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FRANCE...
MARKAR ESAYAN
Today's Zaman
Feb 2 2012
Turkey
I have been in Paris for a couple of days to deliver a speech at a
meeting held on the fifth anniversary of Hrant Dink's death.
I was invited by L'ACORT (The Association of the Citizens of Turkish
origin in France), which has served the people of Turkey since 1980.
We gathered to remember Dink's life. At the meeting, a documentary on
Dink by Osman Okkan was screened. The audience filled the Paris 10th
Municipal Hall. The hall was so full that many stood throughout the
entire occasion; Dink is such a uniting figure. I think that the people
found in Dink, a pure, untouched Anatolian spirit. His authenticity
and Anatolian spirit remind us of our rich, multicultural history,
in other words, the good old days. It is particularly sad that he
was taken from us at a time when we were attempting to "resurrect"
Turkey. This is another item on the menu of regrets that also includes
our failure to better protect Dink and our failure to know him better
while he was still alive.
In fact, while we are sad about Hrant's death, we also mourn for
everything that was stolen from us. The vicious murder of an innocent
man, who walked around like a timid dove, at the hands of a violent
organization, seemed like an attack on everyone, regardless of whether
or not they love Armenians. Had Dink been murdered in the 1980s or
1990s, when we lost many valuable people, maybe such a great weight
would not have been placed on our consciences. The loss of Dink was
untimely. The Ergenekon investigation started a few months after
his murder. Veli Kucuk was arrested one year after his death. Is it
possible that there would be no connection at all between the unsolved
murders and the start of the Ergenekon investigation?
In Paris, France, where I am writing this column, Turks, Kurds and
Armenians held a meeting in remembrance of Hrant shortly after his
death. This pleased me back then. However, this year I realized that
bilateral relations have deteriorated in the aftermath of the adoption
of the genocide denial bill in the French Senate. Thousands of Turkish
people who gathered around the Senate building to protest have been
very influential. It is said that Turkey organized this event.
Armenians perceived the strong influence of Turkey in the recent
discussions of the delicate incidents of 1915 -- which took place in
this new home where their ancestors chose to live -- as a continuation
of the harassment and persecution they have faced for many years.
For this reason the participation of Armenians in the meeting where I
made a speech was limited. Of course a French journalist asked about
the decision of the Senate.
And I gave the following response, which I think pleased nobody:
"I have expressed my opinion on this matter many times in Turkey;
let me repeat: I am in favor of the right to express any thought that
does not involve violence, include racist remarks or humiliate the
dignity of others. With that being said, I am also aware that this
bill is part of the effort to create and label a new crime that seeks
to prevent future genocides. This cannot be explained by [President
Nicolas] Sarkozy's political ambitions alone. But as a democrat,
I hold this view. If I were a senator with the right to vote in the
Senate, I would object to the Gayssot bill and this law as well. But
as the child of people whose ancestors were murdered by the Committee
of Union and Progress (CUP) and denied respect for 96 years, I feel
partial pleasure in my heart with these decisions; frankly speaking,
I cannot deny this. And I think that this dilemma and contradiction
is not something for which I am responsible."
Of course, such meetings influence me; particularly those in foreign
countries where the people of Anatolia sought refuge from death,
persecution and poverty; the baggage we carry is sizeable. Living
abroad is already harsh. With the addition of compounding problems,
our baggage only becomes heavier. I tell them that we are not so
trapped in Turkey, and to realize that the positive changes in Turkey
are always perceived later, whereas unconstructive developments
are sensed immediately. It could be said that Turks, Kurds and the
Armenian Diaspora are all still experiencing the 1980s of Turkey.
The fact that Turkey has erased some of its partially positive image
by overreacting to the recent decision is something that has truly
frustrated me.
The issue is extensive. I will continue discussing it.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
MARKAR ESAYAN
Today's Zaman
Feb 2 2012
Turkey
I have been in Paris for a couple of days to deliver a speech at a
meeting held on the fifth anniversary of Hrant Dink's death.
I was invited by L'ACORT (The Association of the Citizens of Turkish
origin in France), which has served the people of Turkey since 1980.
We gathered to remember Dink's life. At the meeting, a documentary on
Dink by Osman Okkan was screened. The audience filled the Paris 10th
Municipal Hall. The hall was so full that many stood throughout the
entire occasion; Dink is such a uniting figure. I think that the people
found in Dink, a pure, untouched Anatolian spirit. His authenticity
and Anatolian spirit remind us of our rich, multicultural history,
in other words, the good old days. It is particularly sad that he
was taken from us at a time when we were attempting to "resurrect"
Turkey. This is another item on the menu of regrets that also includes
our failure to better protect Dink and our failure to know him better
while he was still alive.
In fact, while we are sad about Hrant's death, we also mourn for
everything that was stolen from us. The vicious murder of an innocent
man, who walked around like a timid dove, at the hands of a violent
organization, seemed like an attack on everyone, regardless of whether
or not they love Armenians. Had Dink been murdered in the 1980s or
1990s, when we lost many valuable people, maybe such a great weight
would not have been placed on our consciences. The loss of Dink was
untimely. The Ergenekon investigation started a few months after
his murder. Veli Kucuk was arrested one year after his death. Is it
possible that there would be no connection at all between the unsolved
murders and the start of the Ergenekon investigation?
In Paris, France, where I am writing this column, Turks, Kurds and
Armenians held a meeting in remembrance of Hrant shortly after his
death. This pleased me back then. However, this year I realized that
bilateral relations have deteriorated in the aftermath of the adoption
of the genocide denial bill in the French Senate. Thousands of Turkish
people who gathered around the Senate building to protest have been
very influential. It is said that Turkey organized this event.
Armenians perceived the strong influence of Turkey in the recent
discussions of the delicate incidents of 1915 -- which took place in
this new home where their ancestors chose to live -- as a continuation
of the harassment and persecution they have faced for many years.
For this reason the participation of Armenians in the meeting where I
made a speech was limited. Of course a French journalist asked about
the decision of the Senate.
And I gave the following response, which I think pleased nobody:
"I have expressed my opinion on this matter many times in Turkey;
let me repeat: I am in favor of the right to express any thought that
does not involve violence, include racist remarks or humiliate the
dignity of others. With that being said, I am also aware that this
bill is part of the effort to create and label a new crime that seeks
to prevent future genocides. This cannot be explained by [President
Nicolas] Sarkozy's political ambitions alone. But as a democrat,
I hold this view. If I were a senator with the right to vote in the
Senate, I would object to the Gayssot bill and this law as well. But
as the child of people whose ancestors were murdered by the Committee
of Union and Progress (CUP) and denied respect for 96 years, I feel
partial pleasure in my heart with these decisions; frankly speaking,
I cannot deny this. And I think that this dilemma and contradiction
is not something for which I am responsible."
Of course, such meetings influence me; particularly those in foreign
countries where the people of Anatolia sought refuge from death,
persecution and poverty; the baggage we carry is sizeable. Living
abroad is already harsh. With the addition of compounding problems,
our baggage only becomes heavier. I tell them that we are not so
trapped in Turkey, and to realize that the positive changes in Turkey
are always perceived later, whereas unconstructive developments
are sensed immediately. It could be said that Turks, Kurds and the
Armenian Diaspora are all still experiencing the 1980s of Turkey.
The fact that Turkey has erased some of its partially positive image
by overreacting to the recent decision is something that has truly
frustrated me.
The issue is extensive. I will continue discussing it.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress