Midnight Diplomacy: On Turkish Relations with Europe
12.21.2005
Zaman
By Hilal Elver & Richard Falk
[...]
But on the more substantial issues that appear to be roadblocks there are steps to be taken: on the Armenian issue, on Kurdish rights, and on Cyprus. Each of these issues is complex, concerns Turkish domestic politics at least as much as it does relations with Europe, and should be addressed by Turkey outside the framework of formal negotiations with the EU. But there are steps forward that would both help Turkey, and possibly remove the roadblock.
On the Armenian issue it seems useful for the Turkish government to make a unilateral declaration of acknowledgement and apology in relation to the 1915-1918 events that resulted in the death of more than 800,000 Armenians. In line with Murat Belge’s recent suggestion, it is not necessary to enter the domain of high emotion by officially describing this ethnic tragedy as ‘genocide.’ There are genuine doubts about whether the killings of Armenians were accompanied by the sort of specific intent that the crime of genocide legally requires. Such a recommended declaration will not entirely satisfy the Armenian communities around the world, but it will be seen as a genuine effort, as it would be, by the Turkish government to own up to its responsibilities for these events. If it were accompanied by tangible gestures, such as the establishment of a museum to honor the Armenian heritage, and a diplomatic move toward reconciliation with the state of Armenia, real progress could result. Such a Turkish initiative must not be made in response to external pressures, and it would have to cope with an undoubted domestic backlash from ultra-nationalist sectors of Turkish public opinion. Despite such difficulties, it is a step worth taking, and consistent with the overall effort of the current Turkish leadership to improve Turkey’s human rights record.
[...]
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
By Hilal Elver & Richard Falk
[...]
But on the more substantial issues that appear to be roadblocks there are steps to be taken: on the Armenian issue, on Kurdish rights, and on Cyprus. Each of these issues is complex, concerns Turkish domestic politics at least as much as it does relations with Europe, and should be addressed by Turkey outside the framework of formal negotiations with the EU. But there are steps forward that would both help Turkey, and possibly remove the roadblock.
On the Armenian issue it seems useful for the Turkish government to make a unilateral declaration of acknowledgement and apology in relation to the 1915-1918 events that resulted in the death of more than 800,000 Armenians. In line with Murat Belge’s recent suggestion, it is not necessary to enter the domain of high emotion by officially describing this ethnic tragedy as ‘genocide.’ There are genuine doubts about whether the killings of Armenians were accompanied by the sort of specific intent that the crime of genocide legally requires. Such a recommended declaration will not entirely satisfy the Armenian communities around the world, but it will be seen as a genuine effort, as it would be, by the Turkish government to own up to its responsibilities for these events. If it were accompanied by tangible gestures, such as the establishment of a museum to honor the Armenian heritage, and a diplomatic move toward reconciliation with the state of Armenia, real progress could result. Such a Turkish initiative must not be made in response to external pressures, and it would have to cope with an undoubted domestic backlash from ultra-nationalist sectors of Turkish public opinion. Despite such difficulties, it is a step worth taking, and consistent with the overall effort of the current Turkish leadership to improve Turkey’s human rights record.
[...]
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 8:23 AM
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