ANKARA: The Armenian Question

[gmd]

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg178217.html

ANKARA: The Armenian Question
From: "Katia M. Peltekian" <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2007 19:31:14 +0400 (AMT)

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THE ARMENIAN QUESTION
Ali BayramoĞlu, Yeni Şafak

Turkish Daily News
Feb 14 2007

We could see Hrant Dink's murder this way. The assassination is
a painful phase of the process of Turkey confronting its history
and identity.

To the majority of Turkish people, Dink's killing has shown that the
limits of thinking differently and the limits of fighting together are
drawn by collective memory. Even the mere fact that some couldn't bear
the metaphor of being Armenian [a reference to nationalist action shown
against the slogan "We are all Armenians" used in banners unfurled
at Dink's funeral] and actually lost the ability, even it was for a
second, to distinguish between the literal and metaphorical meaning,
proves that "Armenian" is among the pillars that form Turkish identity
through reverseness.

True, confrontations bring repressed memories up to the surface.

Every confrontation starts with some sort of a situation, event
or instrument.

No matter how we claim the opposite to be true, we are also discussing
the Turkish identity when we talk about the Kurdish or Armenian
question. All these three nations are among the determining elements
that founded the new republic.

The first of these is a bloody and painful process of migration
of millions of Muslims in the Balkans to Anatolian. The second one
results from the pressure applied by the first one and by the newly
emerging movement of nationalism. This is the process of purging
Anatolia of non-Muslims and handing over their wealth to Muslims
and Turks. This period has made its mark on today's perception of
nationalism. The third one is the start of the Kurdish question -
a double-sided nationalism production pump that began in the early
19th century when the modernization and reform movement in the Ottoman
Empire started to threaten the power of Kurdish emirs. This process
has gone on intermittently, and sometimes in the form of an alliance
against the non-Muslims.

To put it briefly, it is not the republican period that shaped the
Turkish identity along with the taboos and fears of this identity of
the republican period. It is this pre-republican era extending from
the 1800s to the 1920s.

The Turkish nation is now starting to realize that this 120-year
period has played the determinant role in shaping the Turkish national
identity. This is the most critical step in the process of maturing
an identity, increasing its self-confidence and its integration with
universal political values.

At the same time, reading through the pages of a historical period
of establishment of the country with today's mind is one of the most
difficult ways of confrontation.

Indeed, the tension between those who try to confront the past
and those who refuse to and the confusion of those who attempt to
confront the past are one of the main factors of today's rising
nationalist waves.

The longer fears and taboos remain as an inextricable part of
contemporary Turkish identity, the stronger the legitimacy of
authoritarian political structures. They are forcing on us to choose
between either the Turkish or the Armenian or the Kurdish thesis.

However, it is history that will emancipate us.

[gmd]

Re: ANKARA: The Armenian Question

ANKARA: 'Armenian Genocide' As The Zildjian Secret Alloy

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg178216.html

ANKARA: 'Armenian Genocide' As The Zildjian Secret Alloy
From: "Katia M. Peltekian" <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2007 19:30:26 +0400 (AMT)

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'ARMENIAN GENOCIDE' AS THE ZILDJIAN SECRET ALLOY
Gokhan Yucel

Turkish Daily News
Feb 14 2007

The upcoming 'genocide bill' will be similar to the Zildjian secret
alloy: It will be made in the United Stated under an Armenian name
and its resonance will be essentially felt in Turkey.

As the saying goes: "Good wine needs no brush." It is hard to ignore
the fact that neither diplomacy nor the myth of strategic alliance
has managed to prevent the "Affirmation of the U.S. Record on the
Armenian Genocide Resolution" from hitting an all-time high.

The supporters of the long-established U.S.-Turkish amity, as well
as the arms companies, are wringing their hands, while the "genocide
bill" campaigners have already started to celebrate victory. Upon
his return from last week's visit to Washington, Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul brought back to Ankara the echoes of these cheering
voices from the United States for further discussion. In Turkey Gul
found a disappointed public opinion that had learnt how his request
for a meeting had been rejected by Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House
of Representatives and the acting figurehead of the "pro-Armenian"
league. This threw cold water in the face of the government's
optimistic hopes of somehow escaping the "genocide" crisis.

The new iron lady:

Pelosi's pledge to accomplish the recognition of the "genocide"
confirms the suspected image of an uncompromising iron lady. Here,
one should understand her role well. Since 1987 she has been the
representative from the eighth district of California, where the
Armenian population is dense. She is also an active member of the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues. This body consists of the
co-sponsors of the legislative motion that was introduced in the House
of Representatives by long-time Armenian issues supporters Adam Schiff
(D-CA), George Radanovich (R-CA) and Congressional Caucus on Armenian
Issues Co-Chairmen Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI),
together with Congressmen Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Thaddeus McCotter
(R-MI). Thus far 160 lawmakers have joined the caucus - 102 Democrats
and 58 Republicans out of the 435 U.S. House members.

