Cem Özdemir , co-chair of the Green Party, delivered a passionate speech in the German Parliament (Bundestag) on June 2 in support of the resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide by Ottoman Turkey, while acknowledging Germany’s complicity in this mass crime.
Özdemir , born in Germany, is son of Turkish-Circassian (Cherkess) migrant parents. He was the first person of Turkish descent elected to the Bundestag (1994-2002). He reentered the German Parliament in 2013, after serving in the European Parliament from 2004 to 2009.
With support from all political parties in the Bundestag, the Armenian Genocide resolution, which Özdemir had long championed, was adopted by the German Parliament almost unanimously, with one no vote and one abstention.
Below are translated excerpts from the remarkable speech Özdemir delivered in German in the Bundestag on June 2, while wearing on the lapel of his suit the “forget-me-not” button symbolizing the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide.
“There can be no question about the appropriateness of time when talking about unimaginable savagery like genocide. We know that after lengthy and tiresome back and forth, Germany, as an accomplice to the crime, is openly calling the event by its proper name. … This constitutes a chapter of German history.”
Ozdemir recalled the callous and cruel words of German Imperial Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg: “Our whole purpose was to keep Turkey on our side during the entire course of the war. Whether Armenians were to be destroyed or not, made no difference.”
In a powerful statement, Ozdemir directly addressed the Armenian guests attending the Bundestag’s session on June 2: “Just because we were complicit in this horrible crime in the past does not mean that today we are going to side with the deniers.”
Ozdemir went on to urge the millions of Turkish residents of Germany to be proud of the “heroic Turks” who rescued Armenians during the genocide, and not “criminals like Talat and Enver.”
The Turkish-German parliamentarian then declared that the ugliest expression that causes him great pain is that “Armenian” is used as a “swear word” in Turkey. “They ask me if I am Armenian. I don’t view someone being an Armenian as an insult. Being a descendant of a Sunni Muslim family, Eastern Christianity does not make me uncomfortable.”
Ozdemir quoted his Turkish Armenian friend Hrant Dink, who was assassinated in Istanbul by an extremist Turk: “If Armenians lived in Van today, that city would be the Paris of the Orient.” During his visit to Armenia in March 2015, Ozdemir elaborated on Dink’s statement in an interview with Civilnet: “I went to the Genocide museum and read the names and professions of the people we have lost. They were the most forward-looking and brightest intellectuals of Istanbul and they were killed starting with architects, intellectuals, journalists, writers… The Ottoman Empire exterminated the most progressive citizens in its history. The Ottoman Empire lost immensely. I think one of the reasons why Turkey isn’t among the most developed countries today is because the Young Turks were not heroes, but traitors. They harmed Armenians, Assyrians, and Turks as well.”
The Turkish-German parliament member ended his nine-minute speech, which was repeatedly interrupted by thunderous applause, by stating that “members of Bundestag should not be threatened for expressing their thoughts. I am sure that I will not be arrested on my way home from the parliament or that my parliamentary immunity will not be lifted; I will not be beaten up or killed. I cannot say the same thing about my colleagues in Turkey!”
Nevertheless, Ozdemir did not anticipate that after the Bundestag’s approval of the Armenian Genocide resolution, he and 10 of his Turkish colleagues in the German Parliament would be placed under police protection after receiving numerous death threats from Turkish extremists.
In an announcement reminiscent of Hitler-era racial profiling, Turkish President Erdogan advocated that the 11 Turkish members of the German Parliament who had supported the Armenian Genocide resolution undergo a blood test to prove their “Turkishness.” Meanwhile, officials of Tokat, Turkey, Ozdemir’s father’s hometown, stripped his name from the list of honored sons of that city.
However, after making bombastic threats of retaliation against Germany, Erdogan was forced to restrain himself, realizing that such irresponsible steps would only lead to a devastating effect on the faltering Turkish economy!
Harut Sassounian
What a beautiful person. What a beautiful soul. What a brave person. Oh, G-d, if there were only more like him. He must be protected against evil persons with no conscience.
I was very impressed and also touched by the courageous speech Ozdemir gave at the German Bundestag. My heartfelt congratulations to this brave person. We need more of them in this world.
May God bless his soul and courage.
Ozdemer is the role model for civilise democratic and hypocritical countries who are shamelessly avoiding to recognise most tragical genocide.
Thank you Mr Sassounian for this à propos article.
If any one wants to see this brave gentleman perform in the Bundestag, here is a link to a short (10′) youtube video, where you can also see some of the discussion (where Özdemir is passionately ad libbing) as well as Chancellor Merkel consulting with her party benches during the debate: https://youtu.be/cLKT8oH-ILU . There is another 1hr12′ debate of the Bundestag on this issue starting with Norbert Lammert (President): https://youtu.be/uNpiPnIXKvM . I found it interesting to see some of the reactions of the Turkish delegation during these speeches.
Finally, here is the link to the 11′ Civilnet interview mentioned in this California Courrier editorial: https://youtu.be/4OqSv3jFQKE In it, Özdemir speaks in fluent Turkish. The video is dubbed in Armenian but has sub-titles in English.
Harganoq
Not only we Armenians should be thankful to Ozdemer and those who voted Yes at Bundestag, but all the progressive human race, because Genocide is a global shame! Hope that some world leaders join the progressive part of human race too.
I salute this man for his courage and decency. One of my grandfathers as a young boy, was saved by a Circassian tribe and eventually left to find what was left of his kin. Must come from a good heritage.
for years germany was never implicated in the armenian genocide,germany finally realized turkey can not finger them with this crime,because that would put them in a position of admitting.to geocide,germany does not like armenians they just had enough of the turks.
THANK-YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!