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1915 ARCHIVES WIDE OPEN
Daily Sabah, Turkey
April 24 2014
While Turkey opened its official archives to scrutiny to uncover the
facts about the 1915 Armenian incident, the failure of the Armenians
to reciprocate prevents the matter from being tackled scientifically
and proves that the issue is used as a political tool
by Yusuf Selman İnanc
ISTANBUL -- As the 99th anniversary of the 1915 incidents approaches,
discussions of the alleged Armenian genocide increased. While many
Armenian diaspora members claim 1.5 million Armenians were killed
during World War I, several historians emphasize the importance of
archives for reaching an accurate conclusion regarding the events. By
admitting that it was one of the unprecedented tragedies during
the war, the issue must be approached based on historical facts,
according to Turkey's stance.
Despite the negative atmosphere between the two countries, which has
lasted for decades, Turkey, one of the first countries to recognize
Armenia's independence in 1991, has taken steps to mend relations.
President Abdullah Gul was the first Turkish president to visit Armenia
when in 2008 he watched a football match between the two countries'
national football teams. The visit aimed to mend and improve both
political and economic relations. The following step was to establish
diplomatic ties, as the two countries do not have diplomatic relations.
Following the visit, the two countries signed two protocols to
"establish diplomatic ties" and "improve bilateral relations" in 2009.
Yet, the Armenian Constitutional Court cancelled the protocols as
Armenian politicians were unhappy with the ongoing process and raised
genocide claims.
In 2010, Armenia halted the processes and relations were frozen.
In the background of the negative response to Turkey's outreach,
Turkey's steps to broaden minorities' rights continued independently
from relations with Armenia. Turkey launched reform packages to return
property previously belonging to minorities. Additionally, those who
could prove they were citizens of the Ottoman Empire after fleeing
to different countries after World War I were guaranteed to receive
Turkish citizenship. In 2010, one of the most important churches,
the Akhdamar Church in Turkey's eastern city of Van, was opened
for religious ceremonies. In 2011, another big Armenian church in
Turkey's southeast in Diyarbakır, Surb Giragos Church, was opened
for religious ceremonies.
In the last three years, 10 properties were returned to Armenian
foundations. Moreover, several properties are to be returned to
Armenians as the process continues.
According to Foreign Ministry sources, Turkey has been aiming to
normalize relations with Armenia to contribute to security and
stability in the Caucasus region.
In 2013, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu visited Armenia's capital,
Yerevan, as the two countries were members of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation Organization.
Davutoglu said the visit was an important step and overcame many
psychological barriers. Analysts noted that despite Armenia's
reluctance to improve relations, Davutoglu's visit was significant in
terms of signaling a new reconciliation process when Armenia is ready.
Besides the diplomatic attempts, in 2006 Turkey offered to create
a commission that would include Turkish and Armenian historians to
delve into the 1915 incidents. The commission was to open Armenian,
Turkish, British, German and Russian archives to shed light on
the issue. If the alleged genocide was proven at the end of the
commission's investigations, Turkey said it was ready to admit the
occurrence. Yet Armenian officials did not accept the offer, putting
forth several excuses.
Turkey opened nearly 100,000 archives, including Foreign Ministry
and Prime Ministry archives. Turkey also allows eligible researchers
who meet requirements to search Turkish Army archives. Sources say
Turkey will open the army archives to the public next year on the
100th anniversary of the 1915 incidents.
However, the other countries have not been keen on opening and
publishing their archives, while the Turkish Culture and Tourism
Ministry founded a commission to find and translate archive documents
into Turkish and English.
Armenia and the Armenian diaspora have not accepted any offer made
by Turkey to date.
They have continued politicizing the historical issue by lobbying in
several countries, including the U.S., where the Committee on Foreign
Affairs in the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution
recognizing the unproven genocide claims. Furthermore, the diaspora
blamed Turkey for taking insufficient steps toward the issue, while
Armenia has not made any steps.
