Advice to Prime Minister Erdogan: Continue Denying the
Armenian Genocide
16-03-2010 18:30:00 | USA | Articles and Analyses
LOS ANGELES, MART 16, NOYAN TAPAN. It is a well-known fact
that Turkish leaders are exceptional diplomats. However, as soon
as they hear the words Armenian Genocide, Greece, Cyprus or
Kurdistan, these diplomats lose their "cool" and resort to
emotional outbursts and undiplomatic actions that harm their own
interests.
Realizing that this is the 95th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, Turkish officials have been nervously preparing
themselves for the upcoming tsunami of commemorations that would
remind the international community of the crimes against
humanity committed by Ottoman Turks.
The first unexpected shot was fired on February 26 by the
Parliament of the Autonomous Government of Catalonia, Spain,
when it unanimously recognized the Armenian Genocide. Turkish
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu immediately contacted his
Spanish counterpart and Catalonian officials venting his anger
and demanding an apology!
Two days later, an expose of the Armenian Genocide was
aired by CBS’s 60 Minutes, showing bones of Armenian victims
still protruding from Syrian desert sands, almost a century
later! The Turks were livid, accusing Armenians of unduly
influencing the CBS network and questioning, as usual, the
authenticity of the bones and the sand!
Four days later, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee
adopted a resolution acknowledging the Armenian Genocide. Turkey
lost despite: Pressuring the Obama administration to oppose the
resolution;
Hiring multi-million dollar lobbying firms;
Sending teams of Turkish parliamentarians to Washington;
E-mail campaigns by Turkish and Azeri Americans; and
Threatening to boycott U.S. defense contractors if they did
not oppose the resolution.
Immediately after losing that vote, Turkey recalled its
Ambassador from Washington, indicating that he may be kept in
Ankara until after April 24. State Minister Zafer Caglayan
postponed his U.S. visit, intended to develop economic ties,
"until the United States corrects its mistake." A scheduled trip
by the executive board of the Turkish Industrialists' &
Businessmen's Association to Washington on March 16 and 17 was
also canceled, and anti-American protests were held in Turkish
cities. More importantly, Prime Minister Erdogan indicated that
he might cancel his planned participation in the global summit
on nuclear security to be held in Washington next month.
Before Turkish passions had cooled down, Sweden’s
Parliament dealt a second devastating blow to Ankara on March
11, by reaffirming the genocide of Armenians, Assyrians, and
Greeks, by a vote of 131-130. Once again, Turkey recalled its
Ambassador, and Prime Minister Erdogan canceled his upcoming
trip to Stockholm which was to be accompanied by a large trade
delegation. And, anti-Swedish demonstrations were held in
several Turkish cities.
These overly dramatic reactions prompted Turkish and
foreign commentators to have a field day, speculating that if
more countries recognize the Armenian Genocide, Turkey won’t
have ambassadors left anywhere in the world, and Turkish
officials won’t be visiting other countries, having to cancel
their overseas trips. Furthermore, Turkey would be left without
any imported goods and a weakened military, having canceled all
purchases from the outside world. Turkey’s isolation is a just
retribution for its denialist policy. By trying to punish
others, Turkey is simply punishing itself.
Vahe Magarian of Cincinnati, Ohio, sent a pointed letter to
the New York Times last week, suggesting that Turkey’s recalled
Ambassadors, "rather than flying home, should be made to march
home on foot. Forced marches were the preferred means of travel
during the dying days of the Ottoman Empire."
Prominent Turkish commentator Can Dundar wrote in Haber1 an
article titled: "Are we going to recall all our Ambassadors?" He
stated that, at this rate, by the time the 100th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide rolls around in 2015, there won’t be a
single country left not accusing Turkey of genocide. Isn’t it
about time that we search out what dirty work our fathers did 95
years ago? Shouldn’t we ask what did we do wrong, Dundar
implored.
The main reason why Turkish officials panic every time the
Armenian Genocide is acknowledged by yet another country is
their fear of being asked to pay compensation for Armenian
losses and return the occupied lands. Prime Minister Erdogan and
his colleagues don’t seem to understand that Genocide
recognition by itself does not lead to legal claims. How many
inches of land have Armenians managed to liberate from Turkey as
a result of such recognition by more than 20 countries? If
Turkish leaders would only understand that parliamentary
resolutions have no legal effect, maybe they would not get so
excited over them!
Nevertheless, there should be no doubt that Armenians still
demand the return of their ancestral lands located in Eastern
Turkey. Such claims have to be pursued in various courts, unless
an unexpected cataclysmic event occurs first, causing the
collapse or dismemberment of the Turkish State.
In the meantime, we advise Mr. Erdogan to continue denying
the Genocide at every opportunity, in order to encourage
Armenians to persist in their efforts to expose Ankara’s lies.
Were it not for Turkish officials’ vehement denials, there would
not have been a worldwide outcry to reaffirm the facts of the
Armenian Genocide by airing TV documentaries and adopting
genocide resolutions.
Mr. Erdogan, please keep up the good work. Armenians need
your kind assistance to pursue their cause until justice is
done.
By Harut Sassounian Publisher, The California Courier