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POWER OF PRESS: ROUND-TABLE IN YEREVAN DISCUSSES THE ROLE OF MEDIA IN ARMENIA-TURKEY RELATIONS, RAPPROCHEMENT AND MORE
By Gayane Lazarian
ArmeniaNow
05.06.12 | 14:32
Photo: Gayane Lazarian/ArmeniaNow.com
Armenian and Turkish participants of round-table discussions on the
Role of Mass Media in Armenian-Turkish Relations, held in Yerevan,
share the opinion that media has a big role in the rapprochement
process, despite the non-existing diplomatic relations between the
two countries.
Richard Giragosian, head of the Regional Research Center, believes
that under the circumstances of closed borders, media successfully
makes the dialogue real, maintaining the communication between the
civil societies of both countries.
'There are no diplomatic relations, the borders are closed, but the
borders of mind are open. We have ensured certain progress. We are
waiting for the day to come when we can have real relations. Today
our main challenge is on the Turkish side, however there are steps
that both sides have to take. And these relations are between Armenia
and Turkey and not the third party, that is Azerbaijan," he said.
Mensur Akgun, head of Istanbul's Global Political Trends Center,
reflecting on the frozen Turkish-Armenian protocols said that they
simply have to be brought to life.
"It is in the interests of both sides, otherwise it will reflect badly
on Armenia and Turkey. I hope that the protocols will soon become a
reality and diplomatic relations will be established," he said."
Akgun says current complications with the protocols are hampered by
Azeri interference and says that Azerbaijan to Turkey is a country
with very important economic resources.
"Turkey gets oil supply and has numerous investments in that country.
Azeri politicians' anti-Armenian speeches and statements in Turkey
create powerful counter-effect and the government is unable to cope
with it," he says.
Participants of the round-table also commented on Monday's visit to
Armenia by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit happens to
be on the same days as the discussions.
"If Clinton said in Armenia that the ball is in Turkey's court now,
be sure that if she goes to Turkey she'll say it's in Armenia's. Our
American and European friends, if they were honest, they'd put
pressure on Azerbaijan so that it doesn't pressure Turkey. Turkey
will not risk ruining its relations with Azerbaijan for the sake of
the development of Armenian-Azeri relations. So, ultimately, nobody
wants to do anything for anyone," he says.
Armenia's issues with Turkey are the Armenian Genocide and its
recognition and the closed borders. In this respect there is tangible
progress in Turkey, says Akgun.
"During my university years we didn't even know that Armenians were
killed in 1915, we knew the opposite. Hrant Dink paid with his life
for publicly speaking about it. Today, too, people are persecuted
for the freedom of speech, but most importantly Turkish newspapers
openly use the word genocide," he says.
Turkish blog-writer Kemal Boskurty says that the Genocide to Turkey
is like a burial - the authorities keep refusing to bury that "corpse".
"For a hundred years now the stench from that corpse has overwhelmed
our country and our lands. It must be buried, only then we can start
talking. We need more reporters. The issue shouldn't be left to
historians: in no historiography would any country admit that it did
something reprehensive. They [Turkish authorities] might be strong,
but we are just as strong, too. I might be only one drop in that
watershed, but my voice can be heard. When Dink was killed nobody
expected that two hundred thousand people would rally, the size of
that crowd was astounding. With my physically challenged friend we
walked eight kilometers chanting I am Hrant Dink," Boskurti recalls.
There are now around ten thousand political prisoners in Turkey's
penitentiaries, about a hundred reporters and 600-700 students.
Arus Yumur, head of the Sociology chair at Istanbul's Bilgi University,
said speaking about the freedom of speech in Turkey that it has always
been an issue there and that the authorities of different times tried
to restrict freedom of speech by various laws.
"If the history of freedom of speech is written in Turkey, Hrant Dink's
role in it will be fundamental. Hrant turned the unspoken into spoken
in Turkey. For several years now events are held in Turkey related
to the Genocide, something we couldn't have imagined years ago,"
says Yumul.
Boskurti says the relations can be improved only through pressure
upon the authorities.
"The press, reporters are the force that can apply pressure under
the circumstance of closed borders," he says.
