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TURKISH DAILY NEWS: OBAMA CAN HELP ARMENIA AND TURKEY TO RESOLVE GENOCIDE PROBLEM
PanARMENIAN.Net
28.07.2008 16:28 GMT+04:00
U.S. presidential hopeful Barack Obama is in a position to help make
history on the Armenian Genocide issue, says O. Faruk Logoglu a letter
published by Turkish Daily News.
The letter says,
"Senator Obama, your inspiring march to the White House has fired the
imagination not just of Americans voters, but of many millions more
around the world. The promise of change, the willingness to engage and
the readiness to hear and listen have succeeded in creating a truly
global community of believers in your message. If you are elected the
next American president, your choices and decisions will interplay with
the hopes of men and women everywhere. It is an unprecedented, huge
responsibility, but also a historic and unique opportunity never before
had by any of your predecessors. To bring about positive, beneficial
change, you will need to properly understand the challenges before you,
be impartial, creative and possess a sense of justice and balance. You
amply project these qualities. In your memoirs, you identify among
the values you hold dear "honesty," "fairness," "straight talk" and
"independent judgment." These are admirable references.
This is why I felt addressing this letter at this time might be
helpful to you on an issue of tremendous importance to the Turkish
people. I refer to the Armenian claims of genocide. So far, you have
taken a nearly categorical stand in support of the Armenian views
on the matter. Some may attribute your stance to the exigencies
of election politics. Nevertheless, the insistent nature of your
attitude on the Armenian claims suggests that you have arrived at
your considered opinion after obviously giving some thought to the
matter. I wish only to remind you of a few key facts in this connection
and invite you to reflect on them. First, the veracity of the claims
of genocide is profoundly contested. The Turks and the Armenians have
diametrically opposed versions of the same set of events that occurred
nearly a century ago. Their narratives are different and seemingly
incompatible. Both sides challenge the authenticity of the documentary
evidence offered by the other. Moreover, there is wide discrepancy
over the number of lives lost on each side. The disagreement on
what happened in 1915 is, however, not just between the Turks and
the Armenians. Historians and other scholars of third parties are
also deeply divided over the issue. Both sides can come up with long
lists of names in support of their views. Notwithstanding the Armenian
claims to the contrary, it is therefore a matter far from having been
settled in favor of either party. Second, the internationally accepted
standard for establishing the act of genocide beyond challenge is
missing in the Armenian case. This is the absence of a ruling from
an authorized legal tribunal. The Armenians have never proposed to
take their case to court. No court has addressed the case or found the
Turks guilty as charged. Clearly, resolutions of parliamentary bodies
or pronouncements of eminent personalities, including politicians,
cannot serve as substitutes for court judgments. Third, historical
issues that have divided nations have ultimately always required for
their resolution dialogue and conciliation. The Armenian Diasporas
are trying to dictate their particular version of history to the
international community as the truth. The Turks are defending their
own truth. The various attempts at dialogue so far have been to no
avail because for the Armenians the only legitimate purpose of these
exercises is for the Turks to admit to the crime of genocide. So long
as the two sides fail to come together, the wounds between these
great peoples will not be healed. Finally, the Turkish government,
with the unanimous backing of the Turkish Parliament, has formally
proposed to the Armenian government the establishment of a joint
commission of scholars and researchers to delve into the matter,
examining all the relevant documentation and evidence. The Commission
is open to the participation of third party representatives. It would
work in transparency. The Turkish government has committed itself to
the a priori acceptance of the findings of such a commission. This
is a brave and honest proposal. Only recently and in a remarkable
first by any international body, the Parliamentary Assembly of the
OSCE endorsed the validity and importance of the Turkish initiative.
Our times call for conciliation and dialogue. Perfunctory dismissal
of the Turkish viewpoint would certainly please the Armenian lobby in
America. However, it would hurt the Turkish people immensely and deal
a serious and lasting blow to the all-important Turkish-American
relationship. Upholding the values of fairness and independent
judgment you and so many of us so dearly cherish should lead you
to review the Armenian question in a broader context. You are in a
position to help make history on this difficult and highly emotive
issue: Ask the Turks and the Armenians to talk and to listen to each
other. That is the road to change. That is the road to conciliation
between Turks and Armenians."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
PanARMENIAN.Net
28.07.2008 16:28 GMT+04:00
U.S. presidential hopeful Barack Obama is in a position to help make
history on the Armenian Genocide issue, says O. Faruk Logoglu a letter
published by Turkish Daily News.
