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TURKEY MUST FACE WITH ITS OWN HISTORY: TURKISH MP OF BUNDESTAG
12:28, 13 March, 2015
YEREVAN, 13 MARCH, ARMENPRESS: On the initiative of "Alliance 90/The
Greens" party of Federal Republic of Germany, a discussion will be
held, which is dedicated to 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
in the Bundestag. The results of discussion will be enclosed in the
new resolution. In the framework of preparation of the discussion,
the delegation of Green Party headed by Co-chairman Cem Ozdemir is
in Armenia. "Armenpress" represents an exclusive interview with Mr.
Ozdemir concerning the international recognition of the Armenian
Genocide.
- Mr. Ozdemir, within the framework of the visit, You have been in
the Memorial of Armenian Genocide and paid a tribute to the victims
of Armenian Genocide. What were Your impressions when You returned
from the Memorial of Armenian Genocide?
- There are so many sources that prove that we, the Germans,
unfortunately have been involved in the Genocide as an ally of
Ottoman Empire in that time. I think that Germany should obviously
refer to the Armenian Genocide issue. As a friend of two countries,
we should help to open the Armenian-Turkish border. As a friend of
both countries, we should exert effort, so that the Armenian-Turkish
relations become like the French-German or Polish-German relations.
Surely, one of the preconditions to achieve it is that the each
country must face the dark pages of its history, and this is also
true for Turkey.
- As a German politician, who has Turkish roots, in Your opinion,
what steps should be taken by the government of Turkey in order to
assume the full responsibility for the implementation of the Armenian
Genocide?
- In our delegation, besides me there is another MP, who has Turkish
roots too. Our visit shows that the Turks who live in Germany,
enjoying the freedom of Germany, they see that Germany has chosen
different way to deal with its history. It was not an easy process,
but Germany hasn't weakened from that. On the contrary, Germany's
strength is that it was able to resolve its dark pages of history.
Noting all this, I would like that Turkey recognizes and admits,
that as a result of the Armenian Genocide it has lost a lot of things.
When I was in Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, I was impressed by
seeing the photos of intellectuals, who had been brought to the camps
and killed there. Those people in that time was the intellectuals of
Istanbul. Komitas was not only a composer and musician for Armenia,
but also for the Ottoman Empire. Therefore, it was the loss of the
Ottoman Empire. Therefore, it was also the loss of the Ottoman Empire.
As Hrant Dink had said: "If Armenian were still alive, twenty cities
of Van would become Paris." I think that this issue must be discussed
in the books and in Turkish social public sphere and I am sure that
it will be useful. Opening border with Armenia is another step forward.
The opening borders stems from interests of two countries.
We have also discussed this issue with President Serzh Sargasyan.
Unfortunately, there are so many missed opportunities. It stems also
from interests of Turkey, due to the opened borders, the intervention
of third countries will be weakened. If Turkey does not want to see
Russian soldiers on the border, the opening border is one of the steps
to achieve success and establish normal relations with Armenia. I
hope that one day, if the border is opened, it will be called "Hrant
Dink border".
- I know that your party in the Bundestag raised the issue regarding
the launch of commemoration ceremonies of Armenian Genocide. What
events are planned in the German Parliament devoted to 100th
anniversary of Armenian Genocide?
- On April 24, in Bundestag, we will have a debate on the Armenian
Genocide, with participation of all parliamentary factions. I will
speak on behalf of the Green Party, after which all the results
will be transferred to the Foreign Relations Committee, and then
a unified resolution will be drafted. Therefore German Bundestag,
besides government, has an important message. This document will be
a continuation of the resolution, which is adopted on 2005. We will
talk frankly about the events, which took place in the end of 1915
and we will call "Genocide", as international community calls.
- What is Your attitude regarding that Turkish government has decided
to mark the anniversary of Battle of Gallipoli on April 24.
- I think that it was another missed opportunity. If Turkey opens the
border with Armenia, It would be a great step for it. I remember from
my childhood years that the triumph of the battle of Canakkale has
never celebrated on April 24. So, why is it unexpectedly celebrated
on that day this year? This is very strange and causes inappropriate
ambiguities.
There are some issues that need to highlight. The example of Torossian
shows that the Armenians have fought on the Ottoman Empire's side,
which shows that the claims are true and perpetrators of Genocide
needed to be persuaded that Armenians do not betray the Ottoman
Empire. The Armenians in the Ottoman Empire were good citizens,
and some of them have served in the army of the Ottoman Empire and
sacrificed their lives for the Ottoman Empire. I would like to see,
that about those events the Turkish students knew from Turkish books.
- Summing up, what is Your call taking into account the solution of
problems in the 21st century?
- I think that the twenty-first century should not be a century of
closed borders, a century of the solving problems by military way. One
of the greatest achievements of the European Union is that we are
negotiating. Those negotiations last on nights, but eventually we find
common points. It is not always easy, but we find solutions. This is
much better than war, which during last century led to the I and II
world war. Today's France and Germany have overcome it all, and I want
to see the same here. I'm sure, that it is only the matter of time.
