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Today's Zaman, Turkey
April 13 2012
Turks, Armenians aim for dialogue in Washington
13 April 2012 / ALÄ° H. ASLAN , WASHINGTON
Despite harsh criticism from some figures of the Armenian Diaspora,
some reconciliatory Armenians and Turks came together for an event in
Washington on Thursday to discuss ways for Turkish-Armenian dialogue.
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 late Turkish-Armenian journalist
Hrant Dink, who said: `Dialogue is the only solution.'
Relations between Turks and Armenians are tense due to Armenian claims
which say up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed in 1915 in a
systematic genocide campaign perpetrated under the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey categorically rejects the charges, saying the death toll is
inflated and that Turks were also killed as Armenians revolted against
the Ottoman Empire in collaboration with Russian forces for an
independent state in eastern Anatolia.
Ã-mer TaÅ?pınar, a member of HasNa executive board and an academic at
the National War College in Washington 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.
He said signals from some Armenians suggesting that they will demand
compensation and land from Turkey once their allegations of genocide
are accepted strengthen the `perception of a threat' in Turkey.
TaÅ?pınar said dialogue can begin first between Turks who are open to
accept Armenian claims of genocide and Armenians who do not liken the
1915 incidents to the Holocaust.
Despite his reconciliatory attitude, 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 alleged genocide,
while another Armenian participant said the Turkish state does not
educate its people about these issues.
Speaking to a group of Turkish journalists, 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.
Kibarian said she receives criticism from some Armenians for her
participation.
Harut Sassounian, an Armenian-American, recently spoke to an Armenian
weekly magazine and accused Armenians who participate in dialogue
meetings with Turks (including the HasNa meeting) of seeking to gain
fame or being naïve. He also claimed that Foreign Minister Ahmet
DavutoÄ?lu, who met with a group of Armenians in Los Angeles during his
latest visit to the US, was looking for some `soft' Armenians.
April 13 2012
Turks, Armenians aim for dialogue in Washington
13 April 2012 / ALÄ° H. ASLAN , WASHINGTON
Despite harsh criticism from some figures of the Armenian Diaspora,
some reconciliatory Armenians and Turks came together for an event in
Washington on Thursday to discuss ways for Turkish-Armenian dialogue.
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 late Turkish-Armenian journalist
Hrant Dink, who said: `Dialogue is the only solution.'
Relations between Turks and Armenians are tense due to Armenian claims
which say up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed in 1915 in a
systematic genocide campaign perpetrated under the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey categorically rejects the charges, saying the death toll is
inflated and that Turks were also killed as Armenians revolted against
the Ottoman Empire in collaboration with Russian forces for an
independent state in eastern Anatolia.
Ã-mer TaÅ?pınar, a member of HasNa executive board and an academic at
the National War College in Washington 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.
He said signals from some Armenians suggesting that they will demand
compensation and land from Turkey once their allegations of genocide
are accepted strengthen the `perception of a threat' in Turkey.
TaÅ?pınar said dialogue can begin first between Turks who are open to
accept Armenian claims of genocide and Armenians who do not liken the
1915 incidents to the Holocaust.
Despite his reconciliatory attitude, 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 alleged genocide,
while another Armenian participant said the Turkish state does not
educate its people about these issues.
Speaking to a group of Turkish journalists, 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.
Kibarian said she receives criticism from some Armenians for her
participation.
Harut Sassounian, an Armenian-American, recently spoke to an Armenian
weekly magazine and accused Armenians who participate in dialogue
meetings with Turks (including the HasNa meeting) of seeking to gain
fame or being naïve. He also claimed that Foreign Minister Ahmet
DavutoÄ?lu, who met with a group of Armenians in Los Angeles during his
latest visit to the US, was looking for some `soft' Armenians.