Author: nina hovnanian

IT’S GOOD MRS. CLINTON IS TIRED
Naira Hayrumyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 15:53:01 – 25/05/2012

“Ethnic Armenian separatists, with Armenia’s support, continued to
control most of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and seven
surrounding Azerbaijani territories,” runs the U.S. State Department
report 2011 on the state of human rights in Armenia.

The impression is that Hillary Clinton is either unaware of the
negotiations on Karabakh and the U.S. position or this statement was
copy-pasted or appeared there by someone’s initiative.

It is the same as to state that the American separatists continue
to control the British territories and the adjacent states. However,
it is not the most important thing. Most probably, Mrs. Clinton forgot
that the United States is a co-chair of the Minsk Group and the United
States has announced for a great deal of times that Karabakh’s status
will be identified by way of peace talks. In other words, the United
States did not think that belonging to Azerbaijan is a final status.

Were Karabakh an Azerbaijani territory, no talks would be conducted.

The United States and the other states would simply force Armenia to
return Karabakh and that’s it. Let them kill and displace all the
“separatists” and return the territory to Azerbaijan. This would
be real protection of human rights. Besides, Mrs. Clinton has
forgotten that the agency she heads has made efforts not to allow
the Armenian-Turkish relations be linked with the settlement of
the Karabakh issue so that the Armenian “separatists” continue to
“control” Karabakh.

Generally, what is the point of reminding about this issue in the
report on human rights? After all, it could not mention it at all or
do like Freedom House which evaluates the state of human rights in
Karabakh in a separate article. Even though Freedom House considers
Karabakh non-free, at least it recognizes that people live there,
and their rights must be protected.

The Armenian MFA must make a statement and show that a position
announced beforehand casts doubt on the impartiality of the United
States as a mediator. The U.S. department of state may announce later
that the sentence appeared in the report by a technical accident. It
is necessary to find out who asked Mrs. Clinton to incorporate this
point in the report which has nothing to do with human rights. The
impression is that Clinton does not know that her country’s Congress
intends to boost assistance from 2 to 5 million dollars. By the way,
when she was secretary of state, the U.S. assistance was cut from 10
to 2 million dollars.

Perhaps she does not know that Rhode Island called the president and
the Congress to recognize the independence of Karabakh and the right
of its people to democracy.

There are similar statements in a lot of documents and the
international community does not hide that the end of negotiations
recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Every document
with reference to similar documents, including in the summit of NATO,
recognizes the basic right to self-determination.

It is good that Clinton is tired and wants to leave politics.

NAYIRI SAHYAN: SON OF FAMOUS POET VISITS ARMENIA; DISILLUSIONED WITH GOVERNMENT INEPTITUDE
Sona Avagyan

;-disillusioned-with-government-ineptitude.html
12:12, May 25, 2012

Nayiri Sahyan, the son and only living descendant of the noted Armenian
poet Hamo Sahyan, is a man on a mission.

The 100th anniversary of Hamo Sahyan will be celebrated on April 14,
2014. Nayiri, who’s been living in the U.S. for the past 7 years,
came to Armenia last June to see what Armenia was planning in the
way of celebrations for his noted antecedent.

He eventually left Armenia with a bad taste in his mouth, disappointed
with the lack of accountability and treatment at the hand of officials
he encountered.

Nayiri was concerned that there is no statue or house-museum of Hamo
Sahyan to be found in all of Yerevan.

In August of 2011, Nayiri approached an official close to President
Serzh Sargsyan and asked that he arrange a private meeting with the
head of state.

“The official promised me that he would convey my request to the
president. I went back and forth for two months. In the end, after
a number of excuses, the meeting never happened,” says Nayiri.

Frustrated, Nayiri personally visited the presidential palace and
inquired as to what must be done to arrange a meeting with Sargsyan.

He was told to write a letter to that effect which he did. The
presidential office said they would contact him by phone.

“I waited for another two months for their telephone call so I went
back to the presidential palace. The women in charge gave me some
cock and bull story about a delay due to the renovation of an office,”
Nayiri says.

The man’s next move was to seek out a relative of the president. The
relative said he would raise the matter the next time he met with
the president. This turned out to be another dead-end.

