November 17, 2006 - 16:45 AMT
Milliyet: Turkey Knows What Happened in 1915
Milliyet Turkish newspaper launched publication of a series of articles in order to find out the opinion of the Armenian Diaspora on the Armenian Genocide. Interview with French parliament member Patrick Devedjian was published first. "Everyone knows that those who lived on this land experienced hard times in summer of 1915. For 90 years people are examining who is right or who is stronger," observer Temelkuran writes. In his opinion Turkey is the only state that doesn't discuss this subject. "We are the children of those who spoke about it a bit. We all know that unpleasant things happened that summer but cannot name the events. The East was in mourning. The elders showed houses and said that they were built by Armenian stonemasons. On the whole we know what happened and this is the voice of soul. That is why I decided to talk with the Armenian Diaspora. I was warned that Patrick Devedjian is strict and he is the author of the bill on Genocide. However the conversation proceeded in a civilized and exciting atmosphere. Moreover, I was surprised when he spoke of the Genocide with tears in his eyes. He said he was against the bill but after the destruction of the monument to the Armenian Genocide victims in Lyon he understood that the law is essential since it will ensure the security of French Armenians," he continues.

In the opinion of the French parliamentarian Turkey can change under a strong pressure only. Armenians are waiting for 90 years, he added. "This is a deep wound for the Armenian people and the pain is intolerable," Devedjian told Milliyet, reports Yerkir.