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Turkey, Armenia and the heavy burden of memories
By Charles Tannock
Taipei Times, Taiwan
April 23 2005
Saturday, Apr 23, 2005,Page 9
All wars end, eventually. But memories of atrocity never seem to
fade, as the government-fanned anti-Japanese riots now taking place
in China remind us. The 90th anniversary of the Armenian massacres
of 1915, ordered by the ruling Young Turks of the Ottoman Empire and
carried out by the Kurds, is another wound that will not heal, but
one that must be treated if Turkey's progress toward EU membership
is to proceed smoothly.
It is believed that the Armenian genocide inspired the Nazis in their
plans for the extermination of Jews. However, in comparison with the
Holocaust, most people still know little about this dark episode.
Indeed, it is hard for most of us to imagine the scale of suffering
and devastation inflicted on the Armenian people and their ancestral
homelands. But many members of today's thriving global Armenian
Diaspora have direct ancestors who perished, and carry an oral
historical tradition that keeps the memories burning.
It is particularly ironic that many Kurds from Turkey's southeastern
provinces, having been promised Armenian property and a guaranteed
place in heaven for killing infidels, were willingly complicit in
the genocide. They later found themselves on the losing end of a
long history of violence between their own separatist forces and
the Turkish army, as well as being subjected to an ongoing policy of
discrimination and forced assimilation.
Historically, the ancient Christian Armenians were amongst the most
progressive people in the East, but in the 19th century Armenia was
divided between the Ottoman Empire and Russia. Sultan Abdulhamit
II organized the massacres of 1895 to 1897 but it was not until the
spring of 1915, under the cover of World War I, that the Young Turks'
nationalistic government found the political will to execute a true
genocide.
Initially, Armenian intellectuals were arrested and executed in
public hangings in groups of 50 to 100. Ordinary Armenians were thus
deprived of their leaders, and soon after were massacred, with many
burned alive.
Approximately 500,000 were killed in the last seven months of 1915,
with the majority of the survivors deported to desert areas in Syria,
where they died from either starvation or disease. It is estimated
that 1.5 million people perished.
Recently, the Armenian Diaspora has been calling on Turkey to
face-up to its past and recognize its historic crime. Turkey's
official line remains that the allegation is based on unfounded or
exaggerated claims, and that the deaths that occurred resulted from
combat against Armenians collaborating with invading Russian forces
during World War I, or as a result of disease and hunger during the
forced deportations. Moreover, the local Turkish population allegedly
suffered similar casualties.
Turkey thus argues that the charge of genocide is designed to besmirch
Turkey's honor and impede its progress towards EU accession. There are
also understandable fears that diverging from the official line would
trigger a flood of compensation claims, as occurred against Germany.
For many politicians, particularly in the US, there is an unwillingness
to upset Turkey without strong justification, given its record as a
loyal NATO ally and putative EU candidate country.
But, despite almost half a century of membership in the Council of
Europe -- ostensibly a guardian of human rights, including freedom
of speech and conscience -- Turkey still punishes as a crime against
national honor any suggestion that the Armenian genocide is an historic
truth. Fortunately, this article of Turkey's penal code is now due
for review and possible repeal.
Indeed, broader changes are afoot in Turkey. The press and government,
mindful of the requirements of EU membership, are finally opening
the sensitive Armenian issue to debate. Even Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, under increasing EU pressure as accession negotiations
are due to begin this October, has agreed to an impartial study by
academic historians, although he has reiterated his belief that the
genocide never occurred.
In France, the historical occurrence of the Armenian genocide is
enshrined in law, and denial of its occurrence is regarded in the
same way as Holocaust denial.
The European Parliament is pressing for Turkish recognition of
the Armenian genocide. It is also calling for an end to the trade
embargo by Turkey and its close ally Azerbaijan against the Republic
of Armenia, a reopening of frontiers, and a land-for-peace deal to
resolve the territorial dispute over Nagorno Karabakh in Azerbaijan
and safeguard its Armenian identity.
Armenia, an independent country since 1991, remains dependent on
continued Russian protection, as was the case in 1920 when it joined
the Soviet Union rather than suffer further Turkish invasion. This
is not healthy for the development of Armenia's democracy and weak
economy. Nor does Armenia's continued dependence on Russia bode well
for regional co-operation, given deep resentment of Russian meddling
in neighboring Georgia and Azerbaijan.
There is only one way forward for Turkey, Armenia, and the region.
The future will begin only when Turkey -- like Germany in the past and
Serbia and Croatia now -- repudiates its policy of denial and faces up
to its terrible crimes of 1915. Only then can the past truly be past.
Charles Tannock is chairman of the European Parliament's Human Rights
Committee.