Nayiri then changes tactics. In early 2012, he tried to arrange a
meeting with Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.

A woman at the reception desk in the government building told Nayiri
that the prime minister does not meet with citizens.

“So it turns out that these officials live behind closed doors
protected by armed individuals so that they have no contact with the
common people. These individuals are little kings protecting their
little kingdoms sitting in their offices. They are called on to serve
the people but don’t solve any issue,” says an irate Nayiri.

“In the ten months that I was in Armenia, I came away convinced
that these people only resolve problems for their relatives and
themselves. This is a government of closed doors. All I encountered
here were indifference, boorishness and deception.”

Nayiri hasn’t petitioned Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan because
he believes she isn’t capable of doing anything.

“Churches are crumbling before our eyes, they are stealing away
Armenian churches in Georgia, and no one is lifting a finger about it,”
notes Nayiri.

“The Minister of Culture is not a person who can get things done.

It’s a crying shame. Someone has come and demolished the rear of the
AOKS building (Armenian Organization for Cultural Links with Foreign
Countries). They are building a hotel. The Ministry of Culture gave
its OK for the demolition of that historic building. So why should
I go and petition such a minister?” rhetorically asks Nayiri.

Ministry of Culture: “If the anniversary is in 2014, it’s too early
to say anything”

Hetq got in touch with Meri Haroutyunyan, head of the presidential
public affairs division, and asked why Nayiri hasn’t received a reply
to his letter of October 2011. She had no explanation.

“To be honest, the person who initialled the letter is on sick
leave. We have talked to him. What’s important right now is that
the matter be resolved. On May 25, the chief of staff will meet with
Nayiri Sahyan,” said Haroutyunyan.

Nayiri told Hetq that he would once again go to the presidential
palace but that he wasn’t hopeful that anything would change. He also
was angry that it had taken the presidential office several months
to respond to his letter in addition to the intervention of Hetq.

Aram Ananyan, the prime minister’s press secretary, told Hetq that
he only just found out about Nayiri Sahyan’s visit to the government
building. Ananyan verified the news that the prime minister does not
personally meet with citizens.

Gayaneh Dourgaryan, who heads the public affairs office at the Ministry
of Culture, told Hetq that it was too early to say what was being
planned in terms of Hamo Sahyan’s anniversary. In fact, it seemed
that she didn’t even know what anniversary was to be celebrated. She
had to ask us.

“Let me say that the Ministry can say nothing definite right now.

Proposals and tenders must be submitted to us first about what people
want to do. Then committees are set up to review all the suggestions.

Afterwards, specific event programs are agreed to,” said Dourgaryan.

The official said that it was possible that a group would be set up
in 2013 to review any submitted proposals.

Nayiri Sahyan: “Concerts and events are fleeting. Statues and museums
are permanent like Sahyan’s poetry”

The only memorial dedicated to Hamo Sahyan is in the town of Sisian.

The poet was born in the Syunik village of Lor in 1914. The memorial
was erected by former Sisian residents now living in Russia.

During Hamo Sahyan’s most prolific period (1960-1973), the family
lived in the writers’ building on Kasyan Street in Yerevan.

The house was later allotted to the translator Levon Lazarian and
the Sahyans were given an apartment on Toumanyan Street.

Hamo Sahyan died in 1993. His widow and their two sons were forced
to sell the house and buy a one room flat

In 2002, Nayiri’s mother died, followed by the death of his only
brother the following year. Not being able to find work, Nayiri
handed over the one room flat to some relatives and left for the
United States.

“I’ve been renting a place to stay for the past ten months. I really
want to have a Hamo Sahyan house-museum set up. If I had the money,
I’d go and buy back the place at double the price,” Nayiri says.

The writer’s son says that he’s found a convenient spot for a statue
on Alex Manoogian Street near the Yerevan State University.

The property owners are ready to allocate a small plot of land but
there’s the municipal bureaucracy to deal with and the paperwork.

Nayiri Sahyan: “The last 20 years have been the worst since 1915”

“After the Genocide, this will be considered the worst period for
our nation. The last twenty years have been a tragedy. 1.5 million
Armenians have already left and the rest live in an atmosphere of
fear. Corruption is rampant in this country. There is just one leader
in this republic; he and his brothers. The rest just sit around in
their offices doing nothing,” says Nayiri.

