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TURKEY SHOWS PROGRESS, SAYS ARMENIAN HISTORIAN RAYMOND KEVORKIAN
Yerepouni Daily News
November 4, 2013 Monday
Armenian-descent French historian Raymond Kevorkian says the conference
held on Islamized Armenians is a result of Turkey's positive progress
in democracy, but remains pessimistic about the country to take any
step towards breaking "dogmas" regarding the 1915 incidents before
its 100th anniversary.
"Turkey has been changing for the good and it would be unfair not
to see that, this conference is a result of that," Kevorkian told
Hurriyet Daily News on the sidelines of three-day conference regarding
Islamized Armenians that started Nov. 2 in Istanbul.
Despite hailing the opening of archives, Kevorkian implied he still
does not expect drastic moves from Turkey before the 100th anniversary
of the 1915 incidents, which is anticipated as a breaking point for
Armenian diaspora. "2015 is an opportunity to break this dogma, but
Turkey doesn't look like it will take a step toward it." Speaking
about the idea of the establishment of a Historian's Commission to
be consisted of the two countries' historians, Kevorkian said he is
against the formation of a commission under a state's guidance.
"Historians should be independent; they don't wait for the state's
approval to start working. Besides, we, Armenian and Turkish
historians, are already in cooperation and congregate together in
scientific meetings." "Moreover, there is no need to discuss the
presence of the Armenian genocide as the result is obvious. The
Armenian genocide is a reality acknowledged by the international
community as well," he added.
Yerepouni Daily News
November 4, 2013 Monday
Armenian-descent French historian Raymond Kevorkian says the conference
held on Islamized Armenians is a result of Turkey's positive progress
in democracy, but remains pessimistic about the country to take any
step towards breaking "dogmas" regarding the 1915 incidents before
its 100th anniversary.
"Turkey has been changing for the good and it would be unfair not
to see that, this conference is a result of that," Kevorkian told
Hurriyet Daily News on the sidelines of three-day conference regarding
Islamized Armenians that started Nov. 2 in Istanbul.
Despite hailing the opening of archives, Kevorkian implied he still
does not expect drastic moves from Turkey before the 100th anniversary
of the 1915 incidents, which is anticipated as a breaking point for
Armenian diaspora. "2015 is an opportunity to break this dogma, but
Turkey doesn't look like it will take a step toward it." Speaking
about the idea of the establishment of a Historian's Commission to
be consisted of the two countries' historians, Kevorkian said he is
against the formation of a commission under a state's guidance.
"Historians should be independent; they don't wait for the state's
approval to start working. Besides, we, Armenian and Turkish
historians, are already in cooperation and congregate together in
scientific meetings." "Moreover, there is no need to discuss the
presence of the Armenian genocide as the result is obvious. The
Armenian genocide is a reality acknowledged by the international
community as well," he added.