On April 23, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a message of condolence in eight languages to Armenians worldwide, for their forefathers who lost their lives in 1915. As this was an unprecedented and unexpected gesture by a Turkish statesman, Armenians in Armenia, the diaspora, and within Turkey reacted with a wide range of emotions and opinions. Some dismissed it as a cynical move and a new version of continued denial of the genocide; some saw it as a smart political move and an effective delay tactic to avert the pressure of the Centennial of the genocide next year; others optimistically saw it as a change in direction by Turkey in facing its history, hoping for increased dialogue and a resolution of issues; and a few sycophants went as far as to take out newspaper ads thanking the prime minister, or suggesting that he be considered for the Nobel Peace Prize. So, where do we go from here?
One can find many faults with Erdogan’s message. It could be interpreted as one more fitting for the victims of a natural disaster, such as an earthquake or flood, or a man-made accident, such as a train accident, instead of murdered victims of a state-planned annihilation of an entire people that has disappeared from its 4,000-year-old historic homeland. One can speculate about the reasons behind such a message: Was it calculated, insincere, or from pressure by the U.S., so that President Obama would not use the “G” word. But at the end of the day, no matter what the motive, whether genuine or not, one must acknowledge that this is the first time a Turkish leader has said something mildly humane about the Armenian Genocide victims of 1915, instead of complete denial or insults that were the norm for the past 99 years. More significantly, certain terms used in the message are really encouraging, welcome and irreversible, such as acknowledging the historic significance of April 24 for all the Armenians around the world, or acknowledging the inhumane consequences of the “relocation.” And therefore, it should be recognized as a small step in the right direction—provided that it is followed immediately by real, concrete action and further evidence of a change of direction toward facing history, justice, and restitution. The next 12 months will tell if this is the case or not.
It is not easy for a statesman to suddenly reverse a nearly century-old course of denial, which included brainwashing its citizens for four generations, and threats against anyone or any state that disagreed with its lies about 1915. But every journey of 10,000 miles starts with a small step. In a previous article I had suggested eight steps that Turkey could take within the next year—immediately and without even acknowledging the genocide—if there truly was goodwill in resolving historical wrongs:
1. Open the border with Armenia without any preconditions. Rename the Alican border-crossing the Hrant Dink Gate in honor of the heroic advocate for dialogue.
2. Grant citizenship to the living descendants of the deported Ottoman-Armenian citizens.
3. Clean up the textbooks at all levels of the educational system by eliminating the falsifications, hate-mongering, and discrimination against the Armenians, and start teaching the correct facts about 1915.
4. Initiate a state program through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to reconstruct or restore the more than 2,000 destroyed or deteriorating Armenian monasteries and churches, and return them to their rightful owner, the Armenian Church.
5. Offer a symbolic but meaningful apology to the Armenian people for the crimes of 1915 by returning Mount Ararat and Ani to Armenia, perhaps as part of a minor border revision and territorial exchange based on equivalent land area.
6. Open up to the public the archival documents related to the deportation/liquidation records and the Ottoman property deeds related to the deported Armenians.
7. Allow the compensation cases by descendants of Ottoman-Armenian citizens to proceed in Turkish and international courts.
8. Offer free transit and duty-free port facilities for Armenia at a Black Sea city such as Trabzon and Rize, as partial compensation for the economic losses of the Ottoman-Armenian citizens.
I am aware that some of these steps have already been taken or been considered by Turkish government officials. Discussions about granting of citizenship and restoring a few of the churches and monasteries have started—albeit as “museums,” and usually without mentioning their Armenian origins. Opening the border with Armenia without being held hostage by third countries would be a win-win for both states. A sure sign that Erdogan’s message is sincere could be the elimination of the names of the streets, schools, mosques, and neighborhoods named after the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) leaders Talat, Enver, and Djemal. But we know that there are still Turkish “deep state” leaders (recently released from jail by Erdogan) who have formed Talat Pasha Committees, or erected statues of such notorius murderers as Topal (Lame) Osman, famous for throwing Armenians overboard from boats into the Black Sea, or even worse, for throwing Pontic Greeks into the boiler rooms of the ships through the funnels.
