CALL FOR TALKS AMID TURKS, ARMENIANS
Turkish Daily News, Turkey
June 15 2007
An appeal calling for tolerance, contact and cooperation between
Turks and Armenians, signed by 53 Nobel laureates of various fields,
was issued on April, 9 2007 by The Elie Wiesel Foundation based in
New York. The appeal calls for Armenians and Turks to encourage their
governments to open the Turkish-Armenian border, generate confidence
through civil society cooperation, improve official contacts, allow
basic freedoms and to address the gap in perceptions over the "Armenian
Genocide". On the initiative of The Institute for Armenian Research
of The Center for Eurasian Strategic Studies (ASAM), a reply to the
said appeal was prepared on June, 12 2007 and signed by 86 Turkish
scholars, writers and retired ambassadors the names of whom are to
be found in the appended list. The reply states, in summary, that the
Nobel laureates call was received positively, is viewed as a doorway
facilitating a process of dialogue between the two peoples and that
fostering relations between civil society organizations constitutes
the most appropriate way forward in this regard. Here below the ‘tete
beche’ of both of the statements and the full names of the undersigners
An appeal calling for tolerance, contact and cooperation between
Turks and Armenians, signed by 53 Nobel laureates of various fields,
was issued on April, 9 2007 by The Elie Wiesel Foundation based in
New York. The appeal calls for Armenians and Turks to encourage their
governments to open the Turkish-Armenian border, generate confidence
through civil society cooperation, improve official contacts,
allow basic freedoms and to address the gap in perceptions over the
"Armenian Genocide".
On the initiative of The Institute for Armenian Research of The Center
for Eurasian Strategic Studies (ASAM), a reply to the said appeal was
prepared on June, 12 2007 and signed by 86 Turkish scholars, writers
and retired ambassadors the names of whom are to be found in the
appended list. The reply states, in summary, that the Nobel laureates
call was received positively, is viewed as a doorway facilitating
a process of dialogue between the two peoples and that fostering
relations between civil society organizations constitutes the most
appropriate way forward in this regard. Here below the ‘tete beche’
of both of the statements and the full names of the undersigners.
Nobel Laureates call for tolerance, contact
We, the undersigned Nobel laureates, issue this appeal directly to
the peoples of Turkey and Armenia. Mindful of the sacrifice paid by
Hrant Dink, the ethnic Armenian editor of Agos in Turkey, who was
assassinated on January 19, 2007, and whose death was mourned by both
Turks and Armenians, we believe that the best way to pay tribute to
Mr. Dink is through service to his life’s work safeguarding freedom
of expression and fostering reconciliation between Turks and Armenians.
To these ends, Armenians and Turks should encourage their governments
to:
– Open the Turkish-Armenian border. An open border would greatly
improve the economic conditions for communities on both sides of the
border and enable human interaction, which is essential for mutual
understanding. Treaties between the two countries recognize existing
borders and call for unhampered travel and trade.
– Generate confidence through civil society cooperation. Turks and
Armenians have been working since 2001 on practical projects that
offer great promise in creatively and constructively dealing with
shared problems. The governments should support such efforts by,
for example, sponsoring academic links between Turkish and Armenian
faculty, as well as student exchanges.
– Improve official contacts. Civil society initiatives would be
enhanced by the governments’ decision to accelerate their bilateral
contacts, devise new frameworks for consultation, and consolidate
relations through additional treaty arrangements and full diplomatic
relations.
– Allow basic freedoms. Turkey should end discrimination against ethnic
and religious minorities and abolish Article 301 of the Penal Code,
which makes it a criminal offense to denigrate Turkishness.
Armenia also should reverse its own authoritarian course, allow free
and fair elections, and respect human rights.
Turks and Armenians have a huge gap in perceptions over the Armenian
Genocide. To address this gap, we refer to the 2003 "Legal Analysis on
the Applicability of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention
and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide to Events which Occurred
During the Early Twentieth Century," which corroborated findings of
the International Association of Genocide Scholars.
