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TURKEY'S ARMENIAN OBSESSION
Commentary Magazine
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2011/12/26/turkey-armenian-genocide/
Dec 26 2011
I continue to be amazed and dismayed by the short-sightedness of the
Turkish political class when it comes to dealing with the Armenian
genocide. Case in point is Ankara's outraged reaction to the French
National Assembly passing a bill to make it "a crime to deny the
deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenians of the Ottoman
Empire during World War Iā~@~K."
Why does Turkey insist on poisoning its relations with important
countries over this historical issue concerning something that happened
nearly 100 years ago?
As it happens, the Turks probably have a decent case to make
that the slaughter of Armenians was not intended, as was the Nazi
Holocaustā~@~K, to wipe out an entire race, so perhaps it doesn't meet
the technical definition of "genocide." But it was still a terrible
war crime, so why argue about technicalities?
The current government in Ankara could simply say that it was not
responsible for these acts committed by the Young Turks in the waning
days of the Ottoman Empire-another state altogether, albeit one sharing
some territory with the modern Turkish state. Prime Minister Erdogan
could then express sorrow for what happened, in spite of having no
responsibility for it, and, as a humanitarian gesture, even offer
to pay some restitution to victims' families-something modern Turkey
is certainly wealthy enough to afford. In a stroke, Turkey would win
a PR victory instead of having to fight a losing battle over a side
issue that detracts from modern Turkey's central concerns.
What does Turkey gain from its obdurate attitude? Nothing that I can
tell. It appears to be simply the triumph of emotions over reason,
something that is not exactly unheard of in international relations
but which usually exacts a steep price. Surely Turkish leaders should
be smart enough to see that by now.
Commentary Magazine
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2011/12/26/turkey-armenian-genocide/
Dec 26 2011
I continue to be amazed and dismayed by the short-sightedness of the
Turkish political class when it comes to dealing with the Armenian
genocide. Case in point is Ankara's outraged reaction to the French
National Assembly passing a bill to make it "a crime to deny the
deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenians of the Ottoman
Empire during World War Iā~@~K."
Why does Turkey insist on poisoning its relations with important
countries over this historical issue concerning something that happened
nearly 100 years ago?
As it happens, the Turks probably have a decent case to make
that the slaughter of Armenians was not intended, as was the Nazi
Holocaustā~@~K, to wipe out an entire race, so perhaps it doesn't meet
the technical definition of "genocide." But it was still a terrible
war crime, so why argue about technicalities?
The current government in Ankara could simply say that it was not
responsible for these acts committed by the Young Turks in the waning
days of the Ottoman Empire-another state altogether, albeit one sharing
some territory with the modern Turkish state. Prime Minister Erdogan
could then express sorrow for what happened, in spite of having no
responsibility for it, and, as a humanitarian gesture, even offer
to pay some restitution to victims' families-something modern Turkey
is certainly wealthy enough to afford. In a stroke, Turkey would win
a PR victory instead of having to fight a losing battle over a side
issue that detracts from modern Turkey's central concerns.
What does Turkey gain from its obdurate attitude? Nothing that I can
tell. It appears to be simply the triumph of emotions over reason,
something that is not exactly unheard of in international relations
but which usually exacts a steep price. Surely Turkish leaders should
be smart enough to see that by now.