Another indication of Erdogan’s sincerity in changing direction would be to stop the ridiculous publications and conferences by the state-financed Turkish Historic Society. Their latest publication had the number of perished Armenians during the genocide down to 8,000, and all had “died due to illness.” Their latest conference in Van in April 2014, where 35 so-called professors presented papers, was attended by only 7 people. One of the papers claimed that the 235 intellectuals arrested on April 24, 1915 were all very well treated, well fed and cared for in Ayas and Cankiri, and that all returned to Istanbul within a few months, “without even a tiny scratch on their bodies.”
Finally, Erdogan must understand that there is no need to assemble an international historic commission to prove the veracity of the genocide, as this has already been done for him by scholars worldwide using the Ottoman-Turkish and international archives. If the Turkish objective of the historic commission is to prove that Armenians were indeed fomenting rebellion, and thereby to justify the decision of relocation and wholesale massacres, these are already documented and open in Armenian and international archives. And yes, there have been localized revenge massacres of Moslems by Armenian volunteer troops entering Anatolia with the Russian army in 1916, but after the 1915 genocide had already taken place. He can assemble a commission within Turkey, as there are now enough credible Turkish scholars who can overcome the lies spread by the lackeys at the Turkish Historical Society. But he must understand that there are still hidden deportation/liquidation records from the 33 Ottoman provinces, as well as the Ottoman property land registry and deed records, still banned by the Turkish Army Chief of staff. Yes, there is a need for an international commission, not to establish the truths of 1915 but to deal with the consequences of the truths and restitution of justice.
Of course, it is essential for Erdogan and the Turkish state to correctly deal with the trauma and pain of the murdered—and not dead—victims of 1915, as he referred to in his message. But the issue is much more than that. There is the bigger issue of a massive plunder, transfer of wealth, land, and assets that resulted from the murder of these victims. The president of the Turkish state today resides in the home of the Kasapyan family. A well-known Turkish newspaper editor owns the historic Varakavank Monastery near Van, and the entire village where Armenians lived until 1915. The Turkish state today owns the land of more than 4,000 Armenian churches and schools active before 1915. Turkish and Kurdish notables seized—and still possess—hundreds of thousands of houses, shops, stores, farms, orchards, vineyards, factories, warehouses, and mines owned by the Armenians before 1915. This massive plunder is not the result of a state conquering a foreign state; it is because a state decided to kill its own citizens and take their assets, followed by a series of legislation to legalize the robbery. This issue has nothing to do with whether the murders are defined as “genocide” or not, and this must be addressed by the Turkish state regardless, through revised legislation and a return of the assets to the rightful owners and heirs.
While Erdogan and Turkey’s leaders have a lot of work to do to confront the past, Armenians cannot afford to just meet among themselves or expect third-country politicians to take up their cause for them. As an advocate of direct dialogue with our adversaries, I suggest increased contact with Turks, Kurds, and the new emerging reality of the “hidden Armenians”—toward building trust, understanding, and a common “body of knowledge.” Armenian opinion-makers, media, academia, lawyers, artists, filmmakers, engineers, and architects, NGOs and other organizations must make contact with their counterparts in Turkey through conferences, cultural events, media and student exchanges, reconstruction projects, and jointly organized April 24 commemorations within Turkey. Thanks to a number of such initiatives and individuals, the number of opinion-makers and open-minded people who have become aware of the truth has grown dramatically. We are all aware that the problem is within Turkey, but we must realize that the solution is within Turkey as well. It is my hope that Erdogan’s message is a real step in the right direction, which will be through the steps described above.
Raffi Bedrosyan
Latest posts by Raffi Bedrosyan (see all)
- Reactions to Biden in Turkey - May 4, 2021
- What can the Diaspora do now? - January 6, 2021
- Armenians and the Turkish coup d’etat of September 12, 1980 - September 16, 2020
Thank you for your outstanding editorial.
Thank you Mr. Bedrosyan for your clear, frank and to the point answer to Prime Minister Erdogan’s statement.
Wow, what a refreshing approach to a hundred year old issue. I especially appreciated the positive tone of the essay. Sure, Turkey still tippy toes around the G word but nevertheless there seems to be a discernible softening of their official posture. Maybe we can soften our approach just a bit be eliminating our usual “demands.” Mr. Bedrosyan was refreshing. Bravo to him for taking the time to write and bravo to the Weekly for publishing.
Recall when many Armenians were fooled by the Young Turks’ nice words in 1908. Don’t let it happen again with this reconciliation nonsense.
At a political level, the key is whether Erdogan’s move is a symbol of progress or substitute for progress. Two very different things, requiring entirely different approaches. – Aram
Raffi , this is an excellent article and the best advice I have heard . Armenian organizations and political parties should take note of your article and start implementing it.Third countries could care less about us ,as you said this is between Turks and Armenians which should be taken to the international court of human rights.
