My Turn
Sassounian: As France Tightens Noose, Turkey Reacts with Outrageous Words and Deeds
Turkish leaders routinely proclaim that they are not afraid of facing their country’s past. Yet, the minute someone reminds them of the darkest chapters of their history, they panic and overreact.
The most recent example of Turkish officials’ irrational behavior is their reaction to French initiatives to adopt a law criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide. Despite Turkish threats and retaliatory measures, the bill was adopted by the French Parliament on Dec. 22, 2011, an
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Genocide Acknowledgment with Accountability.
Land . Reparations . Restitution
Genocide Acknowledgment without Accountability is Hollow and Meaningless.
Genocide Acknowledgment without Accountability is worse than Denial.
Be ware of a solution (closure) that is worse than the problem.
I wonder if we should slowly stop criticizing Erdogan and even more slowly start asking the US government to issue him a green card. I think he will need it soon.
To me it does not matter what he says or does, what matters is what happens after whatever he says or does. So far, willingly or not, he has been playing into our hand. I think both ARmenia and Turkey would benefit if we could swap the presidents for just one year. Does anyone agree :) ?
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-268889-french-senate-committee-deals-blow-to-armenian-genocide-bill.html
“To me it does not matter what he says or does, what matters is what happens after whatever he says or does”
Yeah right into our hands…
Harut,
You’re right on target with this article — as usual!
The public denial campaign by Turkey has exposed their petty and absurd arguments.The official and unofficial response by Turkey to the French initiative has been an embarrassment to any responsibly thinking Turk. The public is quickly observing that the world is divided into three groups as it relates to the Armenian Genocide…. those who embrace the truth those who deny the truth and those who are publically hesitant. The interesting fact to note is that the first group is growing in impact, the second is becoming increasingly irrelevant and the third group is dominated by geo-political considerations…not a denial of the facts.
Turkey knows that the battle for denial has been lost and the truth is prevailing. We must prepare for the prevention of a hollow victory; that being a public apology with no accountability. I agree with Berge. In my view , Turkey is positioning itself to bee a hero by “apologizing” at some point and transferring the pressure to the Armenians to let it the issue be closed. Think about it. The world has been listening to our demand for justice for decades, but what they hear is “recognition”. We must position our friends and others for our definition of justice. Who speaks for our people. Will the ROA present such a position. Will the Turks exploit the passion of the diaspora and the hesitancy of the ROA? We must have a seamless position. The process is just beginning. There is much to do within our community.
At any moment, Turkey can acknowledge the destruction of Armenians as genocide – rest assured Turkey’s popularity will surge all over Europe and emerge as a hero in the eyes of spineless EU and the morally bankrupt US State Department.
Then what?
At this stage (nearly 100 years later) any Turkish acknowledgment is hollow and meaningless. It is much much worse than denial.
Genocide is a legal term; it is the worst crime humanity has given a name.
Without accountability for land, reparations, and restitution, not to mention the lives that were brutally taken away; and the ongoing genocidal-border-blockade that has forced over a million Armenians to leave their country to seek economic survival elsewhere.
How will genocidal-Turkey change towards Armenia?
Would it give land-locked Armenia *unfettered* access to the black sea ports and unfettered land routes across Turkey to trade and import by land to Europe and Middle East (for the next 200 years)?
Would genocidal-Turkey return the territories of the first Armenian republic 1918-20 (not to be confused with greater Armenia) which Kemal Ataturk attacked and seized 60% of its territory?
Would genocidal-Turkey pay reparations in the upwards of trillion (100 billion) dollars to the republic of Armenia?
Would genocidal-Turkey prevent Azerbaijan from further attacks on Armenians?
If hollow and meaningless acknowledgment satisfies you – go for it.
A crime that is not severely punished is a crime repeated.
Thanks Stepan and Berge
For their their clear comments…
No one can argue…
What they have honestly expressed…
Sylva
Erdogan in my eyes is a political playboy…
He will not win…but probably better than others…
The days will prove…but we should continue our message
Till we win…We can’t live for others to work for our ignored cause…