PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Director
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
TURKISH CIVIL SOCIETY SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AND
ASSISTED TO ACCEPT IT: EUROPE AND THE ARMENIAN DIASPORA HAVE A CRITICAL ROLE
IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN
Said Taner Akçam
On 6 January 2010 at 18:00 hrs, the Armenian Church University Association
(ACUSA) organized an evening to meet the dissident historian, Taner Akçam. A
large number of youth representing youth organizations and educational
institutions came to listen to the historian at the Gulbenkian Hall of the
Cilicia Museum. Ms. Gacia Kouyoumdjian welcomed the audience on behalf of
the ACUSA committee.
In his lecture, Prof. Akçam said that for a long time it was forbidden to
mention the Armenian Genocide in Turkey and that Article 301 of the Penal
Code (which makes it illegal to insult Turkey, the Turkish ethnicity or
Turkish government institutions) was a consequence of this policy. However,
this topic is no longer taboo thanks to Turkish journalists, writers and
activists. The independence of Armenia, the publication of "AGOS", the
possibility of networking and communication and the question of Turkey’s
admission to the European Union have broken the silence. As a result, the
public is informed of the issue. In 2000, the Turkish authorities reacted to
this situation by publishing new textbooks, which stated that ‘Armenians
massacred the Turks’. The textbooks were promoted through special seminars,
public quiz events and competitions. Hrant Dink was a major figure among
those who spoke for the rights of minorities in Turkey. In conclusion, Taner
Akçam said that Turkish Popular Movements, the authorities in Armenia, the
European Union and the Armenian Diaspora should work together to pressure
Turkey to recognize the Genocide. He concluded that the time had come for
the two peoples to dialogue.
The floor was then open to ask questions to the speaker.
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View the photos here:
tos/Photos428.htm
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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Youth
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.