The diaspora must start pushing for compasation of stolen goods .
If you trust other people to do your job the job will never be done.
Armenians always think that other nations will do our job,they never did and never will.We took karabagh because we didn t wait for anyone
else to do for us.
I like the point about free access to Black Sea via the ports of RIZE and TRABZON
First of all, No one lives in the era of the Ottoman Empire..You are neither Armenian subjects of the Ottoman Empire; nor millet-i sadıka,
We are neither an empire; nor have the Ottomans’ tolerance
You’re off your rocker!That’s all nonsense demands which are nothing but utopia..
“nor [do we] have the Ottomans’ tolerance.”
Do us all a favor and become the worldwide spokesperson for the Turkish government. It’s refreshing to see the truth clearly stated.
Bannu,
Your argument does not make sense!
If you carry the flag of the dead empire (Ottomans) then the new owners must carry the responsibilities of dead Empire!
The dead Empire (Ottomans) made a deal with another dead Empire called Soviet Union, and illegally annexed Western Armenia to republic of Turkey or Ottomans, and illegally committed Genocide against their own Christian subjects (Armenians Greeks Assyrians), therefore legally Turkish government is responsible for the actions of Ossmani Khalifat!
Great article that acknowledges two vital points:
1. In many ways restitution is not dependent on acknowledgment of the events as genocide. Blatant expropriation is illegal even if done in the context of ‘massacre’ rather than genocide.
2. The problem is within Turkey, but so is the solution. Frankly, many of the leaders of the diaspora communities, through no fault of their own, do not speak Turkish and have no connections in or knowledge of today’s Turkey. These disapora leaders should recognize their own limitations and work with those who are not so limited.
One of the best articles I’ve read on this issue… Well analyzed, thoughtfully outlined with a positive approach and sound advice… Although some items will not be solved in my lifetime , this approach will have a healing effect on long overseen wounds…
This article is fun to read. I don’t understand why the author did not claim Istanbul, 6 times the size of entire armenia.
But here is the deal though, I would give Agri Dagi in return armenia give the Syunik Province to Turkey. How about this? Deal?
Ahmed,
Why syunik? It was never yours.
A useful itemization and measure of Turkey’s moral and material debt to the Armenian people, but barring the direct acknowledgment of genocide it is a list that can be endlessly cherry picked by Erdogan to give the illusion of progress in solving the underlying problem. Until the genocidal nature of the crime is acknowledged, for instance, it is pure delusion to think that Armenians en masse can suddenly find life in Turkey comfortable and appealing. True, that Erdogan admitted that the Armenians in 1915 were Ottoman citizens is a historic step–for a Turkish leader. It was also a tremendous step when Turkey stopped calling Kurds “mountain Turks”. But we still see the same problems, do we not?
I think the list of proposed measures needs to be prioritized. At the top of the list–if we cannot have direct recognition of the Genocide–would definitely be removing Talat’s name from streets and public places. That could easily begin tomorrow–if Erdogan is sincere.
One other very important point that has got lost in the shuffle over Erdogan’s statement and the speculation as to his motives for publishing it in eight languages: he obviously has his eye on Strasbourg where we are still waiting for the other shoe to drop on the Perincek case. Let us remind ourselves that the judgment against Switzerland by the ECHR last December was a serious blow to Armenian Genocide recognition and that if the High Chamber in Strasbourg remains silent on the issue and does not accept Switzerland’s appeal, Erdogan will have very little to do to completely dismiss the genocide issue next year.
That has a lot to do with it.
Why demand a free access to the black sea? Simply ask for a few cities in the black sea region who knows they might hand it over to you.you loose nothing
SUPER ARTICLE WITH GREAT RESEARCH. MANY THANKS FOR YOUR
SUPERHUMAN EFFORTS TO TRY TO BRIN G JUSTICE FOR MY MURDERED
ANCESTORS WHO HEAR YOU FROM THEIR GRAVES. PLEASE KEEP UP YOUR
VALIANT AND IMPORTANT EFFORTS.
Where Do We Go From Here? It’s simple: what is he offering with the apology, B sht is cheap.
Dear Editor:
It is a false statement attempting to confuse us. Like General Mc. Arthur said “there is not substitute for victory, you can’t take half a bridge or a city” There is not substitute for GENOCIDE you recognize or keep going erdogan denying it.
There is no mderation. There is not substitute for GENOCIDE.
What would Turkish citizenship do for me? Subject me to the draft to kill Kurds? I’ll pass.
If Kurds are so oppressed in Turkey, then how did Turgut Ozal get to be President of Turkey. Also, Recep Tayyip the bonehead is also making dangerous concessions with the peace negotiations with the PKK, rather then using an armed option to eliminate the PKK.
Some of the arguments you Turks come up with to defend your hollow points are priceless. Barack H. Obama, a black African-American, was not only elected the president of one of the freest countries in the world and arguably of the only superpower in the world today, but was reelected for a 2nd term in a country in which his people constitute only a small fraction of the overall population and in a country where only 50 years ago his people were targets of lynch mobs and were at best treated as 3rd class citizens, not to mention centuries of slavery.
Are the blacks in the United States treated any differently today than they were before Barack H. Obama became president? Are Americans any less color-blind than they were before his presidency? Of course not! I would argue that, despite his lack of qualification, Obama was elected president because even though he is black on the outside he is whiter in the inside than many Americans themselves.
In the same manner, Turgut Ozal was most likely elected Turkish president not because he was identified as an ordinary Kurdish citizen of Turkey but more because he was identified as a “Mountain Turk”, a euphemism for denying the indigenous Kurdish ethnicity and identity in Turkey.
On a different note, I find it ironically rather entertaining that the Turks call terrorists any or all indigenous minorities in Turkey who want to live free of illegal Turkish occupation in their own homelands occupied by the Turks while the Turks themselves were and are the biggest terrorists in the world.
Dear editor,
We had an excellent math. professor at the university, when discussions went out of hand he used to call it “Academic masturbation”
I am going to repeat same to you for writting such a “Beautiful and lengthy article”
Turkey and Erdogan say “Do (Listen) as I say not as I do” after Hrant Dink now is Kessab. 2000 Armenians deported, their properties vandalizes, churches looted and burnet and after weeks a big “Silence” by Turks. “Oh it’s not me”
Wake up guys, it has been hundreds years since the “Reforms” that was tried to be imposed by the European countries and after each such meetings with the western powers more massacres were committed.
The Genocide continues by tutkey and Azeris. Kessab, Hrant Dink, the frontier with Armenia being closed (Which in itselve is a declaration of war), denial of Genocide, declaration by Azeries that Armenia was Adrbeijan and Armenians came and invaded these teritories, you can name some more…
If the Russian border troops are not at Gumri Armenia will be gone in less then 24 hours with combined operations by Turks ans Azeris. Then it will become another case as Cyprus. Let’s sit and talk, historical committie, those lands were originally Turkish and Azeri…LET’S WAKE UP
This is exactly why I have said many times you talk with the genocidal Turks and their pseudo-Turkish Azerbaijani slaves in a language they respond and respect and that is the language of force. You don’t sit around a table to negotiate with these nomads about whether they get to keep what does not belong to them in the first place. We can take care of hollow-talking Azerbaijani criminals any time and any day. In fact we already have done so and we will do it again with great pleasure. The Turks talk big because they are hiding behind the NATO alliance and once they lose that security they will be nothing but a sitting duck. Yes we have to live in the region with our neighbors but we don’t have to be neighborly and especially when our immediate neighbors to the west and to the east have established themselves through genocide and fairy tales respectively.
Armenia must do what Pakistan and India have done and that is to acquire atomic weapons and point them toward Ankara and Baku and go about her business. Every time the Turks and their pseudo-Turkish Azerbaijani slaves start to bark Armenia shuts them up by activating the launch sequence short of pushing the button until such time that they come forward and voluntarily give up what does not and never belonged to them or they feel certain, beyond any shadow of a doubt, their entire existence is in jeopardy.
You need to understand the rotten Turkish character to know what I am talking about. What did the defeated Turks do at the end of WWI in 1918 and after murdering 1.5 million Armenians? Did they stop and have compassion what little was left of our people and territory? NO! Their new leaders began fresh new offensives to finish us off altogether. You don’t negotiate or compromise with such wolves in sheep’s clothing. What you do instead is to expose their trickery and make door mats with their wolf skins.
(Ahmed // May 6, 2014 at 11:37 am // )
{“ I don’t understand why the author did not claim Istanbul, 6 times the size of entire Armenia.”}
Don’t worry turk: Constantinople will be liberated from the nomadic turk invaders also: give it time.
Not by Armenians though: not our lands.
Guess by who.
{“ I would give Agri Dagi…”}
You nomads have started calling your Altai Mountains ‘Agri Dagi’ ?
When did that happen ?
You can keep it: Armenians have no desire to move to Mongolia.
{“ Armenia give the Syunik Province to turkey.”}
I didn’t know there is a province called ‘Syunik’ in Uyguristan, turk.
‘Syunik’ sounds like an Armenian name: you invadonomad turks have started stealing Armenian place-names also ?
Did you guys run out of things to steal ?
In any case, Armenians have no desire to move to Uyguristan either, nomad.
We’ll take what is ours when the time is right: don’t worry.
Without shedding a drop of Armenian blood.
Occupied Western Armenia is almost devoid of Turks already.
We’ll trade with Kurds: turks will be all gone from our lands by that time.
Deal ?
You display excessive emotion and attention-seeking behaviour. There’s no escaping the fact will completely change your perception of time,world..
Avery,
You display excessive emotion. It is a well known fact that an emotional person cannot comprehend logically.
Constantinople will be there as it has been since 1453. I am not sure who would “liberate” it. Bankrupt Greeks ?
As you are well aware Armenia is hemorrhaging of people. The recent UNDP report on Armenia states that due to the population depletion, the country has lost the ability to develop sustainably. Since the new year more than 32,000 people have left the country seeking new pastures. Even you as a keyboard warrior, have left Armenia which is proof enough that Armenia is not viable as a country to live and work for its citizens.
Tourism in Turkey reaps them more than 40 million visitors each year reaping ample foreign exchange to live comfortably.
For your information Syunik is devoid of any people, hence Iran talked about a land lease that is perhaps what the previous commenter was alluding to.
On a personal level, relax…read a book and chill out. Excessive emotion is bad for health. It drains you.
With Best Regards,
Mir
Mir Ali,
It is a well known fact, that the majority of Turks have never been capable of logical comprehension. This, of course, is due to their extreme ignorance, combined with their extreme lack of education.
Your UNDP report, is certainly not the definition of an accurate report when it comes to determining how many Armenians leave Armenia on an annual basis. It is true that a large number of Armenians have departed Armenia in recent years; however, that doesn’t mean they won’t return back. They can return back whenever they feel like it. Just because an Armenian departs from Armenia, implies that Armenia is not viable as a country to live and work? That’s a rather absurd statement. But then again, it’s a well known fact that the majority of Turks are full of absurdity.
Instead of focusing on Armenia, you should be focusing on your own country, the Islamic Terrorist state of Turkey. The actual percentage of Turks in Turkey, has been steadily decreasing year after year. On the other hand, the Kurdish population of Turkey, is enormously increasing year after year. At the current rate, the Kurdish population of Turkey will exceed its Turk population by the year, 2040. As a result of this, Turkey would therefore transform into Kurdistan, which would then be attached to Iraqi Kurdistan. This explains the reason why Turkey’s terrorist leader, Erdogan, happens to be so frightened over this particular issue. As for Turkey, its feathers are being clipped, one by one. Anyway, on a personal level, you and your Turk compatriots should just try and relax; you still have another 26 years before your country’s feathers all get clipped.
Where Do We Go From Here? the right direction, will be
ARBITRAL AWARD OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WOODRAW WILSON
Woodrow Wilson was a warmongering sicko. His views are meaningless.
I hate to burst the bubble of some up-beat Armenians about this article, but several of the proposals in this article do noting for me. Number 2 “Turkish citizenship” for the offspring of Genocide survivors of the same genocidal country which murdered their relatives? Not only is that of no use, but there is something very sinister about it.
I am especially against number 5 – territorial exchange. Really? While 90% of our historic homeland is under occupation?? NO WAY. This is contrary to everything we have struggled for since the Genocide, Hye Tahd, demand for Genocide recognition, etc., as first and foremost it acknowledges that “Turkish territory” actually will exist – on Armenia’s lands – and might also place any possibility of future land reparations in jeopardy. No… just, no.
I agree, Garbis Yessayan! Armenia should push it to its legal limits.
