By Levon Marashlian
The dangers of the sub-commission on the “historical dimension” are so obvious that it is difficult to understand why so many supporters of the Armenian-Turkish protocols do not see them. Some Armenians who support the sub-commission do acknowledge the risks, but they also see the possible benefits; some say it will provide an opportunity to discuss consequences of the genocide, others say it may encourage more open debate within Turkey, while others say it may eventually lead Turkey closer to recognition. Supporters do not seem to realize that the chances of benefiting from these possibilities pale in comparison to the probability of suffering the damage caused by the dangers.
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian emphatically declared “No, and once again, no,” to accusations that “we are calling into question the fact of the Armenian Genocide, that we are obstructing the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.” Nalbandian and other defenders of the sub-commission do not see that the Armenian government’s willing participation in “an impartial and scientific examination of the historical records and archives,” during which the other side will call into question the fact of the genocide, will create a misleading impression that will be skillfully manipulated.
One of the consequences will be that when independent scholars and diasporan organizations continue their work for genocide education and international recognition, it will become harder because the Turkish government and some third parties, armed with or misled by the appearance of progress being made, will have the excuse to say that recognition efforts are not necessary for now, since Yerevan is already talking directly to Ankara about resolving the issue. This has already happened, as when President Obama referenced the Ankara-Yerevan talks to justify reneging on his promise last April.
During meetings of the sub-commission, meanwhile, historians and other experts chosen by Yerevan will want to discuss the consequences of the genocide and will try to reject efforts by the “Turkish side” to engage in denial. And if a debate does take place, the “Armenian side” will probably prevail inside the meeting room. Nevertheless, the process can still be a victory for Turkey outside the room—so long as the process continues—because Turkey’s central objective is not to reach a consensus that it was not a genocide, but simply to further distort and delay, to hinder the pursuit of international recognition as we near the year 2015. Turkey will try, but may not expect to “win” the academic argument in the sub-commission. And eventually Turkey might pay a little price in terms of public relations if its true intentions are exposed. Still, Turkey will have succeeded in obstructing—maybe for years—the increasingly successful momentum generated by decades of dedication, sacrifice, sound scholarship, and public advocacy.
Turkish journalist Mehmet Ali Birand’s CNN TURK interview in 2005 with Yusuf Halacoglu, the then-president of the Turkish Historical Society, reflected the extent to which this momentum has been succeeding. Birand, sometimes agitated during the discussion, exclaimed that although academic work on “the Armenian Question” should continue, the time has come to take “political steps, to make gestures, to shock.” Halacoglu agreed: “We are not going to change international opinion regarding Armenian Genocide claims only by publishing documents and books. It is necessary to take more serious political steps, for example, by establishing a research commission in the United States, by taking steps that will create a shock.” Halacoglu added that the approach Turkey has been using has not worked, and “if things continue this way, in the end we will lose.”
Two months later, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a letter to then-Armenian President Robert Kocharian suggesting the establishment of a commission of historians. This “gesture” by Turkey confirmed that the writing of truthful history by Armenian, Turkish, American, Jewish, and other historians, along with the diaspora’s advocacy of recognition, was making impressive advances. In this context, with Turkey’s back against the wall, the recommendation to form a commission was a decision by an almost-desperate government to stall those advances, with a clever trap. And President Serge Sarkisian has walked right into it.
Levon Marashlian is a professor of history at Glendale Community College.
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Turkey is shopping for a study – any study – that concludes that the events of 1915-23 were not genocide.
Turkey will keep shopping until it finds such a study. The UN Subcommission study of 1985 concluded “genocide” and so Turkey dismissed it. The TARC/ICTJ study concluded “genocide” and so Turkey dismissed it. The People’s Tribunal in Paris concluded “genocide” sand so Turkey dismissed it.
If enough studies -10, 100, 1000 – are done on 1915-23, eventually, simply by the laws of probability (or laws of money), there will be a study that concludes that it was not genocide or that it cannot determined with a high degree of certainty.
In fact, if you study ANY issue enough times, eventually you will find one that comes out with the conclusion you want, even if you have to pay for it. Turkey will find such a study someday. It may even find one in the “joint commission” because Armenia was unwise enough to give Turkey the opportunity.
Am I the only one who has noticed that the Armenian government is thoroughly incompetent when it comes to the genocide? It is said that the Armenian genocide has been part of Armenia’s foreign policy.
Really? Prove it. Due to that government’s incompetence, I have seen next to nothing that the Armenian government has ever done to advance the genocide issue except a few conferences, if that.
In other words, the present Armenian government is incompetent, unknowledgeable, and totally unfit to conduct any study of the genocide. I would almost trust a Turkish denialist to do a better job. Seriously, I bet that Erdogan knows more about the subject than Sargsian does.
It also seems to have escaped the notice of the arithmetically challenged among us that no commission composed even partly of Turks will ever be able to come to a unanimous decision on the genocide.
Meanwhile, for the next few years Armenians around the world will be sucked into the machinations of this absurd commission when their energy and money could be better spent elsewhere.
But I am glad to see Armenian American historians speak out. Funny how they were so quick to jump to the defense of the young Turkish scholar arrested in Armenia a few years ago for supposedly trying to take some books out of the country, but when it comes to the protocols, they have been uncharacteristically silent – except when the Armenian Weekly happened wake them from their tenure-protected slumber a couple of weeks ago.
Fuuny how academicians can bore their poor students to death with their lectures three times a week for 50 minutes for 9 months a yearm but when it comes to saying just a few things against the “joint commission,” they have nothing to say.
Perhaps it is just as well. Most of them are better suited to the raft of lovey-dovey, ooey-gooey “mutual understanding,” reconciliation panels that the Armenian American community has been subjected to lately with the connivance of certain – how shall I put this? – Armenian political organizations.
Levon Marashlian´s arguments are very much to the point.One can very well surmise that turkish diplomacy is ,has been steadfastly making efforts to divert international(especially worldwide international) attention from already PROVEN facts by above mentioned commissions ,thus gaining precious time for their “other” intended projects.Viz., firstly to delay Armenian Genocide recognition,as long as possible,secondly to by and by distort actual history -facts ,as much as possible in the eyes of the int´l public,making the authenticity of it less so,thridly and this above all, weaken Armenian unanimousity -as to pursuit of our goals-rendering it incapable of bringing it to a final decision favourable to our righteous demands for reparations.
I ,personally do not believe ,cannot bring myself to it,that even if we gain recognition by many more states(what Prof.Yves Ternon indirectly advised a gathering of ours ,at 17 Rue Bleu;Paris,April 9,2009)ending his discourse by” Parlement a Parlement”..we cannot go on the premise of a Sevres Treaty ,not even ratified by U.S. Congress,claiming the 6 Vilayets…
In spanish a saying goes:-“uno tambien puede vivir sonañdo” One can also live by dreams…
A. There are 16 million k u r d s on the Western Armenian lands today.They cannot by any means be removed from those lands.We may indeed conduct negotiations with them dialogue with them to come to a mutually acceptal land parceling out(if that comes to pass indeed).Best we can hope for ,is a third of it or so,or even less…
B.What indeed we can claim is BLOOD MONEY-precedents of which exist. On another Armenian site an attorney just back from Armenia ,where he participated at the Mindiaspora´s organized Conference(this by the by this servidor-myself had suggested several times over that instead of like the 2002 and 2006 and the First Armenia-Diaspora Conference,two thousand meeting at once..should be classified as per work -profession type).This gentleman, very kindly pretends to have Armenians repatriate to Homeland etc.,-always on (each one on his own-meaning each Armenian present org. on own) and with meagre American style fund raising..
Comes to mind just a few days ago CIVILITAS foundation´s ..even $100.- a piece contributions…
How can big projects in such fashion have any tangible success-go figure that out-Like the Founder, then FM at last 2006 Conference declared with $50.- a piece gift baskets(full of Armenian dry fruits) to be sold in all Diaspora churches ,organizations, and with funds obtained reach the far flung Armenian villages and revive them ,stopping immigration etc.,.¡
C.great Turkey knows(their diplomacy,i.e.) full well that Armenians are an un-organized lot and by dividing them further through this same protocols..they can attain their objective of keeping, especially the Armenian Diaspora, in such a status quo,which suits them perfectly.No unanimity.
D. If we really mean business, then we must put our own house (the Diaspora) in order,before attempting to size up with them.They very cunningly ( I never think they are clever)manueuvered the RA´s erroneous initiative-for I think it was ours-of uttering”without any preconditions”..
Imagine a people,now a nation/state,who has been so much persecuted by grat Turkey is forthcoming with such an invitation…it should have been vice versa…bygones are bygones.
Nonetheless, not too late, to hinder the PROCESS.It must be hindered ,it (both RA and Diaspora)should now take measures to prevent it from going further,unless at the very least Genocide Recognition is inclusive of negotiations ahead.
Most important if we aspire to some day become stronger as both a republic and Diaspora,ties between these two segments of our people ought to be thoroughly studied and strengthened.Just by declaring “Ari Dun”..and/or said attorney´s haphazard aid or Civilitas¨s fundling -raisings…we cannot achieve our objectives.Mobilize we must and that on a nationwide,programmed mode.My humble “paper” that for 4.5 years was on the Armeniadiaspora.com site ,has suggested the “mechanism” for getting the Diaspora-Armenia enhanced relation rolling.Now it is on my own site .Please visit it,it is on top of my web page http://www.ARMENENIDAD-worldwide.org (2006 Conference).And thanks for reading me.
Hama Haigagani Siro,
gaytzag palandjian
The historical sub-committee not a problem. The problem is Mr. Bazaz, Mr. Aghvan Hovsepyan, Dr. Radik Martirosyan, and Mr. Kocharyan.
jeshmarid@yahoo.com
Love the snatching defeat from the jaws of victory…that’s exactly what it is (although I’m not sure how close we were to victory). The whole thing makes me ill. How could anyone think the deck would not be stacked against the Armenians in this case (in any case)? For God’s sake, power is on the side of evil, no? Turkey? The US? Who stands for truth and justice these days? Not the big boys who pull the strings, that’s for sure. Again, I feel ill. I can hardly stand to read the back and forth. We are the world’s most gullible people.