Turkey is not indifferent to Armenian pain, Vural says

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey must immediately apologize to Armenians for the "tragic events of the past," said Volkan Vural, Turkey's former ambassador to Armenia in 1991-1993, Taraf Turkish newspaper reported.



"Although it is difficult to imagine that Turkey would recognize the Genocide, nevertheless, it must apologize to Armenians and other ethnic minorities - Greeks, Assyrians, Kurds - for displacing them and massacres, and allow them to return to the land of their ancestors and become Turkish citizens," said Vural. "It's important to show that Turkey is not indifferent to the Armenian pain."



"The return of assets and financial restitution are difficult issues to tackle. However, it would be possible to make a symbolic offer of financial restitution," explained Vural, saying that making an apology is an "imperative for a country like Turkey."



"The Armenian question cannot be resolved by a commission of historians. Such a commission can only help in the resolution process by analyzing some of the issues," said Vural, adding that the Armenian question can be resolved only by political leaders.



"Although the establishment of Armenia-Turkey relations will not entirely vanquish Armenians' genocide claims, it will provide psychological reprieve. It is imperative to differentiate rhetoric with the realities of life," added Vural.



"Turkey must have more faith in itself and not become hostage to the genocide issue," said Vural, adding that Turkey must have strength to acknowledge what has happened in the past and work toward establishing neighborly and friendly relations.



"Armenians in the Diaspora will always force the genocide recognition issue," he said. "But if Turkey-Armenia relations are normalized, borders are opened, trade increases and people get wealthy, their pressures would lose effectiveness" said Vural.



Volkan Vural was the only Turkey's ambassador to Armenia with residence in Moscow while Yerevan wasn't represented in Ankara even at the level of Charge d'Affaires. Presently, Karen Mirzoyan, Armenia's representative to the BSEC (residence in Istanbul), is the only Armenian diplomat in Turkey.