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ARMENIAN DIASPORA SEEKING RECOGNITION FROM TURKEY
Today's Zaman (Turkey)
December 1, 2013 Sunday
The head of an Armenian diaspora organization based in France is
seeking recognition from Turkish civil society to overcome problems
between Turkey and Armenia. Speaking to Sunday's Zaman, Garen
Mikaelyan, the deputy chairperson of the National Congress of Western
Armenians (NCWA), says the main purpose of their organization is to
represent and defend the rights and interests of Western Armenians,
the descendants of citizens of the Ottoman Empire of Armenian origin.
The NCWA, an international nongovernmental organization which was
established during the third Western Armenian Congress, held in Paris
in 2011, is subjected to French laws.
Mikaelyan believes that the role of Turkish civil society as a mediator
is essential to "re-establishing the rights of Western Armenians"
and the organization is trying to initiate continuous dialogue
with different institutions in Turkey. According to him, the ongoing
democratization reforms in Turkey "would create an atmosphere of mutual
understanding as well as the establishment of trust and justice."
In response to a question about their expectations from Turkey,
Mikaelyan says the Armenian question has three focuses as far as
Turkey is concerned: The establishment of diplomatic relations between
Armenia and Turkey and the opening of borders without preconditions;
the elimination of all forms of discrimination of both Christian
and Muslim Armenian citizens in the Republic of Turkey; and the
recognition by Turkey of the rights of the descendants of Armenians
from the Ottoman Empire currently living outside Turkey and the
restitution of these rights by the Turkish authorities.
In addition to these extensive demands, Mikaelyan is also seeking to
officially register the NCWA as a civil society NGO in Turkey.
"Turkish society must rid itself of the long-lasting prejudice
introduced and encouraged by ultra-nationalist Turkish circles,"
Mikaelyan said, adding that Armenians are portrayed as "enemies of
the Turkish state who allegedly betrayed their country."
Stating that the contributions of Armenians to the Ottoman Empire are a
"historical fact," Mikaelyan says the involvement of a few Armenian
organizations in "anti-Ottoman activities does not justify the mass
annihilation and deportation of Armenians." Mikaelyan believes that
Turkish civil society is ahead of the authorities as far as the
acknowledgment of the "truth" is concerned.
Responding to a question about how they define themselves, Mikaelyan
says, "We consider ourselves the descendants of the people subjected to
annihilation," noting that the population of Western Armenians around
the world is around 7 million. He says that the grandparents of these
people were admitted as refugees in the Middle East, the Americas,
Europe, Russia and the Republic of Armenia.
Asking Turkey to accept 'crimes of Young Turks'
When asked about their demands, Mikaelyan says the "issue of
compensation can be raised once the damages caused as a result of
'Medz Yeghern' [ 'Great Tragedy,' in reference to 1915] have been
identified and quantified." He adds that NCWA specialists are trying
to gather the necessary data based on political, historical and
judiciary documentation and present quantifiable demands to the
Turkish authorities.
Expecting the Turkish public and the authorities to accept the
"criminal acts of the Young Turks leading to the annihilation of
Armenian Ottomans," Mikaelyan is also seeking the necessary legislative
changes to "re-establish the loss of rights of their descendants,"
including the rights of citizenship, the right to restitution and/or
compensation for confiscated property and other losses, the cancelation
of laws and decrees referring to "abandoned property" and the right
to return and live in peace and security in their historic homeland
if they so desire.
According to Mikaelyan, after the Hrant Dink murder in 2007, the
democratization process in Turkey created "conditions conducive to
an improved pragmatic and true understanding of 1915."
As far as the Armenian perceptions of Turks are concerned, Mikaelyan
says "Armenians cannot understand the reasons for the Turkish
authorities not having the courage to condemn the crimes of the
Young Turks." However, he notes that some Armenians are developing a
"pragmatic and optimistic approach" toward Turkish people. "There
is a slowly emerging belief that the time will come when hate and
animosity will be replaced by mutual tolerance and understanding,"
the president of the NCWA stated, underlining the importance of
dialogue with Turkish civil society.
