Turks and Armenians discuss reconciliation issue in Washington
news.am
April 15, 2012 | 12:03
Several Armenians and Turks came together for an event in Washington,
D.C. on Thursday to discuss ways for Turkish-Armenian dialogue,
Today`s Zaman reports.
The event, named `Armenian-Turkish Reconciliation,' was organized by
HasNa, a civil society group that promotes cross-cultural dialogue,
with an emphasis on the ideas of murdered Turkish-Armenian journalist
Hrant Dink, who said: `Dialogue is the only solution.'
Ã-mer TaÅ?pınar, a member of HasNa executive board delivered a speech at
the event, saying that while Armenians suffered a trauma due to the
1915 incidents, Turks suffered a trauma due to the collapse of the
Ottoman Empire and he called on both Turks and Armenians to avoid acts
which will recall their traumas.
TaÅ?pınar drew some negative reactions from some Armenians in the
audience. One of the Armenian participants questioned why this event
was organized close to April 24, when Armenians commemorate the
victims of the genocide, while another Armenian participant said the
Turkish state does not educate its people about these issues.
HasNa member Mary Anne Kibarian, an Armenian-American, said she
supports dialogue between the peoples of Turkey and Armenia, adding
that Turkey's acceptance of Armenian claims of genocide should be a
precondition for this.
news.am
April 15, 2012 | 12:03
Several Armenians and Turks came together for an event in Washington,
D.C. on Thursday to discuss ways for Turkish-Armenian dialogue,
Today`s Zaman reports.
The event, named `Armenian-Turkish Reconciliation,' was organized by
HasNa, a civil society group that promotes cross-cultural dialogue,
with an emphasis on the ideas of murdered Turkish-Armenian journalist
Hrant Dink, who said: `Dialogue is the only solution.'
Ã-mer TaÅ?pınar, a member of HasNa executive board delivered a speech at
the event, saying that while Armenians suffered a trauma due to the
1915 incidents, Turks suffered a trauma due to the collapse of the
Ottoman Empire and he called on both Turks and Armenians to avoid acts
which will recall their traumas.
TaÅ?pınar drew some negative reactions from some Armenians in the
audience. One of the Armenian participants questioned why this event
was organized close to April 24, when Armenians commemorate the
victims of the genocide, while another Armenian participant said the
Turkish state does not educate its people about these issues.
HasNa member Mary Anne Kibarian, an Armenian-American, said she
supports dialogue between the peoples of Turkey and Armenia, adding
that Turkey's acceptance of Armenian claims of genocide should be a
precondition for this.