It concluded that, "At least some of the [Ottoman] perpetrators knew
that the consequences of their actions would be the destruction,
in whole or in part, of the Armenians of eastern Anatolia, as such,
or acted purposefully towards this goal and, therefore, possessed the
requisite genocidal intent. The Events can thus be said to include all
the elements of the crime of genocide as defined in the Convention." It
also concluded that, "The Genocide Convention contains no provision
mandating its retroactive application."
The analysis offers a way forward, which addresses the core concerns of
both Armenians and Turks. Of course, coming to terms will be painful
and difficult. Progress will not occur right away. Rather than leaving
governments to their own devices, affected peoples and the leaders of
civil society need to engage in activities that promote understanding
and reconciliation while, at the same time, urging their governments
to chart a course towards a brighter future.
The full list of Nobel Laureates signatories
Peter Agre Nobel Prize, Chemistry (2003) Sidney Altman Nobel Prize,
Chemistry (1989) Philip W. Anderson Nobel Prize, Physics (1977)Kenneth
J. Arrow Nobel Prize, Economics (1972)Richard Axel Nobel Prize,
Medicine (2004)Baruj Benacerraf Nobel Prize, Medicine (1980)Gunter
Blobel Nobel Prize, Medicine (1999)Georges Charpak Nobel Prize,
Physics (1992)Steven Chu Nobel Prize, Physics (1997) J.M. Coetzee
Nobel Prize, Literature (2003)Claude Cohen-Tannoudji Nobel Prize,
Physics (1997)Mairead Corrigan Maguire Nobel Prize, Peace (1976)Robert
F. Curl Jr.
Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1996)Paul J. Crutzen Nobel Prize, Chemistry
(1995)Frederik W. de Klerk Nobel Prize, Peace (1993)Johann Deisenhofer
Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1998)John B. Fenn Nobel Prize, Chemistry
(2002)Val Fitch Nobel Prize, Physics (1980) Jerome I. Friedman
Nobel Prize, Physics (1990)Donald A. Glaser Nobel Prize, Physics
(1960)Sheldon Glashow Nobel Prize, Physics (1979)Roy J. Glauber
Nobel Prize, Physics (2005)Clive W.J. Granger Nobel Prize, Economics
(2003)Paul Greengard Nobel Prize, Medicine (2000)David J. Gross Nobel
Prize, Physics (2004)Roger Guillemin Nobel Prize, Medicine (1977)Dudley
R. Herschbach Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1986)Avram Hershko Nobel Prize,
Chemistry (2004)Roald Hoffman Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1981)Sir Harold
W. Kroto Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1996)Finn E. Kydland Nobel Prize,
Economics (2004)Leon M. Lederman Nobel Prize, Physics (1988)Anthony
J. Leggett Nobel Prize, Physics (2003)Rudolph A. Marcus Nobel Prize,
Chemistry (1992)Daniel L. McFadden Nobel Prize, Economics (2000)Craig
C. Mello Nobel Prize, Medicine (2006)Daniel Kahneman Nobel Prize,
Economics (2002)Eric R. Kandel Nobel Prize, Medicine (2000)Robert
C. Merton Nobel Prize, Economics (1997)Marshall W. Nirenberg
Nobel Prize, Medicine (1968)Sir Paul Nurse Nobel Prize, Medicine
(2001)Douglas D. Osheroff Nobel Prize, Physics (1996)Martin L. Perl
Nobel Prize, Physics (1995)John C. Polanyi Nobel Prize, Chemistry
(1986)Stanley Prusiner Nobel Prize, Medicine (1997)Aaron Klug Nobel
Prize, Chemistry (1982)Edwin G. Krebs Nobel Prize, Medicine (1992)Nobel
Prize, Peace (1996)Richard J.
oberts Nobel Prize, Medicine (1993)Wole Soyinka Nobel Prize, Literature
(1986)Elie Wiesel Nobel Prize, Peace (1986)Betty Williams Nobel Prize,
Peace (1976)Kurt Wuthrich Nobel Prize, Chemistry (2002)
Turkish Scholars and Writers reply the Call
We, the undersigned Turkish scholars and writers, welcome the call of
‘The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity’ issued on April 9, 2007.