You don’t get what you deserve; you get what you negotiate. You don’t eat soup with Chinese sticks: You keep busy, but stomach empty. A delegate negotiated in Berlin 1878 with a paper spoon… Your take is commensurate to what you can; nobody ain’t give nobody nothing for free! Promote unity through single unified ideology: VIABLE SUSTAINABLE ARMENIA FOR ARMENIANS!!! We’re not looking for European emissaries, who will push for equal citizenry rights of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire; nor in the Turkish Republic. We’re not looking for human rights, nor citizenry in the Turkish Republic: We’re not living back in yesterday. We’re not wishing bad to anyone: Yet we want to survive in the future AS ARMENIANS IN ARMENIA. What is Erdogan’s offerings? Human Rights to Turkish Citizens?
Dear compatriots. One statement from Erdogan, and we became a bunch of separate thinkers writers analyzers commentators. The issue is this: Are Turks doing away with their Pan-Turanic ideology? If not, then any Armenia on any historic land is a thorn to that, a conflict, mutually exclusive to it. Thus, either Turks have to drop that; or Armenians have to relocate into a new geography. Enough playing on words and nomenclature; what do we want? A Little Armenia in Los Angeles; A Bourdj Hammoud in Beirut; A return of Armenian heritage sites to the Constantinople Patriarchate? WE CAN SURVIVE ONLY IN A VIABLE SUSTAINABLE ARMENIA! And not in Madagascar, but on historic sites!!! Anything is better than nothing is not a viable option: Survival facing extermination is the issue here. Don’t settle for human rights issues, when collective existence is at stake! I’ll be cynical here, so that you get the point: Who cares if Turkish museums celebrate the Urartans, the Hittites, the Assyrians… I don’t want to be the last Armenian in a Turkish museum! Who cares if future placards mention that these churches and forts belonged to a people known as Armenians, “the first Christian Nation on earth…”. You want to live as an Armenian? Then earn it!!! Create your own viable sustainable Armenia!!!
This Turkish Republic, of whatever territory left from the Ottoman Empire, is exclusively based on Turkish racist superiority to all others. It did away with all “inferior others”, whatever their religion: And Christian Armenians had the very special treatment. The mere foundation of this Republic is racism. And we are feeding back on how they may “recognize” the injustice that they founded their everything on. It’s like asking a “superior race” German ideologist to repent for Hitler. You know what? The only thing this Republic may blame the ultra-nationalist Pan-Turanist Triumverate is that they didn’t fully complete the annihilation; that contrary to their assessments, diasporan life did not dissolve the somehow surviving remnants of the Armenian Genocide!!!! And as this is typed, concerted efforts of millions upon millions of dollars are spent in Canada and the U.S.A., let alone the Middle East incursions, to do away with the left-over Armenians. This is Erdogan. This is the racist foundation the Turkish Republic is founded on!
danny,
What does eating soup without Chinese chopsticks, have to do with the Armenian people? That’s just as absurd as one of your other comments, in which you were accusing the Armenian people of being beggars. And, for your own education, what the Armenian people are struggling for, is a human rights issue. By being so deeply against the human rights struggle of the Armenian people as you are clearly doing, shows that you are truly an enemy of the Armenian people.
A real thourough article, enough praise has been laid here so I wont be redundant, my only absolute certainty is that none of the 8 steps will ever happen, at least anytime soon an certainly not before the centennial. The border could, I sau could reopen but NEVER without preconditions…the remaining 7 steps are unfortunatly wishful thinking. thanks
Let us be clear, Turks do not owe anything to anyone, morally or otherwise, at least many think so. Todays population of Turkey have their grand parents ethncially cleansed and murdered all over Balkans, ME and Caucuses. This should in no way be a reason for not recogizing the tragic past and the special bond Armenians everywhere feel towards those lands. A lot could have happend in bridging the gap and effecting a reconcilation of sorts. Including passports, visas, citizenship, special status to Ani, and countless other acts and measures. One can point the finger in many directions, but it is clear to me that much of the responsibility lies with the Armenian diaspora and the cabal that has appointed itself as the sole and unquestionable authority on all things Armenian. One can not go on killing sprees, engage in a propaganda of hate and distortions and maintain a feudal blood lust, and then expect good things to happen. Invasion and ethnic cleansing of Karabag was just the topping on it all, and that certainly can not be blamed on bloody Turks.
Still, this article and its reconcilatory and rational tone is much appreciated.
Let us be even clearer: the State of Turkey, a legal Successor State to the internationally recognized State of Ottoman Turkey owes Armenians for the Genocide of the Armenian people, owes the liquid wealth and other properties stolen from those the State murdered, lands the State illegally confiscated from those it murdered, compound interest,..,and a whole lot more.