Now Pelosi and her colleagues back the incorporation of historically,
politically and legally binding provisions into the 10-page
resolution. The euphoria in the diaspora was suddenly very apparent. On
Armenian diaspora Internet forums in the United States the approval of
the bill is being cited as a major step leading toward the answering
of Armenian demands for financial retribution.

Deciphering the code:

Therefore, we must carefully decipher Section 3, declaration of policy
in the proposed resolution. It reads as follows:

The House of Representatives:

1 - Calls upon the President to ensure that the foreign policy of
the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity
concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and
genocide documented in the United States record relating to the
Armenian Genocide and the consequences of the failure to realize a
just resolution; and

2 - Calls upon the President in the President's annual message
commemorating the Armenian Genocide issued on or about April 24, to
accurately characterize the systematic and deliberate annihilation
of 1,500,000 Armenians as genocide and to recall the proud history
of United States intervention in opposition to the Armenian Genocide.

Given the negative mood, the officials in our capital should
remain calm for the time being, though they must be ready for every
emergency. Well not an easy task, is it? Gul's visit proved once
more that what follows is a race against time, not a matter of
affirming or denying whether the "genocide" in fact happened. The
coming days appear to herald a period of effective lobbying in the
pro-amity and pro-recognition circles in which the final decision,
"yes or no," is currently being shaped. It is a battle of those who
widely whisper that U.S.-Turkey relations are at stake and those who
do not care much about it. But the resolution stipulates, "to ensure
that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate
understanding and sensitivity relating to the Armenian Genocide."

This indicates an evident clash with the doctrine of Turkish foreign
policy.

In the Turkish Daily News we have read two recent accounts by Eyup
Can and Burak Bekdil pointing out related arguments. They both drew
attention to the urgent need for an action plan regarding the policy
implications of the resolution. Can listened to his personal contacts
in the American-xxxish community, which urged clearly "either do
something or be ready to face the consequences." Bekdil's insightful
article showed what was likely to occur if the existing modus vivendi
between the United States and Turkey concerning the "genocide bill"
is damaged. He rightfully asserted that "a U.S. seal of approval"
is pregnant with various imperative repercussions. Well said.

A self-imposed embargo? Should the resolution passes, the Turkish
military will have to consider the boycott of U.S. weapons, in
accordance with their previous behavior after the adoption of the
controversial law introducing imprisonment and monetary fines to anyone
denying the "genocide" in France. In a way Turkey's anticipated policy
response might be read as a self-imposed embargo.

History will then repeat itself, since the consequences of the U.S.

arms embargo from 1975 to 1978 are now evoked as inescapable.

But is Turkey ready to pay this cost on the eve of critical
developments in northern Iraq? Can Turkey afford to turn her back
on the United States amid an effort to play a new and more dynamic
political role in the Middle East? Can these projects be viable
with a U.S.-free foreign and defense policy? To what extent will the
membership talks with the European Union be affected? What exactly
would a U.S.-less context mean for the general elections in November
and hence future political stability? Likewise, what does the U.S.

administration have in mind?

The Zildjian secret alloy:

The abovementioned dilemma that Turkey faces is caused by a resolution
similar to the Zildjian secret alloy. The Zildjian family started
a journey from Istanbul to the United States at the start of the
20th century. They were descendents of a 17th century Istanbul-born
alchemist. His attempts to create gold by combining base metals
led instead to a copper, tin and silver alloy then used to produce
cymbals with unique sound qualities. The sound of the instruments
was extraordinary. It is renowned as the Zildjian secret alloy.

What is special about the Zildjian cymbals is that they bear the labels
"Made in the U.S." and "Turkish cymbals" and that they are manufactured
under an Armenian name. Strikingly, the impending resolution will be
decided by the components of this very same alloy: It will be made
in the United Stated under an Armenian name and its resonance will
be essentially felt in Turkey.

Gokhan Yucel is a Ph.D. candidate reading politics at Oxford University
and an occasional contributor to the TDN.

[gmd]

Re: ANKARA: The Armenian Question

I wonder what other forum members views may be on these articles. It seems that there is a bit of nervousness.

[karoaper]

Re: ANKARA: The Armenian Question

I wonder what other forum members views may be on these articles. It seems that there is a bit of nervousness.

As they say in Russian, "the ice has moved". It's just a matter of time before the Turkish castle in the sand is washed away by the waves of truth and Armenian determination. Poor Turks, their future is bleak (i.e. they're xxxxed). Of course, the silver lining for the Turks is that once they get xxxxed, they may actually have hope. It's like a bone fracture. They've developed layers and layers of calcium scar tissue, because the bone is healing wrong. What is needed is for the bone to be surgically broken and when it is put together right (i.e. justice is served) they may have a healthy leg.

