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Globe editorial
The Globe and Mail
Sorry, no apology from Turkey to Armenians - at least not yet
Published Wednesday, Apr. 23 2014, 7:00 PM EDT
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's expression of condolence
to the grandchildren of Armenians killed in the First World War by the
Ottoman Empire did not go far enough ` but it is a welcome gesture,
and a start.
The statement is not an apology, but it is still significant. It
represents the first time a Turkish prime minister has used such
conciliatory language to discuss what happened in 1915. At least 21
countries have officially labelled as genocide the First World War
slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians. Most Turks, however, still believe
what transpired simply was an unintended consequence of a complicated
war in which many suffered. In the past, those who challenged that
narrative paid dearly ` some with prison time and others with their
lives.
Some Armenian analysts have said Mr. Erdogan's words represent an
`olive branch' and an `expression of humanity.' At the very least it
shows a willingness to talk. It's too soon to tell whether the
statement will pave the way for an apology ` something Mr. Erdogan has
demonstrated a capacity for in the past, when he apologized for the
1937-38 massacres against the Dersim Kurds.
If he were searching for inspiration, he could refer to an open letter
published in 2008, by a group of Turkish academics and writers: `My
conscience does not accept the insensitivity showed to and the denial
of the Great Catastrophe that the Ottoman Armenians were subjected to
in 1915. I reject this injustice and for my share, I empathize with
the feelings and pain of my Armenian brothers. I apologize to them,'
they wrote.
At that time, Mr. Erdogan dismissed it: `They [the intellectuals] must
have committed genocide because they are apologizing. The Turkish
Republic has no such problem,' he said. Today, his softened stance
could prove a possible precursor to reconciliation ` which would mean
Turkey going much further in acknowledging what happened 99 years ago.
Globe editorial
The Globe and Mail
Sorry, no apology from Turkey to Armenians - at least not yet
Published Wednesday, Apr. 23 2014, 7:00 PM EDT
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's expression of condolence
to the grandchildren of Armenians killed in the First World War by the
Ottoman Empire did not go far enough ` but it is a welcome gesture,
and a start.
The statement is not an apology, but it is still significant. It
represents the first time a Turkish prime minister has used such
conciliatory language to discuss what happened in 1915. At least 21
countries have officially labelled as genocide the First World War
slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians. Most Turks, however, still believe
what transpired simply was an unintended consequence of a complicated
war in which many suffered. In the past, those who challenged that
narrative paid dearly ` some with prison time and others with their
lives.
Some Armenian analysts have said Mr. Erdogan's words represent an
`olive branch' and an `expression of humanity.' At the very least it
shows a willingness to talk. It's too soon to tell whether the
statement will pave the way for an apology ` something Mr. Erdogan has
demonstrated a capacity for in the past, when he apologized for the
1937-38 massacres against the Dersim Kurds.
If he were searching for inspiration, he could refer to an open letter
published in 2008, by a group of Turkish academics and writers: `My
conscience does not accept the insensitivity showed to and the denial
of the Great Catastrophe that the Ottoman Armenians were subjected to
in 1915. I reject this injustice and for my share, I empathize with
the feelings and pain of my Armenian brothers. I apologize to them,'
they wrote.
At that time, Mr. Erdogan dismissed it: `They [the intellectuals] must
have committed genocide because they are apologizing. The Turkish
Republic has no such problem,' he said. Today, his softened stance
could prove a possible precursor to reconciliation ` which would mean
Turkey going much further in acknowledging what happened 99 years ago.