Some Turkish leaders haven’t given up the Ottoman period racist approaches

PanARMENIAN.Net - Discontent with the Armenian-Turkish normalization process by many Armenians, not only in Armenia, but also in Diaspora is motivated by the lack of confidence towards Turkey’s good faith, Armenia’s Foreign Minster said.

“The reason for suspension is conditioned by the fact that Turkey today is unable to respect reached agreements, its commitments and given words,” Edward Nalbandian said in an interview with Profil Austrian journal.

Asked “whether Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan’s threats to expulse hundred thousands of Armenians from Turkey evoke remembrance of the death marches in the year 1915”, the Armenian Minister said, “Such kinds of remarks by a Turkish leader speak for themselves. That means and it’s regrettable that some leaders in modern Turkey haven’t given up the Ottoman period discriminatory and racist approaches. Of course, this particular statement was a shock for everyone and not only in Armenia. The Armenian Genocide started with exactly such statements in 1914-1915. Later in the end of the 20th century massacres and deportations of the Armenian population of Azerbaijan were accompanied by such kind of racist statements.”

“From the very beginning of this process we have told our Turkish counterparts that in no way Armenia will question the fact of the Armenian Genocide or the importance of its international recognition. We see the recognition and condemnation of the first Genocide in the twentieth century not only as a tribute to memory of its victims, but also as an important tool to prevent further genocides,” he said.

The Minister continued saying, “You probably know, that Rafael Lemkin the author of the term “Genocide” invoked the Armenian Genocide as an explanation for his wording on the the crime against humanity. Although it is very hard for us, but we did not put the Armenian Genocide recognition by Turkey as a precondition for normalization of our relations. Turkey should reconcile with its own past to be able to build its future. Nelson Mandela once said, “True reconciliation does not consist in merely forgetting the past”. At the same time, I have to mention that inside Turkey there are certain processes and movements calling for the Genocide Recognition. Right after we initiated the normalization process, several Turkish intellectuals started an internet campaign, which was called “Apology campaign”. Just in few weeks 35.000 people signed that petition. For the first time in 95 years, this year on April 24, Armenian Genocide was commemorated at Istanbul’s Taksim square. I hope one day Turkey will recognize the Armenian Genocide. And that is important for Turkey itself. Many in Turkey are beginning to understand this and no one has any doubts almost about it outside of Turkey.”

Commenting on presumption that Turkey refuses to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide fearing of demands for compensation and even territorial claims, Minister Nalbandian said, “Since its independence, Armenia has never made any statements on territorial claims. It is unfortunate that certain Turkish political forces are using such arguments in order to create fear in the Turkish society.”