent of Armenians come to Turkey for the historic
    centennial commemoration. Working with "DurDe," its partner
    organization in Turkey, Project 2015 ensures a meaningful opportunity
    to honor the victims of the genocide and recognize the resilience
    of the survivors. Project 2015 also makes a limited number of study
    grants, of a minimum $750, available to students wishing to travel
    to Turkey for the commemoration events.

    A decade ago, an initiative to ensure that a large contingent of
    Armenians come to Turkey to commemorate what they believe amounted
    to genocide would have made the headlines all over the media. The
    headline would have been about the efforts of the Turkish government
    to stop such an initiative.

    After a small inquiry, I found out that the government today had no
    problem with the Armenian diaspora coming for the historic centennial
    commemoration. Obviously, those who will be coming just to make the
    point of shouting to the world "this was genocide" on Turkish soil
    will not be highly thought of by many. But it seems to me that any
    initiative encouraging Armenian diaspora members to visit their
    homeland is welcomed by the government.

    It must be quiet a difficult choice for the Armenian diaspora: To go
    to Turkey or to go to Armenia?

    In fact, I am hearing that a special plane may take off from Armenia
    to Turkey on the day of the commemorations, for those trying to make
    it to the ceremonies in both countries.

    My understanding is that Ankara is highly concerned and uneasy about
    the rhetoric used in Armenia and efforts by some in the Armenian
    diaspora to turn the commemorations into "Turkey-bashing."

    Despite this unease, the government seems to have decided to keep a
    low profile and to maintain moderate rhetoric in its counter campaign
    against what it perceives to be initiatives pushing the limits of
    Turkey-bashing. It is therefore trying to facilitate initiatives such
    as visits by members of the Armenian diaspora.

    In fact, I would not be surprised if the government surpasses its
    move last year on April 23, when the Prime Ministry issued an official
    statement remembering Armenian sufferings and offering condolences.

    April/02/2015

    http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/the-armenian-diasporas-dilemma-go-to-turkey-or-armenia.aspx?PageID=238&NID=80462&NewsCatID=412

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