And the smart Turks know and understand this.

[Crissy]

Re: ANKARA: The Armenian Question

Have you guys read this? I just got it emailed to me.

TURKEY MAY FALL IN ITS

OWN TRAP BY TAKING

GENOCIDE ISSUE TO COURT



By Harut Sassounian

Publisher, The California Courier



Exasperated by the international community's ever-growing acceptance of the Armenian Genocide, and discouraged by its failed attempts to quash any mention of this issue, the Turkish government has decided to embark on a bold new adventure, according to Turkish newspapers last week.

Admitting that Turkey has nothing to show for after spending millions of dollars on anti-Armenian propaganda, Erdal Safak wrote in Sabah: "Turkey will be waging a tooth-and-nail struggle in the international arena rather than exhausting its breath on symposiums that the West doesn't heed." He went on to state: "Sources say Turkey is even considering taking the case to the Permanent Court of Arbitration [the International Court of Justice]."

Acting as if he had just discovered a magic wand, Safak wrote: "We wholeheartedly support this plan. There is no other way to put an end to the allegations that bothered us just in April in the past, but recently have been bothering us from the first day of each year. This is the only way to save our nation from this huge trauma and the damage caused by the increasing feeling of being faced with an 'international conspiracy,' fanned by new links in the chain of countries which officially recognize Armenian claims [of genocide]."

The newspaper Hurriyet reported this new initiative under the following colorful headline: "Ankara is getting ready to say: 'let's slug it out.'" Ugur Ergan, the reporter for Hurriyet, wrote that the Turkish government's "Coordination Committee to Fight Against Alleged Genocide Claim" had met on Dec. 26, 2006 and decided to change Ankara's policy on the Armenian Genocide. This Council's membership consists of the ministers of Foreign Affairs, Justice, National Education, and Culture, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, the Higher Education Council, and representatives from various universities and organizations.

Stating that "brochures, symposia, and newspaper ads were not giving the desired result in fighting the genocide claim," the Committee decided to pursue all legal avenues against the Republic of Armenia as well as the Armenian Diaspora.

In his remarks in Parliament on Nov. 14, 2006, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul reportedly declared: "Genocide claims can be taken to International Courts. Work is being carried out along those lines and Turkey's point of view, being accurate, should be approved through the decision of an international judicial body." Gul reportedly discussed the possibility of taking France to the European Court of Human Rights in order to block a proposed French bill that would make the denial of the Armenian Genocide a crime.

The article stated that Turkey, after getting advice from domestic and foreign jurists, would submit the Armenian Genocide case to the International Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, under the provisions of the U.N. Genocide Convention of 1948. Turkey and Armenia would supposedly select three arbitrators each and these arbitrators would then appoint an independent and neutral president.

Turkish officials propose that all archives, including those belonging to Turkey, the ARF in Boston, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Istanbul, and all foreign missions that operated in Turkey during the genocide, be compiled. They suggest that "a wide-scale forensic study" be conducted, in order to determine if there were any demographic changes and diseases during that period.

According to Hurriyet, after these documents are submitted to the court, the two sides would present their respective cases and then wait for the court's judgment.

The Turkish government, according to this article, believes that the Armenians "will be cornered" because they will be obliged to prove that in 1915 they were subjected to genocide. "The Armenians have no documents in their hands to prove this, whereas there are, in Turkey's hands, very strong documents demonstrating that the deportation was justified by legitimate self-defense," Hurriyet said.

If this report is accurate, it is simply amazing that the Turkish government would approach such a serious matter so childishly. To begin with, Turkey assumes that Armenia would fall for such an obvious ploy. Are Turkish leaders foolish enough to believe that the Armenian government would accept going to court in order to prove the genocide? The only reason Armenians would want to go to court is to demand reparations and the return of the Armenian territories currently occupied by the Republic of Turkey.

The key issue here is whether Turkey would agree, before the start of the arbitration, to comply with the eventual decision of the arbitrators and return all looted assets and occupied territories to Armenians, should the court so decide. Unless Turkish officials accept this condition, their bluff would be called long before they can brag about "cornering the Armenians."

I don't believe the Turks are serious about taking the Armenians to court over the genocide issue. This Turkish threat is just a public relations ploy in order to tell the world that they were ready to go to court, but Armenians refused to do so.

We already have one recent example of Turkey talking tough first and then quietly eating its words. Several months ago, the Turkish Foreign Minister pledged to take the issue of the Armenian Genocide to the United Nations. Shortly after making that statement, the Foreign Minister declared that Turkey would not go to the U.N., as he was afraid that the Armenian side would win in what he called a "highly-politicized body."

I will not be surprised if the Turks very shortly also withdraw from this foolhardy notion, lest they lose not just a court case, but also a large chunk of territory!

[gmd]

Re: ANKARA: The Armenian Question

If they decide to take it to court are the obligated to abide by the decision of the court?