The round-table was organized by Yerevan Press Club and Eurasia
Partnership Foundation with financial support of USAID. The discussions
continue today.
By Gayane Lazarian
ArmeniaNow
05.06.12 | 14:32
Photo: Gayane Lazarian/ArmeniaNow.com
Armenian and Turkish participants of round-table discussions on the
Role of Mass Media in Armenian-Turkish Relations, held in Yerevan,
share the opinion that media has a big role in the rapprochement
process, despite the non-existing diplomatic relations between the
two countries.
Richard Giragosian, head of the Regional Research Center, believes
that under the circumstances of closed borders, media successfully
makes the dialogue real, maintaining the communication between the
civil societies of both countries.
'There are no diplomatic relations, the borders are closed, but the
borders of mind are open. We have ensured certain progress. We are
waiting for the day to come when we can have real relations. Today
our main challenge is on the Turkish side, however there are steps
that both sides have to take. And these relations are between Armenia
and Turkey and not the third party, that is Azerbaijan," he said.
Mensur Akgun, head of Istanbul's Global Political Trends Center,
reflecting on the frozen Turkish-Armenian protocols said that they
simply have to be brought to life.
"It is in the interests of both sides, otherwise it will reflect badly
on Armenia and Turkey. I hope that the protocols will soon become a
reality and diplomatic relations will be established," he said."
Akgun says current complications with the protocols are hampered by
Azeri interference and says that Azerbaijan to Turkey is a country
with very important economic resources.
"Turkey gets oil supply and has numerous investments in that country.
Azeri politicians' anti-Armenian speeches and statements in Turkey
create powerful counter-effect and the government is unable to cope
with it," he says.
Participants of the round-table also commented on Monday's visit to
Armenia by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit happens to
be on the same days as the discussions.
"If Clinton said in Armenia that the ball is in Turkey's court now,
be sure that if she goes to Turkey she'll say it's in Armenia's. Our
American and European friends, if they were honest, they'd put
pressure on Azerbaijan so that it doesn't pressure Turkey. Turkey
will not risk ruining its relations with Azerbaijan for the sake of
the development of Armenian-Azeri relations. So, ultimately, nobody
wants to do anything for anyone," he says.
Armenia's issues with Turkey are the Armenian Genocide and its
recognition and the closed borders. In this respect there is tangible
progress in Turkey, says Akgun.
"During my university years we didn't even know that Armenians were
killed in 1915, we knew the opposite. Hrant Dink paid with his life
for publicly speaking about it. Today, too, people are persecuted
for the freedom of speech, but most importantly Turkish newspapers
openly use the word genocide," he says.
Turkish blog-writer Kemal Boskurty says that the Genocide to Turkey
is like a burial - the authorities keep refusing to bury that "corpse".
"For a hundred years now the stench from that corpse has overwhelmed
our country and our lands. It must be buried, only then we can start
talking. We need more reporters. The issue shouldn't be left to
historians: in no historiography would any country admit that it did
something reprehensive. They [Turkish authorities] might be strong,
but we are just as strong, too. I might be only one drop in that
watershed, but my voice can be heard. When Dink was killed nobody
expected that two hundred thousand people would rally, the size of
that crowd was astounding. With my physically challenged friend we
walked eight kilometers chanting I am Hrant Dink," Boskurti recalls.
There are now around ten thousand political prisoners in Turkey's
penitentiaries, about a hundred reporters and 600-700 students.
Arus Yumur, head of the Sociology chair at Istanbul's Bilgi University,
said speaking about the freedom of speech in Turkey that it has always
been an issue there and that the authorities of different times tried
to restrict freedom of speech by various laws.
"If the history of freedom of speech is written in Turkey, Hrant Dink's
role in it will be fundamental. Hrant turned the unspoken into spoken
in Turkey. For several years now events are held in Turkey related
to the Genocide, something we couldn't have imagined years ago,"
says Yumul.
Boskurti says the relations can be improved only through pressure
upon the authorities.
"The press, reporters are the force that can apply pressure under
the circumstance of closed borders," he says.
The round-table was organized by Yerevan Press Club and Eurasia
Partnership Foundation with financial support of USAID. The discussions
continue today.