Reinstitution of Turkish - Armenian Friendship
10.03.2005
Zaman Daily News
By SAHIN ALPAY e-mail:s.alpay@zaman.com.tr
The crux of my speech at the panel on “The Armenian Problem and Turkish Democracy” in the “Ottoman Armenians” conference was the following: I am not a historian. As a political scientist and public commentator, my interest is focused on the current issues and problems of Turkish politics.
I believe that the resolution of the “Armenian problem” is indispensable for consolidation of liberal and pluralist democracy, and for peace culture to prevail in Turkey.[...].
Regarding history: What was experienced at the end of the19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries is the story of the dissolution of the multi-religious and multi-ethnic Ottoman Empire as a result of conflicting religious and ethnic nationalisms backed by imperialist European powers. It is the story of millions of people who were subjected to ethnic cleansing, deportation and massacres.[...]. Armenians became the religious and ethnic group which suffered most during the course of the dissolution of the empire.[...]. Turkish people know very little about the tragedy of the Ottoman Armenians, and a solution to the “Armenian problem” is not possible until they are sufficiently informed about it.
[...]
Our tasks as those in Turkey who {are in} favor of reconciliation are obvious: We must first of all exert our utmost efforts to ensure that our Armenian citizens enjoy equal citizenship rights and that their minority rights are secured. Historians should, with courage and determination, work to shed light on what really happened and on those who were responsible. We should try to win over the public opinion in favor of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia, and opening of the borders between the two countries. Ankara can thereby even contribute to peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We should also try to enhance the links and dialogue between the Turkish and Armenian civil societies. If we can do all these, it will one day be possible to erect a monument in Anatolia in memory of the great suffering Ottoman Armenians lived through.
Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.
Zaman Daily News
By SAHIN ALPAY e-mail:s.alpay@zaman.com.tr
The crux of my speech at the panel on “The Armenian Problem and Turkish Democracy” in the “Ottoman Armenians” conference was the following: I am not a historian. As a political scientist and public commentator, my interest is focused on the current issues and problems of Turkish politics.
I believe that the resolution of the “Armenian problem” is indispensable for consolidation of liberal and pluralist democracy, and for peace culture to prevail in Turkey.[...].
Regarding history: What was experienced at the end of the19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries is the story of the dissolution of the multi-religious and multi-ethnic Ottoman Empire as a result of conflicting religious and ethnic nationalisms backed by imperialist European powers. It is the story of millions of people who were subjected to ethnic cleansing, deportation and massacres.[...]. Armenians became the religious and ethnic group which suffered most during the course of the dissolution of the empire.[...]. Turkish people know very little about the tragedy of the Ottoman Armenians, and a solution to the “Armenian problem” is not possible until they are sufficiently informed about it.
[...]
Our tasks as those in Turkey who {are in} favor of reconciliation are obvious: We must first of all exert our utmost efforts to ensure that our Armenian citizens enjoy equal citizenship rights and that their minority rights are secured. Historians should, with courage and determination, work to shed light on what really happened and on those who were responsible. We should try to win over the public opinion in favor of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia, and opening of the borders between the two countries. Ankara can thereby even contribute to peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We should also try to enhance the links and dialogue between the Turkish and Armenian civil societies. If we can do all these, it will one day be possible to erect a monument in Anatolia in memory of the great suffering Ottoman Armenians lived through.
Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.
posted by Vahe Balabanian at 7:32 AM
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