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IN BRUSSELS, THE BOGHOSSIAN FOUNDATION FOCUSES ON THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE TURKISH-ARMENIAN DIALOGUE
PRESS
Symposium
Fifteen experts from several countries have recently come together
for a rich testimony and information day.
"Rebuilding the memorial dialogue: Armenian-Turkish example" is
the theme developed during international meetings at Villa Empain
Brussels headquarters of the Boghossian Foundation. In the marble
lobby of this sumptuous, jewel of Belgian Art Deco heritage, the
day was full of information, interventions and evidence. The theme
of the Turkish-Armenian dialogue was addressed by fifteen speakers,
teachers, researchers, journalists, writers, artists, from Belgium,
but also France, Switzerland, Turkey, Canada, and has declined on three
pillars: the duality Turkey-Armenia, the construction of identities,
art and memory.
In opening the meeting day, Albert Boghossian, founder and treasurer
of the foundation member, paid tribute to Edward Jakhian "Armenian
Brussels" great Belgian humanist of Armenian origin who died last May.
Mr. Boghossian said that the Armenian genocide of 1915 remained
"an open wound because unrecognized" and launched the discussion by
asking why the genocide was still disputed by Turkey.
Evelyne de Mevius young doctoral student, whose memory philosophy
"Ethics reconstructive the test of Armenian genocide" was published
by Boghossian, addressed the issue of recognition of the Armenian
Genocide through the prism of reconstructive ethics which involves
reviewing in depth the story to "lift the destiny" of the tragic
relationship between Turks and Armenians. She recalled, highlighted,
that supported Jakhian Island: "The daughter or son of the victim
remain the victim's daughter or son of the executioner is not the
executioner"; Jakhian, who fought for the recognition of Armenian
genocide, but not least trying to find the "right" of Turkey, these
women and men who helped save Armenian lives during these dark days
of history, and to honor them. "100 years have not helped alleviate
bruised memory of the Armenian people and undermine the revisionist
armor that prevents the Turkish people to recognize this dark chapter
in its history, she said. Only the recognition of this drama could
appease one side or the other, the conflicting report that these
people have with their past and each other. "
Duality Turkey-Armenia
Duality Turkey-Armenia, moderated by the Belgian radio journalist Eddy
Caekelberghs debate addressed the issue by the historical bias. This
is Olivier Mongin, director of Esprit, who recalled the various stages
of recognition of the Armenian Genocide through five steps, the first
is in the middle of the sixties, with the first visible evocation
of commemorative fiftieth anniversary of the genocide, and the last
period 2009/2010, the Turkish initiative with a petition calling for
the opening of a dialogue on the issue of the Armenian genocide.
Michel Marian, a lecturer at the Institute of Political Studies in
Paris and Ahmet Insel, a professor at Galatasaray University and
lecturer at Paris I, have detailed "The Armenian taboo." For the
former, Turkey suffered a genuine amnesia is on the Armenian issue,
amnesia caused by both the small number of Armenians still living
in Turkey, particularly in Anatolia (region where were deported and
massacred 1.5 million Armenians), by cutting between the Turks claim
that today's Turkey and the Ottoman Empire at the end of which was
perpetrated genocide. Ahmet Insel for the past 20 years, things have
changed and there is a "related factors of optimism," especially since
the 2008 petition, signed by 30 000 to 40 000 people and marking the
first act of apology Turkish citizens in their Armenian citizens "not
on the genocide itself, but the forgetting, denial of the genocide
and discriminatory actions that resulted." The issue of the return of
Armenians in Turkey began to be addressed, says the researcher, and
the Armenians are allowed to come "visit" the land of their ancestors,
especially in the Anatolia region. However, the issue of property,
including land belonging to many Armenians and looted remains taboo.
"A circular prohibits access to land registers before 1924 in order to
protect the security of the state. And no historical research can be
done on this tradition of referral of real estate, "said Ahmet Insel.
