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Los Angeles Times, CA
Sept 23 2005
Turkish forum on Armenians halted
Issue seen as key to membership process for EU
By Amberin Zaman, Los Angeles Times | September 23, 2005
ANKARA, Turkey -- A court yesterday ordered the cancellation of a
conference at which Turkish academics were expected to challenge the
official history of the events surrounding the mass deaths among the
nation's Armenians during and after World War I.
The gathering scheduled to be held today in Istanbul had been seen as
a first and important step in Turkey's efforts to confront its
troubled past as it seeks membership in the European Union.
The case to block the conference was brought by the Turkish Lawyers
Union and other lawyers. Court officials declined to comment on why
the conference was canceled. But several conference participants and
Western diplomats in Ankara, the capital, said the decision was part
of a broader campaign by ultranationalist elements within the state
who oppose Turkey's membership in the EU.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey swiftly condemned the
ruling. ''I cannot approve of this decision, especially at a time
when we are seeking a more democratic Turkey," he said.
Hrant Dink, managing editor of the Armenian language weekly Agos, who
had been scheduled to address the gathering, said: ''The aim is
clear: It is to derail the EU process. But they will fail."
Armenians say 1.5 million of their people died between 1915 and 1923
in a genocide carried out by Ottoman Turks. Turkey has instead
maintained that several hundred thousand Armenians died of starvation
and exposure during forced deportations after they collaborated with
invading Russian forces in eastern Turkey.
Turkey is expected to open EU membership negotiations on Oct. 3, a
process that would probably continue for at least a decade. The EU
has long cited Turkey's human rights record as an obstacle to
membership and there are growing calls within the European bloc for
Turkey to set aside its prickly nationalism and apologize for the
annihilation of its once thriving Armenian community.
The state-run Anatolian news agency reported that the court had
demanded various documents from conference participants, including
their resumes and proof that they were competent to address the
Armenian issue. The court also reportedly sought details on the
financial backers of the conference. ''The demands are so laughable.
I am left speechless," said a prominent Ottoman historian, Halil
Berktay, who is among organizers.
Conference organizers said they would appeal the rule and hope to
proceed with their work as early as Sunday.
The forum was originally set for May but had to be postponed after
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek denounced participants, saying they were
''stabbing Turkey in the back."
Sept 23 2005
Turkish forum on Armenians halted
Issue seen as key to membership process for EU
By Amberin Zaman, Los Angeles Times | September 23, 2005
ANKARA, Turkey -- A court yesterday ordered the cancellation of a
conference at which Turkish academics were expected to challenge the
official history of the events surrounding the mass deaths among the
nation's Armenians during and after World War I.
The gathering scheduled to be held today in Istanbul had been seen as
a first and important step in Turkey's efforts to confront its
troubled past as it seeks membership in the European Union.
The case to block the conference was brought by the Turkish Lawyers
Union and other lawyers. Court officials declined to comment on why
the conference was canceled. But several conference participants and
Western diplomats in Ankara, the capital, said the decision was part
of a broader campaign by ultranationalist elements within the state
who oppose Turkey's membership in the EU.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey swiftly condemned the
ruling. ''I cannot approve of this decision, especially at a time
when we are seeking a more democratic Turkey," he said.
Hrant Dink, managing editor of the Armenian language weekly Agos, who
had been scheduled to address the gathering, said: ''The aim is
clear: It is to derail the EU process. But they will fail."
Armenians say 1.5 million of their people died between 1915 and 1923
in a genocide carried out by Ottoman Turks. Turkey has instead
maintained that several hundred thousand Armenians died of starvation
and exposure during forced deportations after they collaborated with
invading Russian forces in eastern Turkey.
Turkey is expected to open EU membership negotiations on Oct. 3, a
process that would probably continue for at least a decade. The EU
has long cited Turkey's human rights record as an obstacle to
membership and there are growing calls within the European bloc for
Turkey to set aside its prickly nationalism and apologize for the
annihilation of its once thriving Armenian community.
The state-run Anatolian news agency reported that the court had
demanded various documents from conference participants, including
their resumes and proof that they were competent to address the
Armenian issue. The court also reportedly sought details on the
financial backers of the conference. ''The demands are so laughable.
I am left speechless," said a prominent Ottoman historian, Halil
Berktay, who is among organizers.
Conference organizers said they would appeal the rule and hope to
proceed with their work as early as Sunday.
The forum was originally set for May but had to be postponed after
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek denounced participants, saying they were
''stabbing Turkey in the back."