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GERMANY OFFERS RECONCILIATION HELP TO ARMENIA, TURKEY
Global Post
Oct 23 2014
Germany's foreign minister on Thursday offered Berlin's experience
in post-war reconciliation to Armenia and Turkey to help them forge
peace a century after a World War I-era massacre.
On a visit to Yerevan, Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Germany's long
road to partnership with France after two world wars could serve as an
example following the 1915 slaughter of Armenians during World War I.
"When it comes to the bloody history of the 20th century, in which
Germany started two world wars, we should not present ourselves as
the schoolmasters," he told reporters after talks with his Armenian
counterpart Edward Nalbandian in Yerevan.
"But we can offer our experience."
He noted that he had also told Turkish leaders earlier this year
that Germany and France had worked hard to overcome the hatred of
previous generations.
"After a difficult century, we have reconciled by not keeping silent
about our historical responsibility" but by "working through the
horrific things that happened", he said.
"If our experience can be helpful, we are ready to offer it," he said,
citing youth exchange programmes as one initiative that had helped
to build bridges.
"But that must be decided here."
Nalbandian said Armenia was ready to reduce tensions with Turkey but
insisted the ball was in Ankara's court.
"Five years ago, on Armenia's initiative, we started a process that led
to the signature of the Zurich protocols -- to make the normalisation
of our relations possible," he said.
"But Turkey is not respecting these agreements."
Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their forebears were killed in a
1915-1916 genocide by Turkey's former Ottoman Empire.
Turkey categorically rejects the term genocide and argues that 300,000
to 500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died in civil strife
when Armenians rose up against their Ottoman rulers and sided with
invading Russian troops.
In April, Turkey's then prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is now
president, expressed his condolences over the massacre of Armenians,
which he called "our shared pain", but his overture was brushed aside
by Yerevan as insufficient.
Switzerland mediated between Armenia and Turkey in 2009, leading
to landmark pacts being signed in October that year in a first step
towards ending decades of hostility but the efforts soon stalled.
(AFP)
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/141023/germany-offers-reconciliation-help-armenia-turkey
Global Post
Oct 23 2014
Germany's foreign minister on Thursday offered Berlin's experience
in post-war reconciliation to Armenia and Turkey to help them forge
peace a century after a World War I-era massacre.
On a visit to Yerevan, Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Germany's long
road to partnership with France after two world wars could serve as an
example following the 1915 slaughter of Armenians during World War I.
"When it comes to the bloody history of the 20th century, in which
Germany started two world wars, we should not present ourselves as
the schoolmasters," he told reporters after talks with his Armenian
counterpart Edward Nalbandian in Yerevan.
"But we can offer our experience."
He noted that he had also told Turkish leaders earlier this year
that Germany and France had worked hard to overcome the hatred of
previous generations.
"After a difficult century, we have reconciled by not keeping silent
about our historical responsibility" but by "working through the
horrific things that happened", he said.
"If our experience can be helpful, we are ready to offer it," he said,
citing youth exchange programmes as one initiative that had helped
to build bridges.
"But that must be decided here."
Nalbandian said Armenia was ready to reduce tensions with Turkey but
insisted the ball was in Ankara's court.
"Five years ago, on Armenia's initiative, we started a process that led
to the signature of the Zurich protocols -- to make the normalisation
of our relations possible," he said.
"But Turkey is not respecting these agreements."
Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their forebears were killed in a
1915-1916 genocide by Turkey's former Ottoman Empire.
Turkey categorically rejects the term genocide and argues that 300,000
to 500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died in civil strife
when Armenians rose up against their Ottoman rulers and sided with
invading Russian troops.
In April, Turkey's then prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is now
president, expressed his condolences over the massacre of Armenians,
which he called "our shared pain", but his overture was brushed aside
by Yerevan as insufficient.
Switzerland mediated between Armenia and Turkey in 2009, leading
to landmark pacts being signed in October that year in a first step
towards ending decades of hostility but the efforts soon stalled.
(AFP)
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/141023/germany-offers-reconciliation-help-armenia-turkey