Turkey was also accused of letting Syrian opposition members murder
Armenians living in Kasab in northern Syria. Yet, in Daily Sabah's
previous reports, it was found opposition forces helped evacuate the
Armenians to Turkey and cooperated with Turkish officials for the
Armenians' security. In a second report, to be published tomorrow,
the 1915 incidents will be explained in the light of the archives.
http://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2014/04/23/1915-archives-wide-open
From: Baghdasarian
Daily Sabah, Turkey
April 24 2014
While Turkey opened its official archives to scrutiny to uncover the
facts about the 1915 Armenian incident, the failure of the Armenians
to reciprocate prevents the matter from being tackled scientifically
and proves that the issue is used as a political tool
by Yusuf Selman İnanc
ISTANBUL -- As the 99th anniversary of the 1915 incidents approaches,
discussions of the alleged Armenian genocide increased. While many
Armenian diaspora members claim 1.5 million Armenians were killed
during World War I, several historians emphasize the importance of
archives for reaching an accurate conclusion regarding the events. By
admitting that it was one of the unprecedented tragedies during
the war, the issue must be approached based on historical facts,
according to Turkey's stance.
Despite the negative atmosphere between the two countries, which has
lasted for decades, Turkey, one of the first countries to recognize
Armenia's independence in 1991, has taken steps to mend relations.
President Abdullah Gul was the first Turkish president to visit Armenia
when in 2008 he watched a football match between the two countries'
national football teams. The visit aimed to mend and improve both
political and economic relations. The following step was to establish
diplomatic ties, as the two countries do not have diplomatic relations.
Following the visit, the two countries signed two protocols to
"establish diplomatic ties" and "improve bilateral relations" in 2009.
Yet, the Armenian Constitutional Court cancelled the protocols as
Armenian politicians were unhappy with the ongoing process and raised
genocide claims.
In 2010, Armenia halted the processes and relations were frozen.
In the background of the negative response to Turkey's outreach,
Turkey's steps to broaden minorities' rights continued independently
from relations with Armenia. Turkey launched reform packages to return
property previously belonging to minorities. Additionally, those who
could prove they were citizens of the Ottoman Empire after fleeing
to different countries after World War I were guaranteed to receive
Turkish citizenship. In 2010, one of the most important churches,
the Akhdamar Church in Turkey's eastern city of Van, was opened
for religious ceremonies. In 2011, another big Armenian church in
Turkey's southeast in Diyarbakır, Surb Giragos Church, was opened
for religious ceremonies.
In the last three years, 10 properties were returned to Armenian
foundations. Moreover, several properties are to be returned to
Armenians as the process continues.
According to Foreign Ministry sources, Turkey has been aiming to
normalize relations with Armenia to contribute to security and
stability in the Caucasus region.
In 2013, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu visited Armenia's capital,
Yerevan, as the two countries were members of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation Organization.
Davutoglu said the visit was an important step and overcame many
psychological barriers. Analysts noted that despite Armenia's
reluctance to improve relations, Davutoglu's visit was significant in
terms of signaling a new reconciliation process when Armenia is ready.
Besides the diplomatic attempts, in 2006 Turkey offered to create
a commission that would include Turkish and Armenian historians to
delve into the 1915 incidents. The commission was to open Armenian,
Turkish, British, German and Russian archives to shed light on
the issue. If the alleged genocide was proven at the end of the
commission's investigations, Turkey said it was ready to admit the
occurrence. Yet Armenian officials did not accept the offer, putting
forth several excuses.
Turkey opened nearly 100,000 archives, including Foreign Ministry
and Prime Ministry archives. Turkey also allows eligible researchers
who meet requirements to search Turkish Army archives. Sources say
Turkey will open the army archives to the public next year on the
100th anniversary of the 1915 incidents.
However, the other countries have not been keen on opening and
publishing their archives, while the Turkish Culture and Tourism
Ministry founded a commission to find and translate archive documents
into Turkish and English.
Armenia and the Armenian diaspora have not accepted any offer made
by Turkey to date.
They have continued politicizing the historical issue by lobbying in
several countries, including the U.S., where the Committee on Foreign
Affairs in the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution
recognizing the unproven genocide claims. Furthermore, the diaspora
blamed Turkey for taking insufficient steps toward the issue, while
Armenia has not made any steps.
Turkey was also accused of letting Syrian opposition members murder
Armenians living in Kasab in northern Syria. Yet, in Daily Sabah's
previous reports, it was found opposition forces helped evacuate the
Armenians to Turkey and cooperated with Turkish officials for the
Armenians' security. In a second report, to be published tomorrow,
the 1915 incidents will be explained in the light of the archives.
http://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2014/04/23/1915-archives-wide-open
From: Baghdasarian