"Today, Turkish society is afraid of being expelled from Anatolia,
these ill-gotten land. We are in the illusory idea of a homogeneous
Turkish society. Without a fair memory, no memory subsided. The
Armenian question must be part of the process of democratization of
Turkish society. "And to emphasize:" The Armenian issue will return
like a boomerang to the figure of Turkey as it has not done its job
memory. The Turkish identity is built on the negation of the other,
his disappearance. Recognize this genocide equivalent to deconstruct,
to deny oneself ", hence the difficulty of recognition.
Guillaume Perrier, Le Monde correspondent in Istanbul, is the co-author
of a survey on "Turkey and the Armenian ghost", conducted since 2004,
and the debate on the accession of Turkey to the European Union. "The
attempt to erase the Armenian memory is failing. The Armenianness
exists, the memory is transmitted by oral tradition. When we stop
in the villages of Anatolia, memory emerges through the hidden
memory, lies, even the denial of state. "And to tell the story of the
presidential palace in Ankara, believed to have been purchased at an
Armenian family, but in reality - documents attest - was robbed and
offered to Ataturk in 1921. In other cities, a real work of memory
refresh is in progress, said the journalist. "The question of" right ",
which is a reality of any genocide, begins to emerge.Local politicians
pay tribute to Turkish men who saved Armenian lives. This is a key
that can be given to the Turks that they may go to this memory. "
Hamit Bozarslan, research director at the EHESS (Ecole des Hautes
Etudes en Sciences Sociales) and expert on the Middle East, wondered
why the denial is maintained while information are increasingly more
to prove its reality. "Because we are in the case of a founder crime,
he said, a crime which has built the country. Executives who led the
genocide were all in the leadership of the country into the sixties.
The bureaucracy of genocide was entirely appointed by the Kemalist
party, where the organic continuity of the State. And current
challenges Taksim Square showed vivid currents today shake Turkey. ".
Raymond Kevorkian, historian and director of the Journal of
Contemporary Armenian history, noted a singularity on the issue of
the Armenian genocide: the elite Young Turks and the Armenian elite
were united by ties of friendship. "These are two national identities
that were originally parts to build a common state. "This historical
data and betrayal that ensued could partly explain the inability of
the Turkish authorities to recognize the genocide.
Art and memory ...
After lunch, the discussions were focused on a more philosophical
themes through the construction and reconstruction of identities axis.
Jean-Marc Ferry, Chair of Philosophy of Europe at the University of
Nantes, sought to answer two questions that summarize the difficulty
of the debate: why is it so difficult to begin the process of
reconstruction ? That means virtually rebuild a broken relationship?
Valerie Rosoux, degree in philosophy and a doctorate in political
science, has detailed the conditions that would meet for reconciliation
to restore confidence, to restore the truth.
The day ended with interventions around "Art and Memory." Moderated
by Diane Hennebert, responsible for the direction of the Boghossian
Foundation, this last part of the consolidated accounts of artists
and journalists of Armenian origin, such Safarian Carolina, Belgian
actress and writer, and Antoine Agoudjian, French photographer. Memory
transmission, the themes with sensitivities and different approaches
but equally rewarding. Mehmet Koksal, a Belgian journalist of Turkish
origin, has made its contribution to the building by telling the
investigations that led him to write many articles on the pressures
of the Turkish denialist lobby in Belgium.
The place and the work of associations have not been left out, since
Sibel Asna Arsinee Khanjian and each have detailed the actions carried
out by the Hrant Dink Foundation in Istanbul and Zorian Institute
in Toronto. For the record, the Hrant Dink Foundation was created in
2007 and named after the Turkish-Armenian journalist assassinated in
January of that year.This structure argues through his actions for
the freedom of expression, cultural dialogue and peace. The objective
Zorian Institute for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights.
In those days, the Boghossian Foundation, a center for dialogue
between East and West cultures is not his first attempt. Last year at
the same time, it is Plato and the Orient were the Platonic banquet
program. The next appointment should be for the thematic trips
(December 2013) and sacrifice (Spring 2014).
All speakers stressed the importance of the year 2015, the year of
the centennial commemoration of the genocide, noting that all options
were open. Opening year or stiffening, the only time will tell.