Nayiri is adamant that he won’t be petitioning any more government
officials. He says it’s useless. All he wants is a clear answer from
the government about creating a Hamo Sahyan house-museum; either yes
or no.

When I asked if he would be leaving Armenia, Nayiri replied, “With
pleasure and I probably won’t be coming back.”

He then paused and spoke about the alternative – staying in Armenia
and fighting till the present government leaves or deals with him on
their terms.

“I can’t say which is right, to leave or stay and fight. But 1.5
million have already left. What will happen if everybody takes off?”

Nayiri turns to me and says his ten months in Armenia has raised his
fighting spirit and that staying seems the right thing to do.

“The quicker these people now in power leave the better for all of
us. I’ve seen people lined up outside the government building with
their problems. No one is there to speak to them. The common citizen
is mocked and neglected.”

Nayiri promises that even if he stays in Armenia, he will not
participate in any commemorative events organized by the government.

ANTI-AZERBAIJANI RALLIES CONTINUE IN IRAN

Panorama.am
25/05/2012

Anti-Azerbaijani rallies continue in Iran, FARS news agency said.

Iranian clergymen of Bile Savar town have condemned Azerbaijan’s
decision to hold “gay-parade” in Baku and have urged Baku to revise
their anti-Islamic disposition.

Several other rallies were also held in the provinces of Eastern and
Western Azarbaijan protesting the “gay-parade” initiative.

In response to the Iranian activities, Azerbaijan’s ruling party
organized a rally near Iran’s Embassy in Baku and outraged Iran’s
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohammad Bagher Bahrami protested
the action and left the country.

NUL POINT FOR ENEMIES AND DOUZE POINTS FOR FRIENDS… EUROVISION IS PURE TV GOLD

HOW CONFLICT HAS HIT SONG CONTEST

El of a performance … Greece’s Eurovision hopeful Eleftheria
Eleftheriou El of a performance … Greece’s Eurovision hopeful
Eleftheria Eleftheriou
By JOHN KENNEDY O’CONNOR
Published: Today at 02:03

AROUND 125million viewers are set to watch the Eurovision Song Contest
from Baku, Azerbaijan tomorrow night – despite the annual fuss over
politics and dodgy voting.

Here a “Eurovisionary” tells how the contest’s controversies are all
part of what makes the show unmissable telly.

FOR a show that was created simply to promote talent and songwriting
across borders, the Eurovision Song Contest has often been accused
of fostering international resentment.

In fact the voting system has always been seen as allowing nations
to loathe their neighbour on a very public scale.

This year’s contest is no exception, as proved by the absence of
Armenia.

After a bloody war with Azerbaijan in the early 1990s, plus continuing
land and border disputes, the animosity between the two countries
is extreme.

Giving Brits the Hump … Engelbert Humperdinck, the half-English,
half-German entry from the UK Giving Brits the Hump … Engelbert
Humperdinck, the half-English, half-German entry from the UK Splash

The Armenian state broadcaster announced recently they would not send
a singer to a country where they would not be welcome.

While other nations may not be at war with their neighbours, relations
can still be frosty over Eurovision.

Most Brits believe the French don’t vote for the UK – but in fact
it’s usually the other way round. Since 1975 our Gallic chums have
been fairly keen on the UK’s efforts, giving “douze points” four times.

But Britain has never once put France top of the list, instead giving
them “nul points” in 18 contests.

Since tele-voting was first trialled in 1997, former Eastern Bloc
countries have heavily influenced the contest. Estonia won in 2001,
Latvia in 2002, Ukraine in 2004 and Russia in 2008.

Such was Terry Wogan’s disgust that in 2008 he quit as the BBC
commentator after nearly 40 years in the job.

When Moscow hosted in 2009, Georgia was banned for entering the song
We Don’t Wanna Put In, a thinly disguised dig at Russian Premier
Vladimir Putin.

The first overtly political action in the contest came in 1964,
when Copenhagen hosted.

After Switzerland had performed, a man dramatically climbed on to
the stage carrying a banner stating “Boycott Franco and Salazar”. It
was a protest against the dictators ruling Spain and Portugal and he
managed brief moments in front of the cameras.