Of course denialists such as yourself wish that Turks didn’t owe anything to anyone, but you denialists are increasingly marginalized and in the minority outside of your fracturing, denialist Türkiye. The time will come: we are patient people. And things are slowly moving in our direction and against Turkey. We will get what belongs to us one way or another.
As to your ancestors being ethnically cleansed from Balkans, ME, and Caucasus: your ancestors’ homeland is East and Central Asia.
Turks who lived on those areas you listed came from Uyguristan (and surrounding areas), ethnically cleansed indigenous sedentary populations, murdered them, committed Genocide against them, and took their lands. Nobody invited Turks to Asia Minor: your ancestors invaded our lands.
{“ Invasion and ethnic cleansing of Karabag was just the topping on it all, and that certainly can not be blamed on bloody Turks.”]
You are confused, denialist invadonomad: Turks who live in Caucasus are the descendants of nomadic Turkic invaders. Those Turks previously living on Armenian lands had ethnically cleansed and murdered the indigenous Armenians over centuries, after they invaded our lands. These bloody Caucasian Turks’ attempt to commit another Genocide of Armenians, this time in NKR, failed miserably. The invaders were crushed and thrown out of Armenian lands. And unlike the bloody Turks, the Turkbaijani civilians were humanely allowed by Armenians to leave our lands unmolested.
Armenians living in Azerbaijani cities Sumgait, Kirovabad, and Baku were massacred (1988..1990), in typical bloody Turkic tradition, and fled for their lives, leaving behind all their wealth and properties. If not for the belated intervention of Soviet troops, another genocide of Armenians at the hands of bloody Turks would have occurred.
And as we all know, a subsequent, more determined attempt by bloody Turks to wipe out Armenians of Artsakh in 1991 was thwarted by Armenian warriors.
Murat,
Congratulations for packing 3 straw-men arguments into one short paragraph.
1) We are not talking about “Turks” but about the Government of Turkey. Comments about local peoples’ grandparents are irrelevant.
2) Just because Turks were victimized by other peoples, does not mean they had free rein to victimize the Armenians.
If John causes me to have a stomach ulcer, it does not mean I can murder Dave, and then tell Dave’s family “Oh, let’s ‘share the pain’ we both experienced at the time.”
3) The question is not “reconciliation” but ‘conciliation.’ Never forget: the Armenian side of the Turkey-Armenian border has always been open.
This is another extremely silly comment by a typical uneducated, ignorant Turk who’s desperate to minimize his country’s horrible criminal history. Actually Murat, for your own education, your criminal Turkish forefathers owe an enormous amount to the Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians, for the three genocides they committed against these three peoples. Let us be clear about what the Turks owe: (1) many billions of dollars for the extermination of 1.5 million Armenians, approximately one million Greeks, and 250 thousand Assyrians, along with the destruction of over two thousand Armenian churches in the former Ottoman Terrorist Empire; (2) the gigantic amount of properties stolen from these three peoples, especially the Armenians and Greeks; and (3) the stolen lands of Western Armenia (Erzurum, Van, Bitlis, Trebizond), as stipulated in the Wilsonian section of the Treaty of Sevres.
In regard to the invasion of Artsakh, the Azeris already did that in 1991, and as a result, they ended up getting crushed by an Armenian military force armed with much fewer military weapons than Azerbaijan. That was indeed a magnificent victory for the Armenian people in liberating their land of Artsakh from those Azerbaijani terrorists. In regard to ethnic cleansing around the time of the Karabagh War, let me take time to educate you about the four hundred thousand Armenians who were forced out of Azerbaijan, right before the beginning of the 1991-1994 War.
In regard to “bloody Turks,” that’s actually a very accurate term. After all, even after 99 years, the hands of the criminal Turks are still filled with the blood of 2,750,000 slaughtered Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians.
So many Turks have a warped idea of the Diaspora, because it is based upon what the T media says.
I am active in my community, most of whose interests are cultural and religious. I can go for months or years at a time without hearing the word Turkish from anyone. I always hear Armenians discuss the Genocide phrased as n Ottoman crime, not a Turksh one.
Yes, a few young men 30 years ago murdered a few T diplomats for reasons the overwhelming majority of Armenians could not accept. These murders in my name I reject, but they are not a counterweight to the age code or the state sponsored strangulation of Armenian life and culture your Nazi state endorses