Thursday, October 17, 2013, Stephane © armenews.com
http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=93665
From: A. Papazian
PRESS
Symposium
Fifteen experts from several countries have recently come together
for a rich testimony and information day.
"Rebuilding the memorial dialogue: Armenian-Turkish example" is
the theme developed during international meetings at Villa Empain
Brussels headquarters of the Boghossian Foundation. In the marble
lobby of this sumptuous, jewel of Belgian Art Deco heritage, the
day was full of information, interventions and evidence. The theme
of the Turkish-Armenian dialogue was addressed by fifteen speakers,
teachers, researchers, journalists, writers, artists, from Belgium,
but also France, Switzerland, Turkey, Canada, and has declined on three
pillars: the duality Turkey-Armenia, the construction of identities,
art and memory.
In opening the meeting day, Albert Boghossian, founder and treasurer
of the foundation member, paid tribute to Edward Jakhian "Armenian
Brussels" great Belgian humanist of Armenian origin who died last May.
Mr. Boghossian said that the Armenian genocide of 1915 remained
"an open wound because unrecognized" and launched the discussion by
asking why the genocide was still disputed by Turkey.
Evelyne de Mevius young doctoral student, whose memory philosophy
"Ethics reconstructive the test of Armenian genocide" was published
by Boghossian, addressed the issue of recognition of the Armenian
Genocide through the prism of reconstructive ethics which involves
reviewing in depth the story to "lift the destiny" of the tragic
relationship between Turks and Armenians. She recalled, highlighted,
that supported Jakhian Island: "The daughter or son of the victim
remain the victim's daughter or son of the executioner is not the
executioner"; Jakhian, who fought for the recognition of Armenian
genocide, but not least trying to find the "right" of Turkey, these
women and men who helped save Armenian lives during these dark days
of history, and to honor them. "100 years have not helped alleviate
bruised memory of the Armenian people and undermine the revisionist
armor that prevents the Turkish people to recognize this dark chapter
in its history, she said. Only the recognition of this drama could
appease one side or the other, the conflicting report that these
people have with their past and each other. "
Duality Turkey-Armenia
Duality Turkey-Armenia, moderated by the Belgian radio journalist Eddy
Caekelberghs debate addressed the issue by the historical bias. This
is Olivier Mongin, director of Esprit, who recalled the various stages
of recognition of the Armenian Genocide through five steps, the first
is in the middle of the sixties, with the first visible evocation
of commemorative fiftieth anniversary of the genocide, and the last
period 2009/2010, the Turkish initiative with a petition calling for
the opening of a dialogue on the issue of the Armenian genocide.
Michel Marian, a lecturer at the Institute of Political Studies in
Paris and Ahmet Insel, a professor at Galatasaray University and
lecturer at Paris I, have detailed "The Armenian taboo." For the
former, Turkey suffered a genuine amnesia is on the Armenian issue,
amnesia caused by both the small number of Armenians still living
in Turkey, particularly in Anatolia (region where were deported and
massacred 1.5 million Armenians), by cutting between the Turks claim
that today's Turkey and the Ottoman Empire at the end of which was
perpetrated genocide. Ahmet Insel for the past 20 years, things have
changed and there is a "related factors of optimism," especially since
the 2008 petition, signed by 30 000 to 40 000 people and marking the
first act of apology Turkish citizens in their Armenian citizens "not
on the genocide itself, but the forgetting, denial of the genocide
and discriminatory actions that resulted." The issue of the return of
Armenians in Turkey began to be addressed, says the researcher, and
the Armenians are allowed to come "visit" the land of their ancestors,
especially in the Anatolia region. However, the issue of property,
including land belonging to many Armenians and looted remains taboo.
"A circular prohibits access to land registers before 1924 in order to
protect the security of the state. And no historical research can be
done on this tradition of referral of real estate, "said Ahmet Insel.
