‘ANTI-TURKISH EUROPEANS EXPLOIT ARMENIAN ISSUE’
By Ali Ihsan Aydin, Paris
Zaman, Turkey
April 24 2006
Turkey’s proposals of settling the Armenian question received support
from the Armenian Diaspora before the anniversary celebrations of
the so-called genocide on April 24.
Isabella Kortian, a French researcher of Armenian origin who lives
in Paris, asked to settle the Armenian issue through dialogue, when
she said arguments over Armenians are being abused by some European
countries objecting Turkish accession to the European Union.
The Armenian Diaspora is struggling to bring up arguments for
discussion on a global level via April 24, the day declared as the
anniversary of the 1915 so-called Armenian genocide. Influential
Armenian associations in Diaspora have been organizing activities with
this idea in mind across the United States (US) and Europe, among
other parts of the world. There is, however, growing support among
the Armenians in the Diaspora for the Turkish proposal of resolving
the Armenian issue with help of the efforts to create dialogue.
Ms. Kortian is one of the Armenians in the Diaspora who voiced her
support to the Turkish proposals. Only through dialogue between
the Turkish and Armenian societies can we reach a solution for the
Armenian question, said Kortian, who is employed at the Geo-Strategy
Center, a subset of Ecole Normale Superieure, the high-prestige French
institution of high education.
Kortian underlined for Zaman that the Armenian problem is being
exploited by certain European countries that object to Turkey’s
admission to the EU. The attitude of these countries is actually
closing the door for a resolution, said Kortian, and the proposal from
the Turkish government for formation of a commission of historians
is an attempt that requires sensitivity. Kortian also pressed for
discussion of the Armenian question only between the Turks and the
Armenians, without third-party interference. Both the Turks and
the Armenians are enslaved by this version of history, said the
Armenia-born researcher, and expressed her belief that agreement
between the two countries would be one of the most important incidents
of the 21st century.
Kortian hopes for a resolution in 2014, the 100th anniversary of
World War I, as historians from Turkey, Armenia and other countries
can conduct studies about this bitter part of history.
Despite official inauguration of EU-Turkey talks, some European
countries object to Turkey’s accession to the Union as a member,
said Kortian, and the leaders of such countries tend to make
different suggestions to hide their obvious rejection of Turkey’s
entry. There is an anti-Turkish atmosphere in Europe, according to
Kortian who emphasized the Armenian issue is being abused by those
with anti-Turkish views.
“That is why we need to bring up this question for discussion
elsewhere. We have to agree to discuss this issue without external
interference,” said the French researcher criticizing politicians’
abuse of the Armenian question.
“If they have anti-Turkish or racist views, they should reveal their
views without making Armenians seem to have similar views.” The
statements just quoted here do not, however, mean that “terrible
things” did not happen in 1915, Kortian asserted.
There is an urgent need to set platforms for dialogue and discussion
between the two societies and countries, she said, because different
methods seem unlikely to help in resolving the problem.
The proposal from the Justice and Development Party, the ruling party
in Turkey, to form a commission of historians from both countries as
well as from the international arena, is “an attempt that requires
sensitivity,” said the French researcher, as she called for response
from the Armenians.
“We cannot carry on with refusals to accept proposals for dialogue.
‘No’ should not be the word to use in a response. I think everyone
will eventually be logical,” Kortian said.
A possible agreement between the Turks and Armenians would be one of
the milestones of the 21st century, said Kortian, and came up with
an interesting date for the resolution of the Armenian question. The
100th anniversary of World War I coincides with the year 2014, said
the French researcher who expressed her hopes for a resolution of
the Armenian problem as historians from Turkey, Armenia and other
countries that can conduct researches about the 1915 incidents.
The historians will carry on with their research as they train
young researchers from each country involved in this project. Great
contributions to the resolution of the matter at hand are expected
to come from those young researchers, as they will be trained
in an environment completely different from our own. Apart from
forming a commission of historians, there is also a need for social
organizations to bring together the two societies, said Kortian: “We
do not have to wait to hear a decision from historians. We are not
acquainted with each other. We do not really know about each other,
whether we are close or far away from one another. We grew up with
representations laden with cliches. We have to find a way to learn
about each other.” Kortian holds meetings with Turkish doctorate
students in Paris to develop acquaintances between members from both
countries. A Turkish student joined our interview with Kortian when
he said that there are many Turkish students that agree with Kortian.
The Turkish student also hoped to continue their meetings with
Kortian on regular basis. The Armenian question no longer remains a
taboo for the Turkish audience and there is real willingness in the
Turkish audience for exploration of what really happened in 1915,
said Kortian, and emphasized the importance of a look at all that has
happened in Turkey from the viewpoint of the Diaspora. Both societies
are obsessed with the past, said the French researcher, and added that
new developments will have an impact on Armenians in the Diaspora:
“We are all enslaved by the past. We have to face in an environment
of dialogue and sympathy all that has happened in the history so that
we can escape from this prison.”
Kortian said, “A victim status does not give an identity” defending
that the identity of a nation cannot be constructed upon its
grievances, in reply to the interpretations suggesting “antagonism
of Turks give Armenians their identities.” The researcher says a
nation should have other things to give for their identities and
adds that “Armenian children in the Diaspora do not even know the
Armenian language. They should first be taught the language.” Extreme
expressions, she adds, by some people in the Diaspora do not hold the
whole nation responsible but only themselves; however, these extremists
are very much on the map and the Diaspora should be tolerated due to
the difficult times it goes through.
“Living in the Diaspora is not very easy,” Kortian says, “It is
an uncertain status.” She was faced with silence even in Europe and
suffered great psychological effects due this. An independent Armenian
state is very important for the Diaspora and the most important thing
is the future of the state. “Diaspora’s project for the future is
dependent on Armenia. Armenia should have good neighbor relations
with Turkey. This is obvious.”
“If the events of 1915 had not happened, I would not be in France
today. If only I could tell you all these in Turkish,” said Kortian,
whose family migrated to France from Dortyol.