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ANKARA: Turkish Intellectuals' Letter To Liberation: 'Armenian BillW

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  • ANKARA: Turkish Intellectuals' Letter To Liberation: 'Armenian BillW

    TURKISH INTELLECTUALS' LETTER TO LIBERATION: 'ARMENIAN BILL WOULD CAUSE GRIEVOUS ERROR'
    Nursun Erel

    New Anatolian, Turkey
    May 10 2006

    An open letter from Turkish intellectuals sent this week to French
    daily Liberation urges the rejection of a bill that would criminalize
    the denial of the so-called Armenian genocide in France.

    The letter was signed by Ahmet Insel, Baskin Oran, Elif Safak, Etyen
    Mahcupyan, Halil Berktay, Hrant Dink, Murat Belge, Muge Gocek and
    Ragip Zarakolu. It emphasizes that the 1915 incidents were a "disaster
    for humanity" and warns, "But whatever its aim, such a parliamentary
    act would destroy joint efforts to investigate the historical facts,
    so we especially ask our Armenian friends not to cause such an error."

    The letter also recalls the efforts of Turkish intellectuals who
    organized the Istanbul conference on the Armenian issue held last year,
    even at the risk of being called traitors.

    Here are excerpts from the letter:

    "We, the Turkish citizens, feel all the burden of the inhuman disaster
    faced by the Ottoman Armenians during the last days of Ottoman
    Empire. The agony of Armenians is our agony. The 1915 disaster cannot
    be denied by anyone who claims to be human. Looking for the reasons
    and aims behind such a tragedy is nonsense.

    "But the democratic process is on in Turkey, as was seen during the
    Istanbul conference held last Sept. 23-24. This process will chip away
    at the darkness confronting the public on that issue. Even though the
    people who struggle for this are branded traitors, we know that these
    are the stages of a democratic process, so we will keep on struggling
    through the issue.

    "But we have serious concerns about the French Parliament's possible
    approval of the Armenian bill. Whatever its aim, such an initiative
    would destroy joint efforts to investigate the facts. Such an
    initiative would curb free discussion in France and would also create
    a negative impact in Turkey.

    "Such polarization would encourage monologues, as France should
    very well know. In fact, we need dialogue more than such a vicious
    argument. Freedom of expression is a universal principle, just like
    the struggle for the crimes against humanity. Defending one does not
    mean neglecting the other.

    "But today it's a shame that both sides are unable to communicate
    their understanding to one another. Such a deadlock carries the risk
    of further, more serious conflicts.

    "The pioneers of such initiatives in France or in other places should
    take into consideration those circles who are trying to avoid free
    argument about the 1915 incidents.

    "Sharing all our concerns, we especially warn our Armenian brothers
    not to cause a fatal error which could not be easily corrected."
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