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[Comment] Turkish-Armenian reconciliation is not far away
19.10.2006 - 15:01 CET | By Bahadir Kaleagasi
EUObserver, Belgium
Oct 19 2006
EUOBSERVER / COMMENT - The European Parliament, the European
Commission, the majority of the European and French media,
intellectuals, historians and jurists have pointed out that the
recognition of an Armenian genocide is not a legal process. I agree
with that.
To impose it as a new pre-condition to Turkey's EU membership would
be counter-productive and unjust. This is also the view of the Turkish
citizens of Armenian origin. Patriarch Mesrob II and the intellectual
leader Mr Hrant Dink are very clear on this.
As Mr Dink pointed out several times to the media, "it is immoral to
take advantage of the debate on the Armenian genocide to create new
obstacles for Turkey's EU membership process."
The Armenians of the Ottoman Empire suffered terribly during World
War I. This was a very difficult era of human history with rising
nationalisms, falling empires and geo-strategic games over the oil
resources of the Middle East and the Caspian Sea.
I share the pain of the Armenians and understand them extremely well,
being the descendents of peoples who suffered immensly during those
years.
It is a clear disinformation to claim that Turkey is in denial towards
this human tragedy, however. Several court cases and condemnations
took place during the last years of the Ottoman Empire on this issue.
Blow to freedom of expression The Turkish parliament in a recent
resolution called for the establishment of an international and
independent committee of historians to examine the whole truth and
to find out about the responsibilities of all government officials
from all countries concerned in the loss of innocent Armenian lives
during World War I.
Probably, it is around the term of "genocide" that an intellectual
blockage occurs in the minds and positions of all parties - because
it reminds one of the Holocaust which was another horrible event,
but of another nature.
Actually, Turkish Armenians are part of the Turkish republican and
secular society. Moreover, there are more than 100,000 immigrant
workers from the Republic of Armenia in Turkey.
They usually work as baby-sitters, nurses or in other services which
require close human contact and deep mutual confidence.
There are a lot of reasons why some Armenian voices on the genocide
are wrong.
Not only could they further fan anti-Muslim feelings in France and
in Europe, they could also be a blow to freedom of expression - not
exactly the standard that EU members want to adopt while lecturing
Turkey about being ever more respectful of human rights and democratic
norms.
A dozen European countries have laws against denying the Holocaust.
Those laws are based on the threat posed by die-hard anti-Semites
who still subscribe to Hitler's racist theories.
The Armenian question poses no such dangers in Europe. Playing politics
with it trivialises not only the Holocaust, but also the Armenian
tragedy. Turkish and Armenian peoples are culturally close to each
other and share a common past and a common geo-strategic destiny.
Reconciliation is not far away This is why I am confident that
reconciliation is not far away. This also is why any aggressive and
non-constructive attack against Turkey is harmful to this process. The
reconciliation will naturally happen within Turkey's EU integration
process.
This can only happen in a European atmosphere of mutual respect and
understanding rather than via aggressive accusations.
Some positions and actions of certain political segments in France on
this issue serve only the interests of ultranationalists in Armenia
and anti-Europeanists in Turkey - for example the proposed law passed
by the French National Assembly on criminalising different opinions
on the Armenian victims in the Ottoman Empire.
Many prominent French historians, jurists and other intellectuals have
already expressed their concerns about this. Let me just emphasise
once more that Turkish and Armenian peoples will find their historical
reconciliation. The European integration process can contribute to
this achievement.
Initiatives to divert Turkey from the EU process or to introduce
anti-democratic laws are by definition gifts to ultranationalism and
an invitation to further conflicts.
The European integration process is a great achievement of the 20th
century. Let's take the example of this visionary project to continue
to overcome the remaining problems of our small European continent.
The same vision, rationalism and wisdom is required to reach
reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey. As global citizens of the
21st century, we have the responsibility to face our common destiny
and common future peacefully, respectfully, rationally and without
prejudice to each other's dignity.
Bahadir Kaleagasi is the representative to the EU of TUSIAD - Turkish
Industrialists' & Business Association. The article represents his
personal view.
