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HIZMET MOVEMENT TO ADDRESS ARMENIAN ISSUE
Today's Zaman, Turkey
March 29 2013
The impression I got while speaking with friends who are also members
of the Hizmet/Gulen movement and living in Chicago, where I have been
invited for the opening ceremony of a new cultural center established
by Turkish American Society of Chicago (TASC) on March 24, is that it
seems the Hizmet movement is the only Turkish civilian movement which
would positively contribute to the normalization of Turkish-Armenian
relations in the US, where the Armenian diaspora is considerably
strong.
The Armenian and Kurdish issues serve as a test for not only new
Turkish politics, which aim to shape Turkey's future, but also the
Gulen movement.
During the last decade, the efforts of the Gulen movement to solve
the Kurdish issue have positively contributed to the solution process.
The Abant Platform, which has since its establishment in 1998 tackled
pressing issues facing Turkey, has held meetings in Diyarbakır
and Arbil, and brought the many different groups, academics and
intellectuals holding different opinions about the Kurdish issue
together. The reality that Kurds and Turks follow the same religion
and share a common history reinforced the movement's efforts.
I believe that any assessment of the progress that we have made toward
the settlement of the Kurdish issue will be flawed if done without
considering the contributions of the Hizmet movement to the settlement
of the Kurdish issue. The contribution of the Hizmet movement, which
has strong ties with both Turks and Kurds, for the recognition of the
Kurdish identity by the state and the establishment of a new vision
toward the Kurdish issue cannot be compared to that of any another
civil society movement.
The Gulen movement is now preparing to contribute positively to another
issue much more complicated than the Kurdish issue: the Armenian issue.
Unfortunately, the official relations between Turks and Armenians
have been unable to reach the desired level.
There has been no major change in the Armenian diaspora's attitude
towards the 1915 incidents.
Moreover, the official Turkish thesis about 1915 incidents is still
being protected. And this prevent us from confronting our history.
We will probably witness the Hizmet movement, which has already become
a global civil society movement, contribute to the solution of the
Armenian issue and the establishment of dialogue between the two sides.
I believe the efforts of the Hizmet movement in many countries, and
especially in the US, will be mentioned frequently while discussing
the confrontation with the incidents of 1915 in 2015.
This will be an important and new development.
Just as we managed to normalize the extremist reactions concerning
the Kurdish issue with the help of civil movements, the same can be
applied to the Armenian issue. If a movement which has originated from
Anatolia and spread to the entire world initiates a process for the
settlement of the Armenian issue, we can be optimistic and hopeful
about the solution.
The new TASC cultural center reflects the American society's cultural
and religious diversity.
The Niagara Foundation has a special place in the Hizmet movement's
works.
The Niagara Foundation organizes forums which are open to the public
and attended by distinguished speakers to shed light on agenda items
in the US.
During the last 10 year, the foundation has also invited thousands
of people to Turkey and paved the way for the formation of a cultural
and social tie between the two societies.
The picture that we witnessed during the opening ceremony of the
cultural center was a reflection of this meaningful fusion of the
cultures. Among the participants of the ceremony were distinguish
politicians, state bureaucrats, and representatives of various
religions and beliefs.
It can also be said that young academics who are also members of
the Hizmet movement will assume important positions in US media and
academic circles and obtain a certain representative power in the
future. I believe this is the general direction of the events. This
is a great advantage for Turkey.
The Hizmet movement has strong relations with the US society. If they
can use their strong relations with the US society to form a basis
for dialogue with the Armenian diaspora in the US and outside the US,
we can make very important progress in confronting the Armenian issue.
However, we have to show that we are ready to share their pain.
http://www.todayszaman.com/columnistDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=311132
Today's Zaman, Turkey
March 29 2013
The impression I got while speaking with friends who are also members
of the Hizmet/Gulen movement and living in Chicago, where I have been
invited for the opening ceremony of a new cultural center established
by Turkish American Society of Chicago (TASC) on March 24, is that it
seems the Hizmet movement is the only Turkish civilian movement which
would positively contribute to the normalization of Turkish-Armenian
relations in the US, where the Armenian diaspora is considerably
strong.
The Armenian and Kurdish issues serve as a test for not only new
Turkish politics, which aim to shape Turkey's future, but also the
Gulen movement.
During the last decade, the efforts of the Gulen movement to solve
the Kurdish issue have positively contributed to the solution process.
The Abant Platform, which has since its establishment in 1998 tackled
pressing issues facing Turkey, has held meetings in Diyarbakır
and Arbil, and brought the many different groups, academics and
intellectuals holding different opinions about the Kurdish issue
together. The reality that Kurds and Turks follow the same religion
and share a common history reinforced the movement's efforts.
I believe that any assessment of the progress that we have made toward
the settlement of the Kurdish issue will be flawed if done without
considering the contributions of the Hizmet movement to the settlement
of the Kurdish issue. The contribution of the Hizmet movement, which
has strong ties with both Turks and Kurds, for the recognition of the
Kurdish identity by the state and the establishment of a new vision
toward the Kurdish issue cannot be compared to that of any another
civil society movement.
The Gulen movement is now preparing to contribute positively to another
issue much more complicated than the Kurdish issue: the Armenian issue.
Unfortunately, the official relations between Turks and Armenians
have been unable to reach the desired level.
There has been no major change in the Armenian diaspora's attitude
towards the 1915 incidents.
Moreover, the official Turkish thesis about 1915 incidents is still
being protected. And this prevent us from confronting our history.
We will probably witness the Hizmet movement, which has already become
a global civil society movement, contribute to the solution of the
Armenian issue and the establishment of dialogue between the two sides.
I believe the efforts of the Hizmet movement in many countries, and
especially in the US, will be mentioned frequently while discussing
the confrontation with the incidents of 1915 in 2015.
This will be an important and new development.
Just as we managed to normalize the extremist reactions concerning
the Kurdish issue with the help of civil movements, the same can be
applied to the Armenian issue. If a movement which has originated from
Anatolia and spread to the entire world initiates a process for the
settlement of the Armenian issue, we can be optimistic and hopeful
about the solution.
The new TASC cultural center reflects the American society's cultural
and religious diversity.
The Niagara Foundation has a special place in the Hizmet movement's
works.
The Niagara Foundation organizes forums which are open to the public
and attended by distinguished speakers to shed light on agenda items
in the US.
During the last 10 year, the foundation has also invited thousands
of people to Turkey and paved the way for the formation of a cultural
and social tie between the two societies.
The picture that we witnessed during the opening ceremony of the
cultural center was a reflection of this meaningful fusion of the
cultures. Among the participants of the ceremony were distinguish
politicians, state bureaucrats, and representatives of various
religions and beliefs.
It can also be said that young academics who are also members of
the Hizmet movement will assume important positions in US media and
academic circles and obtain a certain representative power in the
future. I believe this is the general direction of the events. This
is a great advantage for Turkey.
The Hizmet movement has strong relations with the US society. If they
can use their strong relations with the US society to form a basis
for dialogue with the Armenian diaspora in the US and outside the US,
we can make very important progress in confronting the Armenian issue.
However, we have to show that we are ready to share their pain.
http://www.todayszaman.com/columnistDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=311132