"Today, Turkish society is afraid of being expelled from Anatolia,
these ill-gotten land. We are in the illusory idea of a homogeneous
Turkish society. Without a fair memory, no memory subsided. The
Armenian question must be part of the process of democratization of
Turkish society. "And to emphasize:" The Armenian issue will return
like a boomerang to the figure of Turkey as it has not done its job
memory. The Turkish identity is built on the negation of the other,
his disappearance. Recognize this genocide equivalent to deconstruct,
to deny oneself ", hence the difficulty of recognition.
Guillaume Perrier, Le Monde correspondent in Istanbul, is the co-author
of a survey on "Turkey and the Armenian ghost", conducted since 2004,
and the debate on the accession of Turkey to the European Union. "The
attempt to erase the Armenian memory is failing. The Armenianness
exists, the memory is transmitted by oral tradition. When we stop
in the villages of Anatolia, memory emerges through the hidden
memory, lies, even the denial of state. "And to tell the story of the
presidential palace in Ankara, believed to have been purchased at an
Armenian family, but in reality - documents attest - was robbed and
offered to Ataturk in 1921. In other cities, a real work of memory
refresh is in progress, said the journalist. "The question of" right ",
which is a reality of any genocide, begins to emerge.Local politicians
pay tribute to Turkish men who saved Armenian lives. This is a key
that can be given to the Turks that they may go to this memory. "
Hamit Bozarslan, research director at the EHESS (Ecole des Hautes
Etudes en Sciences Sociales) and expert on the Middle East, wondered
why the denial is maintained while information are increasingly more
to prove its reality. "Because we are in the case of a founder crime,
he said, a crime which has built the country. Executives who led the
genocide were all in the leadership of the country into the sixties.
The bureaucracy of genocide was entirely appointed by the Kemalist
party, where the organic continuity of the State. And current
challenges Taksim Square showed vivid currents today shake Turkey. ".
Raymond Kevorkian, historian and director of the Journal of
Contemporary Armenian history, noted a singularity on the issue of
the Armenian genocide: the elite Young Turks and the Armenian elite
were united by ties of friendship. "These are two national identities
that were originally parts to build a common state. "This historical
data and betrayal that ensued could partly explain the inability of
the Turkish authorities to recognize the genocide.
Art and memory ...
After lunch, the discussions were focused on a more philosophical
themes through the construction and reconstruction of identities axis.
Jean-Marc Ferry, Chair of Philosophy of Europe at the University of
Nantes, sought to answer two questions that summarize the difficulty
of the debate: why is it so difficult to begin the process of
reconstruction ? That means virtually rebuild a broken relationship?
Valerie Rosoux, degree in philosophy and a doctorate in political
science, has detailed the conditions that would meet for reconciliation
to restore confidence, to restore the truth.
The day ended with interventions around "Art and Memory." Moderated
by Diane Hennebert, responsible for the direction of the Boghossian
Foundation, this last part of the consolidated accounts of artists
and journalists of Armenian origin, such Safarian Carolina, Belgian
actress and writer, and Antoine Agoudjian, French photographer. Memory
transmission, the themes with sensitivities and different approaches
but equally rewarding. Mehmet Koksal, a Belgian journalist of Turkish
origin, has made its contribution to the building by telling the
investigations that led him to write many articles on the pressures
of the Turkish denialist lobby in Belgium.
The place and the work of associations have not been left out, since
Sibel Asna Arsinee Khanjian and each have detailed the actions carried
out by the Hrant Dink Foundation in Istanbul and Zorian Institute
in Toronto. For the record, the Hrant Dink Foundation was created in
2007 and named after the Turkish-Armenian journalist assassinated in
January of that year.This structure argues through his actions for
the freedom of expression, cultural dialogue and peace. The objective
Zorian Institute for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights.
In those days, the Boghossian Foundation, a center for dialogue
between East and West cultures is not his first attempt. Last year at
the same time, it is Plato and the Orient were the Platonic banquet
program. The next appointment should be for the thematic trips
(December 2013) and sacrifice (Spring 2014).
All speakers stressed the importance of the year 2015, the year of
the centennial commemoration of the genocide, noting that all options
were open. Opening year or stiffening, the only time will tell.
Thursday, October 17, 2013, Stephane © armenews.com
http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=93665
From: A. Papazian