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Be ready for the Armenian tsunami
Turkish Daily News: 1/4/2005
By Mehmet Ali Birand
TDN- I am writing this article for those who have no idea what we will face during the year. It aims to prepare for the things to come.
A huge tsunami is approaching our shores.
I can almost hear it. The sky is getting darker and the water on the shore is retreating.
The tsunami I am talking about comes as a result of the earthquake among the Armenian Diaspora and will soon be upon us. If the necessary precautions are not taken in a timely manner, we might face a huge calamity. We might never recover.
The reason why this tsunami formed is that on April 24, 2005 is the 90th anniversary of the symbolic date of the Armenian genocide allegations.
Armenians want to utilize this chance fully.
For years, due to Turkish indifference, they succeeded in making the world accept the genocide allegations as a fact. No matter how much we deny them, Armenian efforts have persuaded the international public. If you go anywhere, especially in the western world, you will see 90 percent of the people you talk to believe Armenians had been the victims of genocide at the hands of Turks.
That is why Armenians do not want to waste this opportunity. They want a final assault and finish the matter.
What is the ‘final assault?'
It is to get their genocide allegations accepted by a broader community and persuade those countries, whose parliaments have yet to ratify the claims.
They want to up the tempo on the eve of the centennial, which will come at a time when Turkey will be approaching full European Union membership, as part of their “Forcing Turkey to accept the genocide” campaign.
I do not know how many officials know about this matter. What is certain is that Turkey, through its indifference, will eventually have to face the sad truth.
What is the nature of the tsunami?
The Armenian Diaspora is preparing a huge campaign for the 90th anniversary of the 1915 incidents. There will be conferences, meetings, colloquiums and many other activities planned for the anniversary. Most importantly, they will concentrate on countries whose parliaments have yet to officially accept that the genocide had taken place and will be asked to ratify it on the 90th anniversary.
The ongoing battle in the U.S. Congress will be revived. They believe if the Congress ratifies it, Turkey's hands will be tied. The same pressure will be applied to EU member countries and national parliaments will be asked to demand from the EU Council to make genocide recognition as a precondition.
They will also try to make the U.N. Security Council pass a similar decision.
What can we do?
The only way we can save ourselves from being the victim of this attack after years of ignoring the threat is for Turkey to reassess its official policies and take the initiative.
Saying, “We never committed genocide” is no longer enough. We will be forced to pay the price of inactivity. We need to do something.
One is to call for the establishment of a U.N. Genocide Allegations Investigation Commission just like Yalým Eralp and others suggest. Turkey is in the right. No one can talk of genocide. However, it has failed miserably to put its view across. The only way out is for the matter to be investigated by internationally acknowledged academics and researchers. This is the only way to find the truth.
If these studies are initiated, we will gain time. In addition, while this process continues, Turkey can broaden its economic relations with Armenia and open the border gate. Such initiatives, with the international community, in mind, can be taken.
Our biggest mistake would be to do nothing and continue to talk to ourselves.
Turkish Daily News: 1/4/2005
By Mehmet Ali Birand
TDN- I am writing this article for those who have no idea what we will face during the year. It aims to prepare for the things to come.
A huge tsunami is approaching our shores.
I can almost hear it. The sky is getting darker and the water on the shore is retreating.
The tsunami I am talking about comes as a result of the earthquake among the Armenian Diaspora and will soon be upon us. If the necessary precautions are not taken in a timely manner, we might face a huge calamity. We might never recover.
The reason why this tsunami formed is that on April 24, 2005 is the 90th anniversary of the symbolic date of the Armenian genocide allegations.
Armenians want to utilize this chance fully.
For years, due to Turkish indifference, they succeeded in making the world accept the genocide allegations as a fact. No matter how much we deny them, Armenian efforts have persuaded the international public. If you go anywhere, especially in the western world, you will see 90 percent of the people you talk to believe Armenians had been the victims of genocide at the hands of Turks.
That is why Armenians do not want to waste this opportunity. They want a final assault and finish the matter.
What is the ‘final assault?'
It is to get their genocide allegations accepted by a broader community and persuade those countries, whose parliaments have yet to ratify the claims.
They want to up the tempo on the eve of the centennial, which will come at a time when Turkey will be approaching full European Union membership, as part of their “Forcing Turkey to accept the genocide” campaign.
I do not know how many officials know about this matter. What is certain is that Turkey, through its indifference, will eventually have to face the sad truth.
What is the nature of the tsunami?
The Armenian Diaspora is preparing a huge campaign for the 90th anniversary of the 1915 incidents. There will be conferences, meetings, colloquiums and many other activities planned for the anniversary. Most importantly, they will concentrate on countries whose parliaments have yet to officially accept that the genocide had taken place and will be asked to ratify it on the 90th anniversary.
The ongoing battle in the U.S. Congress will be revived. They believe if the Congress ratifies it, Turkey's hands will be tied. The same pressure will be applied to EU member countries and national parliaments will be asked to demand from the EU Council to make genocide recognition as a precondition.
They will also try to make the U.N. Security Council pass a similar decision.
What can we do?
The only way we can save ourselves from being the victim of this attack after years of ignoring the threat is for Turkey to reassess its official policies and take the initiative.
Saying, “We never committed genocide” is no longer enough. We will be forced to pay the price of inactivity. We need to do something.
One is to call for the establishment of a U.N. Genocide Allegations Investigation Commission just like Yalým Eralp and others suggest. Turkey is in the right. No one can talk of genocide. However, it has failed miserably to put its view across. The only way out is for the matter to be investigated by internationally acknowledged academics and researchers. This is the only way to find the truth.
If these studies are initiated, we will gain time. In addition, while this process continues, Turkey can broaden its economic relations with Armenia and open the border gate. Such initiatives, with the international community, in mind, can be taken.
Our biggest mistake would be to do nothing and continue to talk to ourselves.