The letter says,
"Senator Obama, your inspiring march to the White House has fired the
imagination not just of Americans voters, but of many millions more
around the world. The promise of change, the willingness to engage and
the readiness to hear and listen have succeeded in creating a truly
global community of believers in your message. If you are elected the
next American president, your choices and decisions will interplay with
the hopes of men and women everywhere. It is an unprecedented, huge
responsibility, but also a historic and unique opportunity never before
had by any of your predecessors. To bring about positive, beneficial
change, you will need to properly understand the challenges before you,
be impartial, creative and possess a sense of justice and balance. You
amply project these qualities. In your memoirs, you identify among
the values you hold dear "honesty," "fairness," "straight talk" and
"independent judgment." These are admirable references.
This is why I felt addressing this letter at this time might be
helpful to you on an issue of tremendous importance to the Turkish
people. I refer to the Armenian claims of genocide. So far, you have
taken a nearly categorical stand in support of the Armenian views
on the matter. Some may attribute your stance to the exigencies
of election politics. Nevertheless, the insistent nature of your
attitude on the Armenian claims suggests that you have arrived at
your considered opinion after obviously giving some thought to the
matter. I wish only to remind you of a few key facts in this connection
and invite you to reflect on them. First, the veracity of the claims
of genocide is profoundly contested. The Turks and the Armenians have
diametrically opposed versions of the same set of events that occurred
nearly a century ago. Their narratives are different and seemingly
incompatible. Both sides challenge the authenticity of the documentary
evidence offered by the other. Moreover, there is wide discrepancy
over the number of lives lost on each side. The disagreement on
what happened in 1915 is, however, not just between the Turks and
the Armenians. Historians and other scholars of third parties are
also deeply divided over the issue. Both sides can come up with long
lists of names in support of their views. Notwithstanding the Armenian
claims to the contrary, it is therefore a matter far from having been
settled in favor of either party. Second, the internationally accepted
standard for establishing the act of genocide beyond challenge is
missing in the Armenian case. This is the absence of a ruling from
an authorized legal tribunal. The Armenians have never proposed to
take their case to court. No court has addressed the case or found the
Turks guilty as charged. Clearly, resolutions of parliamentary bodies
or pronouncements of eminent personalities, including politicians,
cannot serve as substitutes for court judgments. Third, historical
issues that have divided nations have ultimately always required for
their resolution dialogue and conciliation. The Armenian Diasporas
are trying to dictate their particular version of history to the
international community as the truth. The Turks are defending their
own truth. The various attempts at dialogue so far have been to no
avail because for the Armenians the only legitimate purpose of these
exercises is for the Turks to admit to the crime of genocide. So long
as the two sides fail to come together, the wounds between these
great peoples will not be healed. Finally, the Turkish government,
with the unanimous backing of the Turkish Parliament, has formally
proposed to the Armenian government the establishment of a joint
commission of scholars and researchers to delve into the matter,
examining all the relevant documentation and evidence. The Commission
is open to the participation of third party representatives. It would
work in transparency. The Turkish government has committed itself to
the a priori acceptance of the findings of such a commission. This
is a brave and honest proposal. Only recently and in a remarkable
first by any international body, the Parliamentary Assembly of the
OSCE endorsed the validity and importance of the Turkish initiative.
Our times call for conciliation and dialogue. Perfunctory dismissal
of the Turkish viewpoint would certainly please the Armenian lobby in
America. However, it would hurt the Turkish people immensely and deal
a serious and lasting blow to the all-important Turkish-American
relationship. Upholding the values of fairness and independent
judgment you and so many of us so dearly cherish should lead you
to review the Armenian question in a broader context. You are in a
position to help make history on this difficult and highly emotive
issue: Ask the Turks and the Armenians to talk and to listen to each
other. That is the road to change. That is the road to conciliation
between Turks and Armenians."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress