Late Turkish president was about to recognize Armenian Genocide

 April 24, 2012 - 14:49 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Former Turkish president Turgut Özal who passed away in 1993 was known for his reformist policies, and his close friends now shed light on Özal's approach on the Armenian issue.

According to them, the former president was ready to compromise with Armenians to solve the decades-old issue before things got more complicated for Turkey in international politics.

When he became prime minister in 1983, the Armenian issue was one of the topics on his agenda, Today’s Zaman reports.

Vehbi Dinçerler, a former education minister and a state minister in Özal's Cabinet, said Özal ordered his advisors in 1984 to work on possible scenarios about the economic and political price Turkey would have to pay if Turkey compromises with the Armenian diaspora, an early Turkish acceptance of the term Genocide.

Another scenario was also prepared. This plan sought to gauge the political cost of a Turkish acceptance of Genocide within 20 to 30 years if Turkey is forced to accept it one day. His aim was to solve the problem before it got too late and through few concessions after reaching a deal with the Armenians, Dinçerler noted.

Özal was determined to resolve the Armenian issue to avoid facing harder challenges regarding the possibility that the Armenian Genocide would be recognized by state legislatures in the US.

Süleyman Roman, who worked on several projects with Özal in the 1980s, said the former president had planned to return some lands to Armenians in Van.

Özal had the courage to confront the past, saying “Let's take the initiative and find the truth. Let's pay the political and economic price, if necessary.”

Hasan Celal Güzel, who served in Özal's government, said the military establishment perceived Özal's moderate approach and policies on the Armenian and Kurdish issues as concessions. After Özal's death, his policies of compromising with the Armenians were abandoned.

“He wanted to open the door for a return of Armenians to Turkey. No one has made a move since. Had he not died, he might have solved this issue,” Güzel told Today's Zaman.