Armenians, Just as Bulgarians, Should Demand Compensation
from Turkey
13-01-2010 14:38:00 | USA | Articles and Analyses
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
Bojidar Dimitrov, Bulgaria's Minister in charge of the
Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, stirred a hornet's nest at the
start of the new year by threatening to block Turkey's accession
to the European Union (EU), unless it paid billions of dollars
in compensation for Bulgarians who were forcefully displaced
during the Ottoman era.
Dimitrov said Turkey owed Bulgaria $20 billion for
expelling hundreds of thousands of ethnic Bulgarians in 1913.
The Republic of Turkey, which was founded in 1923, had assumed
the obligations of the Ottoman Empire and agreed to make
reparations in a 1925 treaty. However, thus far, Bulgaria has
received no compensation from the Turkish government.
"Turkey is surely able to pay this sum, after all, it’s the
16th largest economic power in the world," Dimitrov said,
capitalizing on a statement that Turkish officials often make,
bragging about their country's economic strength!
Dimitrov disclosed that the payment of compensation as
required by the 1925 treaty is one of Bulgaria’s three
pre-conditions in order not to veto Turkey's admission to the
EU. The other two pre-conditions involve energy and water
management issues.
Veselin Ninov, a Bulgarian government spokesman, confirmed
to the EUobserver on January 4, that Dimitrov’s announcement
represented official state policy. He revealed that the dispute
was being handled by a "Bulgarian-Turkish intergovernmental
working group" and that Prime Minister Boyko Borissov would
raise the compensation issue during his upcoming visit to
Turkey.
Turkish officials reacted quickly and harshly! Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, repeating the same baseless
accusations that Turkish leaders often make regarding the
Armenian Genocide, alleged that the Turks suffered as much as
the Bulgarians during that period. According to Zaman newspaper,
Davutoglu warned that Bulgaria’s demands for compensation might
harm bilateral relations, although, he confirmed that the two
countries have been discussing "issues relevant to the mass
transfers of Turks and Bulgarians during the last days of the
Ottoman Empire."
Bulgarian officials immediately backed down realizing that
an open confrontation with Turkey on this issue may not be as
beneficial to them as quiet, behind closed doors negotiations.
Bulgaria's Deputy Foreign Minister Marin Raykov sought to
downplay Dimitrov's demands by stating that his country did not
make Turkey's EU bid conditional on the resolution of the
compensation issue for displaced persons. Meanwhile, Prime
Minister Borissov rebuked Dimitrov, threatening to fire him
should he make a similar statement in the future without first
consulting him.
Minister Dimitrov quickly apologized in order to retain his
job. Press official Veselin Ninov, however, was not as
fortunate. He was fired for endorsing Dimitrov’s earlier
statement.
For the time being, Bulgaria's leaders may find it
premature to openly link their demands for compensation from
Turkey to its bid for EU membership, even though many Bulgarians
have persistently demanded such reparations for decades.
Consequently, this issue is bound to remain on the agenda of the
two countries, undermining Turkey's oft-stated claim that it has
zero-problems or disputes with its neighbors.
Despite Prime Minister Borissov's disclaimer, Bulgaria has
now added yet another wrinkle to Turkey's bid for EU membership
which is becoming increasingly elusive. Already several European
countries such as France, Germany, Holland, and Austria strongly
oppose Turkey's EU membership bid. Greece and Cyprus would not
allow Turkey to join the EU, unless its troops withdraw from
Northern Cyprus. Furthermore, it would be impossible for Turkey
to join the EU without fulfilling one of its key requirements --
open borders with all neighboring states. Turkey, thus, cannot
become an EU member, unless it opens its border with Armenia,
independently of the fate of the Armenia-Turkey Protocols.
Beyond the obstacles in joining the EU, Turkey is swamped
with a large number of lawsuits filed against it in the European
Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Should it refuse to compensate
Bulgaria for the 1913 refugees, it is likely to face more legal
troubles.
However, Turkey's record on winning lawsuits in the ECHR is
not very good. It has already lost several major court cases for
its occupation of Northern Cyprus. Also, Greek and Armenian
minority foundations in Turkey have successfully recovered
through the ECHR some of their real estate assets that were
confiscated decades ago.
Encouraged by these successful lawsuits, Armenians living
in Turkey and throughout Europe should seek legal redress
through the ECHR for their countless losses suffered during the
Genocide. Claims could be filed for the loss of personal
property, bank accounts, real estate, monuments and churches.
No peace without justice!
No reconciliation without restitution!