By Charles Tannock
Taipei Times, Taiwan
April 23 2005
Saturday, Apr 23, 2005,Page 9
All wars end, eventually. But memories of atrocity never seem to
fade, as the government-fanned anti-Japanese riots now taking place
in China remind us. The 90th anniversary of the Armenian massacres
of 1915, ordered by the ruling Young Turks of the Ottoman Empire and
carried out by the Kurds, is another wound that will not heal, but
one that must be treated if Turkey's progress toward EU membership
is to proceed smoothly.
It is believed that the Armenian genocide inspired the Nazis in their
plans for the extermination of Jews. However, in comparison with the
Holocaust, most people still know little about this dark episode.
Indeed, it is hard for most of us to imagine the scale of suffering
and devastation inflicted on the Armenian people and their ancestral
homelands. But many members of today's thriving global Armenian
Diaspora have direct ancestors who perished, and carry an oral
historical tradition that keeps the memories burning.
It is particularly ironic that many Kurds from Turkey's southeastern
provinces, having been promised Armenian property and a guaranteed
place in heaven for killing infidels, were willingly complicit in
the genocide. They later found themselves on the losing end of a
long history of violence between their own separatist forces and
the Turkish army, as well as being subjected to an ongoing policy of
discrimination and forced assimilation.
Historically, the ancient Christian Armenians were amongst the most
progressive people in the East, but in the 19th century Armenia was
divided between the Ottoman Empire and Russia. Sultan Abdulhamit
II organized the massacres of 1895 to 1897 but it was not until the
spring of 1915, under the cover of World War I, that the Young Turks'
nationalistic government found the political will to execute a true
genocide.
Initially, Armenian intellectuals were arrested and executed in
public hangings in groups of 50 to 100. Ordinary Armenians were thus
deprived of their leaders, and soon after were massacred, with many
burned alive.
Approximately 500,000 were killed in the last seven months of 1915,
with the majority of the survivors deported to desert areas in Syria,
where they died from either starvation or disease. It is estimated
that 1.5 million people perished.
Recently, the Armenian Diaspora has been calling on Turkey to
face-up to its past and recognize its historic crime. Turkey's
official line remains that the allegation is based on unfounded or
exaggerated claims, and that the deaths that occurred resulted from
combat against Armenians collaborating with invading Russian forces
during World War I, or as a result of disease and hunger during the
forced deportations. Moreover, the local Turkish population allegedly
suffered similar casualties.
Turkey thus argues that the charge of genocide is designed to besmirch
Turkey's honor and impede its progress towards EU accession. There are
also understandable fears that diverging from the official line would
trigger a flood of compensation claims, as occurred against Germany.
For many politicians, particularly in the US, there is an unwillingness
to upset Turkey without strong justification, given its record as a
loyal NATO ally and putative EU candidate country.
But, despite almost half a century of membership in the Council of
Europe -- ostensibly a guardian of human rights, including freedom
of speech and conscience -- Turkey still punishes as a crime against
national honor any suggestion that the Armenian genocide is an historic
truth. Fortunately, this article of Turkey's penal code is now due
for review and possible repeal.
Indeed, broader changes are afoot in Turkey. The press and government,
mindful of the requirements of EU membership, are finally opening
the sensitive Armenian issue to debate. Even Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, under increasing EU pressure as accession negotiations
are due to begin this October, has agreed to an impartial study by
academic historians, although he has reiterated his belief that the
genocide never occurred.
In France, the historical occurrence of the Armenian genocide is
enshrined in law, and denial of its occurrence is regarded in the
same way as Holocaust denial.
The European Parliament is pressing for Turkish recognition of
the Armenian genocide. It is also calling for an end to the trade
embargo by Turkey and its close ally Azerbaijan against the Republic
of Armenia, a reopening of frontiers, and a land-for-peace deal to
resolve the territorial dispute over Nagorno Karabakh in Azerbaijan
and safeguard its Armenian identity.
Armenia, an independent country since 1991, remains dependent on
continued Russian protection, as was the case in 1920 when it joined
the Soviet Union rather than suffer further Turkish invasion. This
is not healthy for the development of Armenia's democracy and weak
economy. Nor does Armenia's continued dependence on Russia bode well
for regional co-operation, given deep resentment of Russian meddling
in neighboring Georgia and Azerbaijan.
There is only one way forward for Turkey, Armenia, and the region.
The future will begin only when Turkey -- like Germany in the past and
Serbia and Croatia now -- repudiates its policy of denial and faces up
to its terrible crimes of 1915. Only then can the past truly be past.
Charles Tannock is chairman of the European Parliament's Human Rights
Committee.