Jed in the water … Irish twins Jedward go for gold – but wear silver
Jed in the water … Irish twins Jedward go for gold – but wear silver

The same issue reappeared in 1969, when Madrid hosted the contest
after Spain’s one-point victory the previous year over Cliff Richard’s
Congratulations.

Austrian TV refused to send a participant to the Spanish capital,
marking the first ever national boycott.

A mass boycott followed in 1970, when Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Austria,
Finland and Portugal all refused to take part in the Amsterdam contest.

However, this wasn’t politics on an international scale but a combined
objection to the rulebook that had let four nations – France, Holland,
Spain and the UK – tie for first place the previous year. A tie-break
rule was introduced and they all returned happy in 1971.

When Israeli TV staged the 1979 contest in Jerusalem, there was
considerable pressure on Turkey from the North African and Middle
Eastern community not to take part.

Threats were even made to cut off Turkey’s oil supplies should they
send an entry. They withdrew, but returned in 1980 with the song
Loving On Petrol – a direct jibe at those who had driven them out
the previous year.

Greece and Cyprus notoriously support each other in the competition
and first gave each other the maximum 12 points in 1987. In fact,
since popular voting replaced jury voting in 1998, the two have
exchanged 12s every time.

Not surprisingly, none of the Middle Eastern and North African nations
eligible to enter as members of the European Broadcasting Union will
take part while Israel participates.

Traditional costume? … Netherlands entry Joan Franka looks set to
ruffle some feathers Traditional costume? … Netherlands entry Joan
Franka looks set to ruffle some feathers

Morocco has sent just one entry to Eurovision, in 1980, as Israel was
absent. The Arabic state immediately withdrew once Israel returned
in 1981.

Lebanon was disqualified before the 2005 contest when their TV chiefs
revealed they would not broadcast the Israeli entry or allow their
viewers to vote for the song. They have not considered entering since.

While Israel’s Izhar Cohen was performing A-Ba-Ni-Bi in 1978,
Jordanian TV cut to an ad break. When they returned to find him
cruising to victory, the show was abruptly ended.

The contest remains a joyous celebration of pop music and doubtless few
viewers tomorrow will even be aware that Armenia aren’t taking part.

But a vast amount of the viewing pleasure is gained from the national
allegiances and hostilities on show year after year.

Britain’s Engelbert Humperdinck is probably already honing his “I
was robbed by East European block voting” press release right now.

None of it will mar the sheer enjoyment of Europe’s most popular TV
show, still going strong after all these years.

John Kennedy O’Connor is author of The Official History Of The
Eurovision Song Contest, Carlton Books, £14.99.

PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTY BUSINESSMEN ARE PANICKY – NEWSPAPER

news.am
May 25, 2012 | 07:30

YEREVAN. – The non-materialized coalition between the Republican
Party of Armenia (RPA) and Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) could be
detrimental for some businessmen, Hraparak daily writes.

“PAP-member businessmen are irritated by [PAP leader Gagik] Tsarukyan’s
move [of not forming a coalition with the RPA], and they forecast
bad things.

They are worried that the PAP’s oppositional stance will put their
business activities at risk. That is, the ruling RPA will force the
businessmen to completely fulfill their tax obligations, and this
will deal a heavy blow to their income.

But they are hopeful that everything will be overcome.

There is a panicky mood likewise among the PAP-member civil servants.

The rank-and-file PAP members, who work in the administrations,
are worried that they, too, could become unemployed when their
administrations pass over to the RPA’s control,” Hraparak writes.

EUROVISION HOSTS ARE TOP OF THE CHARTS FOR REPRESSION

Socialist Party

May 23 2012
UK

Clare Doyle, Committee for a Workers’ International

BBC’s Panorama investigation – ‘Eurovision’s Dirty Secret’ – looked at
the 2012 host country Azerbaijan. It revealed the depths to which its
ruling regime, based on massive oil wealth, will go in trying to crush
any resistance and opposition to its dictatorial power. It should get
‘nil points’ for its human rights record!

Since a coup in 1992 the country has been run by the Aliyev family
– first Heydar, followed by his son Ilham who, in 2009, won the
presidency for life with a 90% referendum vote!