Interviewed by Syune Barseghyan, Araks Kasyan
http://armenpress.am/eng/news/797525/turkey-must-face-with-its-own-history-turkish-mp-of-bundestag.html
12:28, 13 March, 2015
YEREVAN, 13 MARCH, ARMENPRESS: On the initiative of "Alliance 90/The
Greens" party of Federal Republic of Germany, a discussion will be
held, which is dedicated to 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
in the Bundestag. The results of discussion will be enclosed in the
new resolution. In the framework of preparation of the discussion,
the delegation of Green Party headed by Co-chairman Cem Ozdemir is
in Armenia. "Armenpress" represents an exclusive interview with Mr.
Ozdemir concerning the international recognition of the Armenian
Genocide.
- Mr. Ozdemir, within the framework of the visit, You have been in
the Memorial of Armenian Genocide and paid a tribute to the victims
of Armenian Genocide. What were Your impressions when You returned
from the Memorial of Armenian Genocide?
- There are so many sources that prove that we, the Germans,
unfortunately have been involved in the Genocide as an ally of
Ottoman Empire in that time. I think that Germany should obviously
refer to the Armenian Genocide issue. As a friend of two countries,
we should help to open the Armenian-Turkish border. As a friend of
both countries, we should exert effort, so that the Armenian-Turkish
relations become like the French-German or Polish-German relations.
Surely, one of the preconditions to achieve it is that the each
country must face the dark pages of its history, and this is also
true for Turkey.
- As a German politician, who has Turkish roots, in Your opinion,
what steps should be taken by the government of Turkey in order to
assume the full responsibility for the implementation of the Armenian
Genocide?
- In our delegation, besides me there is another MP, who has Turkish
roots too. Our visit shows that the Turks who live in Germany,
enjoying the freedom of Germany, they see that Germany has chosen
different way to deal with its history. It was not an easy process,
but Germany hasn't weakened from that. On the contrary, Germany's
strength is that it was able to resolve its dark pages of history.
Noting all this, I would like that Turkey recognizes and admits,
that as a result of the Armenian Genocide it has lost a lot of things.
When I was in Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, I was impressed by
seeing the photos of intellectuals, who had been brought to the camps
and killed there. Those people in that time was the intellectuals of
Istanbul. Komitas was not only a composer and musician for Armenia,
but also for the Ottoman Empire. Therefore, it was the loss of the
Ottoman Empire. Therefore, it was also the loss of the Ottoman Empire.
As Hrant Dink had said: "If Armenian were still alive, twenty cities
of Van would become Paris." I think that this issue must be discussed
in the books and in Turkish social public sphere and I am sure that
it will be useful. Opening border with Armenia is another step forward.
The opening borders stems from interests of two countries.
We have also discussed this issue with President Serzh Sargasyan.
Unfortunately, there are so many missed opportunities. It stems also
from interests of Turkey, due to the opened borders, the intervention
of third countries will be weakened. If Turkey does not want to see
Russian soldiers on the border, the opening border is one of the steps
to achieve success and establish normal relations with Armenia. I
hope that one day, if the border is opened, it will be called "Hrant
Dink border".
- I know that your party in the Bundestag raised the issue regarding
the launch of commemoration ceremonies of Armenian Genocide. What
events are planned in the German Parliament devoted to 100th
anniversary of Armenian Genocide?
- On April 24, in Bundestag, we will have a debate on the Armenian
Genocide, with participation of all parliamentary factions. I will
speak on behalf of the Green Party, after which all the results
will be transferred to the Foreign Relations Committee, and then
a unified resolution will be drafted. Therefore German Bundestag,
besides government, has an important message. This document will be
a continuation of the resolution, which is adopted on 2005. We will
talk frankly about the events, which took place in the end of 1915
and we will call "Genocide", as international community calls.
- What is Your attitude regarding that Turkish government has decided
to mark the anniversary of Battle of Gallipoli on April 24.
- I think that it was another missed opportunity. If Turkey opens the
border with Armenia, It would be a great step for it. I remember from
my childhood years that the triumph of the battle of Canakkale has
never celebrated on April 24. So, why is it unexpectedly celebrated
on that day this year? This is very strange and causes inappropriate
ambiguities.
There are some issues that need to highlight. The example of Torossian
shows that the Armenians have fought on the Ottoman Empire's side,
which shows that the claims are true and perpetrators of Genocide
needed to be persuaded that Armenians do not betray the Ottoman
Empire. The Armenians in the Ottoman Empire were good citizens,
and some of them have served in the army of the Ottoman Empire and
sacrificed their lives for the Ottoman Empire. I would like to see,
that about those events the Turkish students knew from Turkish books.
- Summing up, what is Your call taking into account the solution of
problems in the 21st century?
- I think that the twenty-first century should not be a century of
closed borders, a century of the solving problems by military way. One
of the greatest achievements of the European Union is that we are
negotiating. Those negotiations last on nights, but eventually we find
common points. It is not always easy, but we find solutions. This is
much better than war, which during last century led to the I and II
world war. Today's France and Germany have overcome it all, and I want
to see the same here. I'm sure, that it is only the matter of time.
Interviewed by Syune Barseghyan, Araks Kasyan
http://armenpress.am/eng/news/797525/turkey-must-face-with-its-own-history-turkish-mp-of-bundestag.html