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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.
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.