Ilham’s daughters own multi-million dollar business dealing in things
like telephone networks and gold-mining. Through a Panama-registered
company his 15 year-old son has a major interest in a luxury hotel
in Baku and a $40 million stake in in the prestigious ‘Dubai Palm’.

Millions of dollars were spent on the hasty construction of a ‘Crystal
Hall’ on the banks of the Caspian Sea for the Eurovision Song Contest
final which has more viewers than any other non-sporting event in
the world.

As undercover journalist, Paul Kenyon, showed, the slightest criticism
of the regime can be punishable by years in prison. Journalists are
followed, beaten up, imprisoned and sometimes killed. There are at
least 70 political prisoners, although the regime denies there are any.

The ‘parliament’ has not one opposition MP. The Azerbaijan Popular
Front party had its headquarters closed by the state. Its leader, Ali
Karimli, is under 24-hour surveillance and its members are constantly
harassed and persecuted.

Protests are brutally attacked. Homes are bulldozed while people
still live in them to make way for prestige building projects like
those for the Eurovision festivities.

The programme challenged past and present Eurovision organisers and
participants – including Sandie Shaw and Engelbert Humperdinck –
about the competition’s host country. They appeared to believe it
had nothing to do with them!

The singer for Azerbaijan’s entry is Aliyev’s son-in-law. His wife – an
MP with a claimed 94% vote – chairs the country’s Eurovision committee!

Armenia, Azerbaijan’s ‘long-time enemy’, will not be participating in
the contest this year. In 2009, Azerbaijani TV suddenly went blank
during the Armenian team’s entry! Kenyon interviewed an Azerbaijani
who, after voting for Armenia, was taken in for interrogation.

A popular singer, Jamal, was imprisoned and tortured for insulting
Aliyev. Now he has been ordered to get out of the country before the
contest begins.

In its own words, the BBC’s Panorama has “pulled back the curtain”
on the Aliyev dictatorship. On 28 May, Panorama turns its attention
to the anti-Semitism, racism and attacks on foreigners in Poland and
Ukraine, hosts to the Euro 2012 football tournament.

TURKISH MP: ARMENIAN DIASPORA IS KEY FACTOR PREVENTING THE OPENING OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER

arminfo
Wednesday, May 23, 18:25

There are a number of factors preventing the opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border and the normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations, among them are the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the
tough stand of the Armenian Diaspora, Turkish MP, the head of the
Turkish delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) Ismail Safi told Armenian journalists
on Wednesday.

The Turkish delegation is taking part in the current PABSEC session
in Yerevan.

He said that the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border is a complex
process, directly connected with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and
the unyielding position of the Armenian Diaspora is a big obstacle
to it. In any case it is up to Armenia and Turkey to decide, and the
PABSEC may serve as a format for relevant negotiations.

Delegations from Armenia, Albania, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria,
Serbia, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine are taking part
in the PABSEC session in Yerevan. The PABSEC was set up in 1993.

SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUSEUM-INSTITUTE AWARDS US PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY OF STATE WITH CLARA BARTON’S MEDAL

arminfo
Wednesday, May 23, 18:27

The Scientific Council of Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute has
issued a Clara Barton’s Golden Medal, which by means of the U.S.
Embassy in Armenia and Ambassador John Heffern will be handed to
Barack Obama, U.S. President, Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of
State as a token of Armenian-American friendship, director of the
Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Hayk Demoyan said over today’s
presentation of Clara Barton’s “American Relief Expedition to Asia
Minor under the Red Cross” report.

“The Scientific Council has adopted a decision to issue 100 memorial
medals in Clara Barton’s honor. The people and states, which have
been actively promoting recognition of the Armenian genocide,
will be awarded with this medal. The translation of Clara Barton’s
book was a very hard work, which was evidence of friendly relations
between Armenia and the USA. Moreover, we have prepared an exhibition
dedicated to her 190th anniversary”, – Demoyan said. He expressed
special gratitude to US Embassy in Armenia which supporting holding
of this event.

Hayk Demoyan, the Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute,
John Heffern, the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, Ashot Hovakimian,
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of RA and Kevin Patti, American
historian representing Clara Barton National Historic Site offered
opening remarks at the event.