Today's Zaman (Turkey)
December 1, 2013 Sunday
The head of an Armenian diaspora organization based in France is
seeking recognition from Turkish civil society to overcome problems
between Turkey and Armenia. Speaking to Sunday's Zaman, Garen
Mikaelyan, the deputy chairperson of the National Congress of Western
Armenians (NCWA), says the main purpose of their organization is to
represent and defend the rights and interests of Western Armenians,
the descendants of citizens of the Ottoman Empire of Armenian origin.
The NCWA, an international nongovernmental organization which was
established during the third Western Armenian Congress, held in Paris
in 2011, is subjected to French laws.
Mikaelyan believes that the role of Turkish civil society as a mediator
is essential to "re-establishing the rights of Western Armenians"
and the organization is trying to initiate continuous dialogue
with different institutions in Turkey. According to him, the ongoing
democratization reforms in Turkey "would create an atmosphere of mutual
understanding as well as the establishment of trust and justice."
In response to a question about their expectations from Turkey,
Mikaelyan says the Armenian question has three focuses as far as
Turkey is concerned: The establishment of diplomatic relations between
Armenia and Turkey and the opening of borders without preconditions;
the elimination of all forms of discrimination of both Christian
and Muslim Armenian citizens in the Republic of Turkey; and the
recognition by Turkey of the rights of the descendants of Armenians
from the Ottoman Empire currently living outside Turkey and the
restitution of these rights by the Turkish authorities.
In addition to these extensive demands, Mikaelyan is also seeking to
officially register the NCWA as a civil society NGO in Turkey.
"Turkish society must rid itself of the long-lasting prejudice
introduced and encouraged by ultra-nationalist Turkish circles,"
Mikaelyan said, adding that Armenians are portrayed as "enemies of
the Turkish state who allegedly betrayed their country."
Stating that the contributions of Armenians to the Ottoman Empire are a
"historical fact," Mikaelyan says the involvement of a few Armenian
organizations in "anti-Ottoman activities does not justify the mass
annihilation and deportation of Armenians." Mikaelyan believes that
Turkish civil society is ahead of the authorities as far as the
acknowledgment of the "truth" is concerned.
Responding to a question about how they define themselves, Mikaelyan
says, "We consider ourselves the descendants of the people subjected to
annihilation," noting that the population of Western Armenians around
the world is around 7 million. He says that the grandparents of these
people were admitted as refugees in the Middle East, the Americas,
Europe, Russia and the Republic of Armenia.
Asking Turkey to accept 'crimes of Young Turks'
When asked about their demands, Mikaelyan says the "issue of
compensation can be raised once the damages caused as a result of
'Medz Yeghern' [ 'Great Tragedy,' in reference to 1915] have been
identified and quantified." He adds that NCWA specialists are trying
to gather the necessary data based on political, historical and
judiciary documentation and present quantifiable demands to the
Turkish authorities.
Expecting the Turkish public and the authorities to accept the
"criminal acts of the Young Turks leading to the annihilation of
Armenian Ottomans," Mikaelyan is also seeking the necessary legislative
changes to "re-establish the loss of rights of their descendants,"
including the rights of citizenship, the right to restitution and/or
compensation for confiscated property and other losses, the cancelation
of laws and decrees referring to "abandoned property" and the right
to return and live in peace and security in their historic homeland
if they so desire.
According to Mikaelyan, after the Hrant Dink murder in 2007, the
democratization process in Turkey created "conditions conducive to
an improved pragmatic and true understanding of 1915."
As far as the Armenian perceptions of Turks are concerned, Mikaelyan
says "Armenians cannot understand the reasons for the Turkish
authorities not having the courage to condemn the crimes of the
Young Turks." However, he notes that some Armenians are developing a
"pragmatic and optimistic approach" toward Turkish people. "There
is a slowly emerging belief that the time will come when hate and
animosity will be replaced by mutual tolerance and understanding,"
the president of the NCWA stated, underlining the importance of
dialogue with Turkish civil society.