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Turkish threats quicken criminalization of Armenian Genocide

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  • Turkish threats quicken criminalization of Armenian Genocide

    news.am, Armenia
    Jan 8 2012


    Turkish threats quicken criminalization of Armenian Genocide


    January 07, 2012 | 23:02
    By Sasun Hovhannisyan

    On December 22 the National Assembly of France adopted a bill
    criminalizing the denial of genocides. It will soon be sent to the
    French Senate's floor.

    This bill was adopted sooner than expected and this in fact is a
    reaction to the Turkish attempts to increase pressures in the French.
    It is time that Turkey changed its attitude towards the Armenian
    genocide and withstand from the strategy of historical denial within
    its territory as well as internationally. This strategy is not giving
    any tangible results but alienating Turkey from its allies. Turkey's
    attempt to blame the Armenian genocide recognition process on the
    Armenian Diaspora or local elections does not stand criticism by the
    fact that countries with little Armenian Diaspora, stronger Turkish
    communities and allies to Turkey, such as Sweden (in 2011), Poland
    (2005), the Netherlands (2004), Slovakia (2004), Germany (2005) and
    many others have passed genocide recognition resolutions. This trend
    is bound to continue, the Turkish over-reaction to the issue increase
    the international community's interest and international public
    awareness towards the Armenian genocide.

    The world is heading towards universal human values, where genocides
    and violations of human rights have less or no place. Yes, a few
    hundred years ago the sovereignty of the state was considered as a
    sacred and inviolable value and massacre of population within the
    state was considered as an internal issue. But the universal movement
    towards democracy and protection of human rights, which started just
    in France, has made humanitarianism as a universal value. In 1915 the
    Entente countries condemned the 1915 massacres of Armenians as a crime
    against humanity. And Turkey cannot fight against the pivotal value of
    the modern world through misrepresenting history and through political
    menaces. This strategy may lead Turkey to isolationism.

    The countering of the freedom of speech to criminalization of the
    denial of genocides is not appropriate, because the freedom of speech
    itself is subject to some legal restrictions, including by some
    articles in the Genocide Convention. The same logic forbids fascistic
    and racial appeals, the destructive power of which was strengthened by
    `scientific' arguments several decades ago. Also, freedom of speech
    can by no means justify the falsification of history and disrespect
    towards the descendents and victims of millions of Armenians during
    the First World War.

    For decades now the descendents of the victims of the Armenian
    genocide have struggled against denial of the genocide throughout the
    world. And the reason of some of the success stories does not lie in
    their political and economic power, but in the righteousness of their
    cause. They are acting by `Never again' motto. The Armenian genocide
    became a precedent for the following genocides, as the Holocaust,
    Cambodia, Ruanda, and Darfur, the first genocide of the 21st century.
    The atmosphere of impunity and the absence of condemnation of
    genocides prepare a ground for a repetition of a new genocide .Many
    people recall the famous expression of Hitler in 1939 August about the
    extermination of the Armenians. Then it was already too late as the
    extermination of the Jews in Europe had started. But before coming to
    power, in 1931 June, Hitler gave an interview to a German paper where
    he mocked the massacres of the Armenians and used it as a possible
    specimen for repetition towards other peoples under different
    circumstances. I mean to say that the absence of condemnation of
    genocide and impunity directly hit its prevention in the future.
    Genocide denier under the circumstances of impunity supports a birth
    of genocide.

    For anyone to believe in the Turkish claims that there are differing
    sides to the Armenian genocide is as much an outrage as it would be
    for Germany to say that the work of Jewish scholars, witnesses, and
    victim testimonies represented merely the "Jewish side" of the
    Holocaust. To deny genocide victims their history and suffering is
    tantamount to making them victims again.

    Indeed there are many people in Turkey, especially the intellectuals,
    who do accept that a genocide of Armenians was committed a hundred
    years ago in Turkey, but on the other hand there is still Article 301
    in the Turkish Penal Code, which can penalize anyone accepting the
    fact of the Armenian genocide. On the one hand, Turkey demands respect
    of freedom of speech (i.e. understanding under it the denial of
    genocide), on the other hand, in its own country restricts the same
    freedom of speech (i.e acceptance of genocide), thus acting as a
    classical example of an actor of double-standards.

    Few, if any, doubt the fact of the Armenian genocide. France
    reiterated that the issue is about a historical event, the reality of
    which is a fact. The US debates of the Armenian genocide do not doubt
    the ample existence of genocidal facts. Every US President sends words
    of compassion to the Armenian people and descendents of the victims of
    the genocide. Academicians, political circles, the public in general
    and most of the states in the US do accept the fact of the Armenian
    genocide, but under the current situation, due to some political
    calculations, this has not yet been officially done. But that is a
    matter of time.

    By the example of France, others will recognize the genocide and
    criminalize its denial. Many states will appeal to Turkey to face its
    historical past as long as Turkey does not give up its policy of
    denial. This is a route that former colonial powers of Europe passed.
    Europe has long ago reconciled with its past and come to terms with
    the mistakes and/or crimes of some of their predecessors, and
    sincerely, I think Europe will keep its doors closed to Turkey as long
    as Turkey does not cross that path. Threats of revenge and sanctions
    merely downgrade Turkey.

    Now Turkey faces a dilemma. On the one hand it can continue its policy
    of denial, its hostile policy towards Armenia (a proof of which is its
    blockade of Armenia), thus heading to a stalemate by deteriorating its
    relations with its allies and further losing its image. On the other
    hand, it can rise from a denier state to a state committed to
    universal human values by facing its historical past, by normalizing
    its relations with Armenia without any conditions, opening borders and
    establishing diplomatic relations with Armenia. This would mean that
    Turkey is a mature state and is willing to engage with its neighbours
    and is not continuing the Armenophobic policies of the Young Turks.
    Otherwise, so far, the zero policy with neighbours has led to zero
    results.

    Recognition of the Armenian genocide does not threaten the Turkish
    statehood or its territorial integrity. There is no connection between
    genocide recognition and territorial claims. In fact, all Armenian
    Presidents have said so. There is no legal argument either. Genocide
    recognition cannot result in territorial reparations. This issue is
    often manipulated by nationalist politicians. Yet, the end of denial
    will enable the reconciliation between the Turkish and Armenian
    peoples, of which both will be the winners.

    Sasun Hovhannisyan is President of the French-Armenian Youth
    Foundation (FAYF), student at the University of Lyon.

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