The event was followed by ceremonial burial of the soil brought from
Clara Barton’s grave and placing of the plaque at the Memorial Wall
of Tsitsernakaberd Memorial. A temporary exhibition dedicated to
Clara Barton has been opened at the Armenian Genocide Museum.

ARMENIAN PUBLIC TELEVISION NOT TO BROADCAST EUROVISION 2012 SECOND SEMI-FINAL

news.am
May 24, 2012 | 12:44

YEREVAN.- The Armenian Public Television has not broadcasted the
first semi-final of Eurovision 2012 held in Baku, said head of
Armenian delegation.

Talking to the Armenian News-NEWS.am reporter, Gohar Gasparyan said
the second semi-final will not be broadcasted as well.

The public television is likely to broadcast the final scheduled for
May 26, she added. Asked whether Armenia will be fined by European
Broadcasting Union for not showing the semi-final, Gasparyan said it
would not affect anything.

As reported earlier, Communication Coordinator for the Eurovision
Family of Events Jarmo Siim said the fine set for Armenia for refusal
to participate in Eurovision 2012 is 50% of the participation fee of
the Eurovision Song Contest.

“There is no reason why AMPTV [Armenian Public Television] would be
not let participate in the next edition of Europe’s favourite TV show
if they pay the fine and broadcast this year’s contest and follow
the Rules of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest,” he added.

IS TURKEY SINCERE IN ITS ‘EFFORTS’ TO FIND A JUST SOLUTION TO THE ARMENIAN QUESTION?

By Appo Jabarian

Executive Publisher/Managing Editor
USA Armenian Life Magazine
May 23, 2012

For decades, hardly a month went by without Turks worrying about
what new actions would the Armenian Diaspora take. No year went by
without Turkish officials acknowledging the nightmare “caused by the
Armenian Diaspora.”

In late 2010, at a time when he was searching for ways to render the
Armenian Diaspora “powerless” through the infamous Protocols with
Armenia, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu lamented that some
of the Diaspora’s actions were like “the sword of Damocles hanging
above our heads.”

Mr. Davutoglu’s comments were followed by Turkey’s Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan being dealt with an official embarrassment in
Lebanon when the Lebanese Armenians mounted a remarkable protest
against him. Like much of the world, Lebanon has been home to
hundreds of thousands of Armenians who harbor deep animosity toward
Turkey over the 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide and the resulting massive
dispossessions and illegal occupation of their ancestral homeland in
Western Armenia and Cilicia.

During Erdogan’s visit, several hundred Lebanese Armenians clashed
with army troops during a protest in Beirut. They tore up Erdogan’s
billboard-size giant posters in the capital’s Martyrs’ Square to
denounce his presence.

In early 2010, Erdogan was ‘greeted’ with similar ‘stately’
embarrassment in Argentina when he abruptly cancelled the Argentina
leg of his tour of Latin America because city officials in Buenos
Aires called off an event inaugurating a monument to the ‘revered’
founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Despite the fact that on numerous occasions, Erdogan called on
the First Forum of the World Azerbaijani and Turkish Diasporas
Organizations to “counter the intensifying attacks from the
Armenian Diaspora,” no tangible results were achieved in subduing or
overpowering the descendants of the Armenian martyrs and survivors.

Now, some eighteen months later, taking valuable time out his busy
schedule, FM Davutoglu has once again opted “to initiate a personal
‘dialog’ with the Diaspora on Armenian-Turkish issues. Earlier this
month, Davutoglu met with Armenian-Americans, as follow up to the
meetings he held in Washington last March. During their conversation in
May, the Armenian interlocutors frankly advised the Turkish Foreign
Minister that Ankara must address Armenian demands for genocide
recognition and restitution before any ‘reconciliation’ could be
achieved. The Turkish side reportedly indicated a willingness to
discuss these thorny issues with Diasporan representatives. Despite
the seeming openness of Foreign Minister Davutoglu, Armenians have
well-founded reasons to mistrust such overtures, given Turkey’s
decades-long denial of the Armenian Genocide and its antagonistic
policies toward the Diaspora, Armenia and Artsakh. Armenians also
suspect that Turkish officials may exploit meetings with the Diaspora
to score propaganda points with world public opinion,” reported Harut
Sassounian, Publisher of The California Courier.

