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Prof. Stephan Astourian Lectures on Turkey's Entry into the European Union

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  • Prof. Stephan Astourian Lectures on Turkey's Entry into the European Union

    ZORYAN INSTITUTE OF CANADA, INC.
    255 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite 310
    Toronto, ON, Canada M3B 3H9
    Tel: 416-250-9807 Fax: 416-512-1736
    E-mail: [email protected]



    PRESS RELEASE

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: George Shirinian

    DATE: June 28, 2005 Tel: 416-250-9807

    Prof. Stephan Astourian Lectures on Turkey's Entry into the European
    Union and its Relations with Armenia in light of the Rejection of
    the EU Constitution

    Toronto, Canada - "Turkey's Entry into the European Union and
    its Relations with Armenia in light of the Rejection of the EU
    Constitution" was the subject of a speech given by Dr. Stephan
    Astourian, a member of the Zoryan Institute's Academic Board, on June
    10, 2005 in Toronto.

    According to Turkish Press, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul
    rejected any link between his country's bid to join the European
    Union and the French "no" in a referendum on the EU constitution. Gul
    acknowledged that the French "no" could trigger a debate in Europe
    on Turkey's EU bid, but argued that an EU decision in October 2004
    to start membership accession talks with Ankara could not be altered
    due to political or legal changes in an EU-member country.

    Opinions in Europe and among Armenians are heated and sharply divided
    on this issue. Some feel that Turkey's questionable human rights
    record and tolerance toward ethno-religious diversity, its treatment
    of the Kurdish minority, corruption, the northern Cyprus question,
    and the continued denial of the Armenian Genocide are clear indicators
    of its inability to be a fully democratic country at this time, and
    therefore that Turkey should be barred from the EU. Others, among
    them Armenians both in the Diaspora and the homeland, feel that it
    is in Armenia's best interest to have Turkey as an EU member on its
    border that has adopted and implemented EU standards regarding open
    borders, democracy, including complete freedom of speech and assembly,
    and acceptance of the darker chapters of its history.

    Dr. Astourian considered the impact on the issues of the recent
    rejection of the EU constitution by France and the Netherlands. He
    explained that the EU has not included recognition of the Armenian
    Genocide as a precondition for Turkish membership in Europe. "However,
    the issue of recognition of that genocide has now become quite central
    in European and Turkish public debates," he said. "We must be aware
    that the issue of the Armenian Genocide can and will be used for other
    purposes by people for whom it is not a fundamental issue. It is up
    to concerned Armenians," he added, "to think realistically about such
    manipulation of the issue of the Armenian Genocide by various lobbying
    and political groups and to ask whether it is useful or detrimental
    to Armenia and Genocide recognition."

    In Dr. Astourian's view, it may be reasonably inferred that some of the
    reforms required of Turkey to join the EU, e.g., freedom of speech and
    assembly, a decent human rights record, a significantly smaller role
    of the military in political life, etc., will facilitate debate about
    the Armenian Genocide in that country. Although such debate does not
    imply necessarily that the Armenian Genocide will be recognized as a
    "genocide," it will undermine the orthodox, state-sponsored version
    of Turkish history in the medium term.

    Dr. Astourian noted that the prospect of Turkey's entry into the EU
    does raise a number of crucial issues. In particular, he challenged
    the audience to consider what course of action Armenians should take
    if Turkey were to rescind its official state version of history and
    recognize the Armenian Genocide. Dr. Astourian stressed that addressing
    rationally complex issues, such as the potential consequences of
    Turkey's entry into the EU or an evaluation of the position to be
    adopted in case Turkey should recognize the Armenian Genocide as
    such, or as a "crime against humanity" or some such other terms,
    requires knowledge and dispassionate expertise. After summing the
    latest academic developments concerning the Turkish-Armenian dialogue
    and research into the Armenian Genocide, Dr. Astourian pointed to the
    extreme scarcity of scholars dealing with social scientific fields
    that usually inform policy and decision makers. The speaker also
    indicated that the very few major academics in Armenian-related fields
    are now close to the end of their careers. Dr. Astourian emphasized,
    therefore, the need for the Armenian Diaspora to invest in a new
    generation of social science scholars who can effectively address
    complex issues over the next twenty to thirty years and contribute to
    detached analysis regarding Armenian affairs. Dr. Astourian pointed
    to the Zoryan Institute as the leading organization in this regard,
    responsible for proactively trying to address the critical issue of
    expanding a cohesive intellectual base for the Armenian Diaspora
    through dispassionate education and research that conforms to the
    highest standards of scholarship.

    The event was part of an ongoing series of public lectures organized
    by the Zoryan Institute on issues relating to Armenia, the Diaspora
    and genocide.

    This lecture was made possible by with the participation of the
    following organizations: Armenian Evangelical Church of Toronto, Holy
    Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, St. Gregory's Armenian Catholic
    Church, St.

    Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian Association of Toronto,
    Armenian General Benevolent Union of Toronto, Armenian National
    Committee, Canadian Armenian Business Council, Ryerson University
    Armenian Student Association, and the University of Toronto Armenian
    Student Association; and with the support of the following sponsors:
    Arax Jewelers, Robert P. Adourian Barristers & Solicitors, and
    Indo-Iranian Rugs.

    Prof. Astourian is Executive Director of the Armenian Studies
    Program, Adjunct Assistant Professor of History at the University of
    California-Berkeley, and a member of the Zoryan Institute's Academic
    Board.

    The Zoryan Institute is the first non-profit, international center
    devoted to the research and documentation of contemporary issues
    related to Armenian social, political and cultural life. To this end,
    the Institute conducts multidisciplinary research, publication, and
    educational programs dealing with Armenia, the Armenian Genocide,
    and Diaspora, within a universal context.
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