We view this call as a doorway to opening a process of dialogue
between Turks and Armenians and as a stepping stone which will work
to keep that door open facilitating the culture of peace to bear
fruit. We would like to state that we are willing to do our part to
make positive contributions to this end.
It can not be refuted that Turks and Armenians have been living closely
together under the Turkish Republic, as was the case during the time
of the Ottoman Empire, as a result of which they have developed common
cultural values. We believe these values may form the basis for the
development of future relations.
We are cognizant of the great suffering endured by the Armenians,
Turks and other peoples residing within the Ottoman Empire as a
result of the tragic events of the First World War, and believe that
all responsible individuals alike must actively engage themselves to
preclude such suffering from being inflicted upon mankind once again.
We are prepared to work constructively to this end. In this regard
it should be noted that while acknowledging the loss incurred by
a certain population it would be unfair to selectively neglect the
irrefutably documented loss of another population residing within the
same geography. We maintain that such dogmatic approaches and disregard
for differing views lay at the root of the ongoing conflict of our day.
We evaluated the proposals expressed in the call issued by The
Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity. We are of the opinion that
increasing mutual confidence by fostering relations between civil
society organizations shall constitute the most constructive way
forward. We believe that the restoration of the Akhdamar Church and
the participation of Turkish alongside Armenian officials to its
opening was rewarding and hope that such contacts shall increase.
Air travel between Turkey and Armenia is open. The many citizens of
the Republic of Armenia residing in Turkey as guest workers carries
with it the potential of cultivating close friendship and ties between
the citizens of both Republics. The border gate between both countries
will surely be opened once those factors which led to it being closed
are removed. No doubt, the clear and official affirmation on the part
of Armenia to the effect that it recognizes the border between the
two countries and does not demand that it be changed shall contribute
to the establishment of official diplomatic relations. That part of
Turkey’s territories is defined as Western Armenia in the Armenian
Declaration of Independence raises concerns regarding Armenia’s
possible future irredentist policies.
Turkey does not evaluate the tragic events of 1915 which befell the
Ottoman Armenians as genocide as defined in the 1948 Convention on
the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide. For an event to legally
constitute genocide, a competent court must establish the intent
to kill in whole or in part a national, ethnic, racial or religious
group solely because they were part of that group (dolus specialis).
After evaluating various documents several academics, both Turkish and
foreign, have arrived at the conclusion that the requisite genocidal
intent was not present with respect to the Ottoman Armenians. We
view that differing accounts expressed by a given committee or other
groups on this matter should not be seen as anything other than
the practice of the freedom of expression. We would like to declare
that we are prepared to discuss this issue within the frame of joint
committees together with Armenian historians and all those interested;
we believe that engaging in dialogue is the only way forward to solve
our outstanding problems.
On this point one should not overlook how Turkey officially proposed
to Armenia in April 2005, to establish a Joint History Commission
comprising Turkish, Armenian and third party specialists for the
purpose of conducting historical research on the events prior to
and following 1915. To facilitate this proposal Turkey has made it
known that all its archives have been opened. We have faith that
organizations such as The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity shall
help to establish forums where views can be mutually exchanged and
welcomed whereby the level of tolerance and cooperation called for
can be attained.
TURKISH SCHOLARS AND WRITERS WHO SIGNED THE REPLY
Prof. Dr. Tahsin AKALP Prof. Dr. Secil KL AKGUN Prof. Dr. Þahin AKKAYA
Rtd. Ambassador Gunduz AKTAN Prof. Dr. Ali AKYILDIZ Assoc.