Is it possible that Ankara has learnt that honesty is the best policy;
and that political courage is a lasting virtue? Are these values
driving Turkey’s policy of ‘overtures’ to the Armenian Diaspora?

During his presidency, in an effort to eliminate Turkey’s festering
problems with world Armenians, Turkish Pres. Turgut Ozal seemed
receptive to the idea of addressing the Armenian issue in a more open
and fair manner.

According to a recent article in Turkish daily ‘Today’s Zaman,’
“behind closed doors, Pres. Ozal defended the idea of holding
negotiations with Armenians to settle a dispute that has had great
potential to deal a serious blow to Turkish interests in international
politics. Ozal’s close friends and former aides spoke to the newspaper
about the politics of the day. In 1980’s Armenia was still part of the
Soviet Union and Ozal defended the idea of holding negotiations with
the powerful Armenian Diaspora. His close friends and advisers say
that if Ozal were alive today, the problem of the Armenian Genocide
might have already been solved.”

Pres. Ozal’s “aim was to solve the [Armenian] problem before it
got too late and through few concessions after reaching a deal with
the Armenians. … Ozal sought to learn what Armenians wanted from
Turkey. …

In 1984 he ordered his advisors to work on possible scenarios about
the economic and political price Turkey would have to pay if Turkey
compromises with the Armenian Diaspora, an early Turkish acceptance
of the term ‘Genocide.’ Another scenario was also prepared. This
plan sought to gauge the political cost of a Turkish acceptance of
genocide within 20 to 30 years if Turkey is forced to accept it one
day,” Vehbi Dincerler, 71, a former education minister and a state
minister in Ozal’s Cabinet, said to “Today’s Zaman.”

Ozal was right. The decades following his predictions, the list and
the magnitude of Armenian political victories in much of the world
proved to be fairly impressive. Turkey was dealt with one political
defeat after another.

In all fairness to a growing segment of Turkish society, many lucid
and courageous voices from Turkey have been speaking out against
the long-standing official Turkish policy of cover-up and deception
regarding the Armenian Genocide and the legitimate Armenian demands
for restitution.

Righteous Turks have acknowledged the Genocide at the cost of
risking their freedom and lives. I would like to name a few of them:
Award-winning Turkish Publisher Ragip and his son Deniz Zarakolu;
Turkish writers/ journalists: Elif Safak, Ayse Gunaysu, Ahmet Insel,
Baskin Oran, Cengiz Aktar, Ali Bayramoglu, Erol Ozkoray, Kemal Yalcin,
Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk, Dogan Akhanli, Sait Cetinoglu, Ahmet Altan;
Turkish scholars: Ayse Nur Zarakolu, Omer Asan, and Taner Akcam.

In a March 6, 2010 article titled “Genocide,” popular Turkish writer
Ahmet Altan had written in Taraf Turkish newspaper: “When a commission
of the US Congress votes for ‘genocide,’ we are ‘humiliated’. Do you
know what humiliation is? Humiliation is millions of people holding
their breaths for the outcome of a few votes in somebody else’s
parliament. That is humiliation. … Turkey is humiliated because
it itself cannot shed light on its own history, has to delegate this
matter into other hands, is frightened like hell from its own past,
has to squirm like mad in order to cover up truths.” Mr. Altan then
lambasted Turkish officialdom’s nearly century-old policy of denial.

Turkish officials can only blame their defunct policies of denial
for causing the escalation of anti-Turkish international backlash.

Back in early 2010, I had written: “Maybe it’s high time for Ankara
to consider adopting Mr. Altan’s approach, because time will prove
him as being genuinely patriotic and pragmatic. His clear thinking
regarding the dark pages of Turkish history can certainly illuminate
an atoned Turkey’s pathway to a bright future.”

Are Turkish Pres. Gul, PM Erdogan, and FM Davutoglu sincere in their
efforts to echo Mr. Altan’s and other courageous Turks’ wisdom? Are
Messrs. Gul, Erdogan, and Davutoglu genuinely vying to emulate the
late Turkish Pres. Ozal?

Sooner or later their true intentions will be revealed.

In the meantime, in my humble opinion, prudence and vigilance on the
part of all Armenians are the orders of the day.