19.10.2006 - 15:01 CET | By Bahadir Kaleagasi
EUObserver, Belgium
Oct 19 2006
EUOBSERVER / COMMENT - The European Parliament, the European
Commission, the majority of the European and French media,
intellectuals, historians and jurists have pointed out that the
recognition of an Armenian genocide is not a legal process. I agree
with that.
To impose it as a new pre-condition to Turkey's EU membership would
be counter-productive and unjust. This is also the view of the Turkish
citizens of Armenian origin. Patriarch Mesrob II and the intellectual
leader Mr Hrant Dink are very clear on this.
As Mr Dink pointed out several times to the media, "it is immoral to
take advantage of the debate on the Armenian genocide to create new
obstacles for Turkey's EU membership process."
The Armenians of the Ottoman Empire suffered terribly during World
War I. This was a very difficult era of human history with rising
nationalisms, falling empires and geo-strategic games over the oil
resources of the Middle East and the Caspian Sea.
I share the pain of the Armenians and understand them extremely well,
being the descendents of peoples who suffered immensly during those
years.
It is a clear disinformation to claim that Turkey is in denial towards
this human tragedy, however. Several court cases and condemnations
took place during the last years of the Ottoman Empire on this issue.
Blow to freedom of expression The Turkish parliament in a recent
resolution called for the establishment of an international and
independent committee of historians to examine the whole truth and
to find out about the responsibilities of all government officials
from all countries concerned in the loss of innocent Armenian lives
during World War I.
Probably, it is around the term of "genocide" that an intellectual
blockage occurs in the minds and positions of all parties - because
it reminds one of the Holocaust which was another horrible event,
but of another nature.
Actually, Turkish Armenians are part of the Turkish republican and
secular society. Moreover, there are more than 100,000 immigrant
workers from the Republic of Armenia in Turkey.
They usually work as baby-sitters, nurses or in other services which
require close human contact and deep mutual confidence.
There are a lot of reasons why some Armenian voices on the genocide
are wrong.
Not only could they further fan anti-Muslim feelings in France and
in Europe, they could also be a blow to freedom of expression - not
exactly the standard that EU members want to adopt while lecturing
Turkey about being ever more respectful of human rights and democratic
norms.
A dozen European countries have laws against denying the Holocaust.
Those laws are based on the threat posed by die-hard anti-Semites
who still subscribe to Hitler's racist theories.
The Armenian question poses no such dangers in Europe. Playing politics
with it trivialises not only the Holocaust, but also the Armenian
tragedy. Turkish and Armenian peoples are culturally close to each
other and share a common past and a common geo-strategic destiny.
Reconciliation is not far away This is why I am confident that
reconciliation is not far away. This also is why any aggressive and
non-constructive attack against Turkey is harmful to this process. The
reconciliation will naturally happen within Turkey's EU integration
process.
This can only happen in a European atmosphere of mutual respect and
understanding rather than via aggressive accusations.
Some positions and actions of certain political segments in France on
this issue serve only the interests of ultranationalists in Armenia
and anti-Europeanists in Turkey - for example the proposed law passed
by the French National Assembly on criminalising different opinions
on the Armenian victims in the Ottoman Empire.
Many prominent French historians, jurists and other intellectuals have
already expressed their concerns about this. Let me just emphasise
once more that Turkish and Armenian peoples will find their historical
reconciliation. The European integration process can contribute to
this achievement.
Initiatives to divert Turkey from the EU process or to introduce
anti-democratic laws are by definition gifts to ultranationalism and
an invitation to further conflicts.
The European integration process is a great achievement of the 20th
century. Let's take the example of this visionary project to continue
to overcome the remaining problems of our small European continent.
The same vision, rationalism and wisdom is required to reach
reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey. As global citizens of the
21st century, we have the responsibility to face our common destiny
and common future peacefully, respectfully, rationally and without
prejudice to each other's dignity.
Bahadir Kaleagasi is the representative to the EU of TUSIAD - Turkish
Industrialists' & Business Association. The article represents his
personal view.