The Events of 1915

RE-BUILDING PEACE

It cannot be considered normal for a century old event to take hostage the present and future of two neighbourly and close peoples to such an extent. Today, not many people remember the fact that Armenians and Turks had very close social relations wherever they were, up until the assassinations of the Turkish diplomats by Armenian terrorist organizations and the subsequent genocide propaganda.

In order to reinstate such an affinity, there is a need for a dialogue process, respect for different views and efforts to instil empathy. This is how a path for abridging the Turkish and Armenian discourses on the basis of “a just memory” could emerge.

Believing that this is possible, Turkey proposed the establishment of a joint historical commission composed of Turkish and Armenian historians, and other international experts, to study the events of 1915 in the archives of Turkey, Armenia and third countries. The findings of the commission might bring about a fuller and fairer understanding of this tragic period on both sides and contribute to normalization between Turks and Armenians.

There is a separate need for establishing a constructive discourse in line with the spirit of the age that will eliminate prejudices and dismantle the preconceptions of the culture of conflict with a view to focus on the future.

President Erdoğan’s message of condolences was issued with such conviction on 23 April 2014,during his term as Prime Minister, and it was an important milestone. The message centered on the respect for the lives lost in the events of 1915, prescribed focusing on the future while studying the historical facts on the basis of a just memory, emphasized the importance of staying away from offending narratives and approaching different views with empathy.

IT IS OUR HOPE AND BELIEF THAT THE PEOPLES OF AN ANCIENT AND UNIQUE GEOGRAPHY, WHO SHARE SIMILAR CUSTOMS AND MANNERS WILL BE ABLE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT THE PAST WITH MATURITY AND TO REMEMBER TOGETHER THEIR LOSSES IN A DECENT MANNER. AND IT IS WITH THIS HOPE AND BELIEF THAT WE WISH THAT THE ARMENIANS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY REST IN PEACE, AND WE CONVEY OUR CONDOLENCES TO THEIR GRANDCHILDREN

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 23 April 2014

Turkey continues with this sincere discourse and takes further steps to give it a further meaning. In this respect, cherishing the memory of the Ottoman Armenians and protecting the Armenian cultural heritage is a primary aim. During the liturgy in memory of the lives lost in 1915 organized by the Armenian Patriarchate of İstanbul on 24 April 2015, the Republic of Turkey, for the first time, was represented at ministerial level. Every year, the President sends messages to the liturgy.

LET ME REITERATE THAT WE ARE COGNISANT OF THE SORROWFUL EVENTS EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST BY THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY AND THAT I SINCERELY SHARE YOUR PAIN. PLEASE REST ASSURED ALSO THAT OUR HEARTS REMAIN WIDE OPEN TO THE GRANDCHILDREN OF THE OTTOMAN ARMENIANS ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

Message sent by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the Liturgy in the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul, 24 April 2015

It is disappointing to see that those steps taken for friendship and normalization have not been reciprocated by Armenia so far.

In the final analysis, the only approach befitting this era would be facilitating ways for reconciliation, putting focus sincerely and humanely on to the future and replacing feelings of hatred and revenge embedded in the minds and hearts of young Armenians with concepts of mutual understanding and empathy.

THE EVENTS OF 1915: AN OVERVIEW RE-BUILDING PEACE THE HOLOCAUST VERSUS 1915 EVENTS

Political Dimension

Armenian communities living in Western countries are often represented by very well-organized nationalist associations that have chosen to build an Armenian identity fixated on having the events of 1915 internationally recognized as genocide. Consequently, they could form a public perception as if the Armenian narrative is widely accepted or even adopted by a consensus. A series of aggressive public relations campaigns are the reason that this perception is wide-spread. However, there is no “political or scientific consensus” on this issue.

THE DECISIONS OF RECOGNITION OF GENOCIDE BY VARIOUS PARLIAMENTS ARE MERE REFLECTIONS OF DAILY POLITICAL WILL, AND ARE NOT LEGALLY BINDING.

The fact that approximately 28 out of around 200 (Armenia and Greek Cypriots excluded) national legislatures motivated by the international conjecture took decisions mostly of a non-binding nature, in support of the Armenian narrative is not of much importance. It is evident that these decisions were partly fait accompli, that there were also numerous parliamentarians who voted against the Armenian narrative and that the issue was approached without understanding the entirety of this complicated historical issue and with convictions, preconceptions and religious justifications.

FOR INSTANCE, A DRAFT TO RECOGNISE THE EVENTS OF 1915 AS GENOCIDE HAD BEEN REJECTED BY 245 VOTES TO 37 IN 2008 IN THE SWEDISH PARLIAMENT. THEN, IN TWO YEARS’ TIME, IN 2010 A DRAFT WITH SIMILAR CONTENT WAS PASSED WITH 151 VOTES AGAINST 150. WHAT COULD BE THE NEW HISTORICAL EVIDENCE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE SWEDISH PARLIAMENT TO CHANGE ITS POSITION? THE CASE OF SWEDEN OPENLY SHOWS THE VARIABILITY AND THE INCONSISTENCY OF SUCH DECISIONS.

THE REAL JUDGE IS THE PEOPLE AND THEIR CONSCIENCE. AND IN MY CONSCIENCE, THE CONSCIENCE OF NO STATE AUTHORITY COULD EVER MATCH THE CONSCIENCE OF A PEOPLE. MY ONLY WISH IS TO TALK FREELY ABOUT OUR SHARED PAST WITH MY BELOVED FRIENDS HERE IN TURKEY –IN THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE MANNER, AND WITHOUT EXTRACTING ANIMOSITY FROM THAT PAST...