Prof. Dr. Gulþen Seyhan ALIÞIK Prof. Dr. Deniz Ulke ARIBOÐAN Assoc.
Prof. Dr.Yavuz ASLAN Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ýbrahim Ethem ATNUR Prof. Dr.
Yusuf AVCI Prof. Dr. Suheyl BATUM Prof. Dr. Taner BERKSOY Prof. Dr.
Suleyman BEYOÐLU Prof. Dr. Gulay Oðun BEZER Prof. Dr. Ali ATIF BÝR
Prof. Dr. Naz CAVUÞOÐLU Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sadi CAYCI – Prof. Dr.
Mehmet CELÝK Prof. Dr. Kemal CÝCEK Ercan CÝTLÝOÐLU Prof. Dr. Sebahat
DENÝZ Rtd. Ambassador Filiz DÝNCMEN Prof. Dr. Uluð ELDEGEZ Prof. Dr.
Vahdettin ENGÝN Prof. Dr. Ýsmail ERUNSAL Prof. Dr. Yavuz ERCAN Prof.
Dr. Ahmet ETUCE Prof. Dr. Suat GEZGÝN Prof. Dr. Mufit GÝRESUNLU Prof.
Dr. Ufuk GULSOY Prof. Dr. Nurbay GULTEKÝN Prof. Dr. S. Selcuk GUNAY
Prof. Haluk GURGEN Prof. Dr. Erhan GUZEL Prof. Dr. Yusuf HALLACOÐLU
Assoc. Prof. Dr.Oðuz ÝCÝMSOY Prof. Dr. Mucteba ÝLGUREL Dr. Erdal
ÝLTER Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet ÝNBAÞI Assoc. Prof. Dr.Kamer KASIM
Prof. Dr. Fahri KAYADÝBÝ Prof. Dr. Mustafa KECER Prof. Dr. Selami
KILIC Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat KOC Prof. Dr. Enver KONUKCU Prof. Dr.
Kemalettin KOROÐLU Prof. Dr. Nuri KOSTUKLU Prof. Zekeriya KURÞUN
Assoc. Prof. Dr.Sedat LACÝNER Rtd. Ambassador Faruk LOÐOÐLU Rtd.
Ambassador Omer Engin LUTEM Prof. Dr. Nurþen MAZICI Prof. Dr. Hasan
MERÝC Prof. Dr. Ozcan MERT Rtd. Ambassador Tansu OKANDAN Prof. Dr.
Besim OZCAN Prof. Dr. Hikmet OZDEMÝR Prof. Dr. Necdet OZTURK Prof.
Dr. Nihat OZTOPRAK Prof. Dr. Bayram OZTURK Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bilgehan
PAMUK Prof. Dr. Mesut PARLAK Assoc. Prof. Dr. Said POLAT Prof. Dr.
Omer Asým SACLI Prof. Dr. Huseyin SALMAN Prof. Dr. Gunay SARIYAR
Assoc. Prof. Dr.Sema SOYGENÝÞ Assoc. Prof. Dr.Orhan SOYLEMEZ Rtd.
Ambassador Omer ÞAHÝNKAYA Prof. Dr. Hale ÞIVGIN Rtd. Ambassador Bilal
N. ÞÝMÞÝR Prof. Dr. Ahmet ÞÝMÞÝRGÝL Rtd. Ambassador Pulat TACAR Prof.
Dr. Mehmet Þukru TEKBAÞ E. Buyukelci Sanlý TOPCUOÐLU Prof. Dr. Korkut
TUNA Prof. Dr. Muammer UÐUR Prof. Dr. Sema UÐURCAN Prof. Dr. Þafak
URAL Rtd. Ambassador Necati UTKAN Prof. Dr. Mustafa Cetin VARLIK
Prof. Dr. Halil YANARDAÐ Prof. Dr. Þenay YALCIN Prof. Dr. Emine
YAZICIOÐLU Prof. Dr. Ýbrahim YUSUFOÐLU Rtd. Ambassador Erhan
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