'It is Unethical to Accuse One Side in the Armenian Issue'
By Sezai Kalayci, Musa Ozyurek, Kayseri
Published: Friday, April 21, 2006
zaman.com
Patriarch of Turkish-Armenians, Mesrob Mutafyan II said the dilemma facing Turkish-Armenian relations can only be overcome by dialogue and mutual respect.
Reflecting the true nature of reality requires courage, said Mutafyan. "In the unfortunate conclusion reached, it is unethical attitude for both parties to ignore each other's responsibility or to completely put it on the other side."
Both nations must be able to look at each other's history without prejudice, he added. "We have to change the mentality of degrading the other."
On Thursday, the Patriarch made a speech at the opening ceremony of a symposium titled "The Art of Co-Existence in Ottoman Society: The Case of Turkish-Armenian Relations" organized by Erciyes University in the Turkish city of Kayseri.
Both countries have achieved important successes in historic social and cultural fields; the respect of Armenians and Turks for each other's national and religious symbols is increasing, according to Mutafyan.
Mutafyan said the incidents that occur during representative independence celebrations are outdated, and maintained they sow seeds of enmity.
"Instead of publishing books presenting the Turkish and Armenian theses in different ways memorized by everyone, Turkish and English translations of Armenian works that can make important contributions in Turkish-Armenian relationships must be realized," Mutafyan said.
Mutafyan, highlighting Turks and Armenians are people of the same territory, said the expression, "The Turks and Kurds are essential elements," is discriminatory.
Calling himself a Republican child, Patriarch criticized the understanding of secularism.
"The practice of 'Jacobean secularism' in our country sometimes prevents Islam's ethical dimensions and spiritual richness of meaning from being adding to the analyses," Mutafyan said.
The Armenian Patriarch called on Turks and Armenians to abandon the narrow horizon of nationalism and said, "Replacing nationalism and racism with hospitality is more appropriate to our ethical values."
The symposium, where 125 academics from more than 40 universities within and outside Turkey participated, will continue today as well.
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