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DIYARBEKIR MAYOR SAYS GENOCIDE MEMORIAL A POSSIBILITY
Kristine Aghalaryan
hetq
http://hetq.am/eng/news/1079/
01:28, May 9, 2011
Osman Baydemir, the mayor of Diyarbakir, says that the present
generation cannot be held responsible for the tragedy of 1915 but that
the facts must be brought to light and people must pay their respects;
saying that they too share the pain.
Calling the losses of 1915 a great tragedy, Mayor Baydemir said that
the young generation isn't informed but that they must be able to
confront those facts directly.
He also said that the idea of erecting some type of memorial for the
victims of 1915 in Diyarbakir was a possibility and that it would
allow local residents to also pay their respects.
"It would also help improve relations. People could come together
and pay their respects," Mayor Baydemir said.
When asked who exactly was responsible for the events of 1915, Mayor
Baydemir said it was the government at the time, those in charge of
the military - the Young Turks.
Mayor Baydemir also commented on Turkey's desire to enter the European
Union and said that Turkey could integrate into the EU much easier
than any other Middle East nation.
He said much work needed to be done in this respect but that he was
confident that Turkey would one day would join the EU.
He added that Turkish-Armenian problems wouldn't be resolved by
Turkey's entry into the EU.
Instead, Mayor Baydemir noted that the Turkish media has a large role
to play in the normalization process.
"If the Turkish media wanted to win the sympathy of the Armenian
society, they could do it within three months," said the mayor.
From: A. Papazian
Kristine Aghalaryan
hetq
http://hetq.am/eng/news/1079/
01:28, May 9, 2011
Osman Baydemir, the mayor of Diyarbakir, says that the present
generation cannot be held responsible for the tragedy of 1915 but that
the facts must be brought to light and people must pay their respects;
saying that they too share the pain.
Calling the losses of 1915 a great tragedy, Mayor Baydemir said that
the young generation isn't informed but that they must be able to
confront those facts directly.
He also said that the idea of erecting some type of memorial for the
victims of 1915 in Diyarbakir was a possibility and that it would
allow local residents to also pay their respects.
"It would also help improve relations. People could come together
and pay their respects," Mayor Baydemir said.
When asked who exactly was responsible for the events of 1915, Mayor
Baydemir said it was the government at the time, those in charge of
the military - the Young Turks.
Mayor Baydemir also commented on Turkey's desire to enter the European
Union and said that Turkey could integrate into the EU much easier
than any other Middle East nation.
He said much work needed to be done in this respect but that he was
confident that Turkey would one day would join the EU.
He added that Turkish-Armenian problems wouldn't be resolved by
Turkey's entry into the EU.
Instead, Mayor Baydemir noted that the Turkish media has a large role
to play in the normalization process.
"If the Turkish media wanted to win the sympathy of the Armenian
society, they could do it within three months," said the mayor.
From: A. Papazian