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Sanar Yurdatapan: Turkish Intellectuals Who Have Recognized The Armenian Genocide

April 10, 2015 By administrator

By: Hambersom Aghbashian

Şanar Yurdatapan was born in Susurluk in Turkey in 1941. He became famous as a composer and song writer during the 1970’s. In addition to his contribution to popular music, Şanar has written music for films and plays. Following the military coup in 1980, he left Turkey and lived in exile in Germany for 12 years. The Turkish Military regime stripped him from his citizenship in 1983. He returned to Turkey in December 1991 and got his citizenship back in 1992 . Şanar has been the spokesperson of the ‘Initiative for Freedom of Expression’, leading a civil disobedience action, since 1995.(1)

“Sari Aghjik”- translated into Turkey into “Sari Gelin” is an Armenian song which was spread in Armenian populated Turkish provinces in 19th century. The offspring of Armenian Genocide survivors sing the song in different countries of the world. The structure of the melody, base, and lads are Armenian. The word syllables correspond to the structure of the melody only in the Armenian version, whereas there is a mismatch in the Turkish and Azerbaijani translations. The Turks as usual are trying to wipe off this piece from the Armenian heritage in Turkey by depicting it as a part of Turkish culture. In 2004 – Turkish composer Şanar Yurdatapan, defending the cultural rights of the Armenians in Turkey said “The song ‘Sari Gelin,’ which is popular in Turkey, is Armenian.” (2)

According to www.bianet.org ,On Dec.26,2006, A number of leading Turkish intellectuals have launched a new civil disobedience action declaring themselves accomplices of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink whose last prosecution in a series launched by Turkish courts was based on opinions he expressed in an interview with the Reuters news agency. Among those who originally signed the “301 times No! No Limits on Freedom of Thought” campaign, hosted at the website www.301hayir.net, are Prof. Dr. Ali Nesin, Prof. Dr. Gülay Toksöz, Prof. Dr. Kadir Erdin, Prof. Dr. Turgut Tarhanlı, Prof. Dr. Baskın Oran, Doç. Dr. Mithat Sancar, journalist and writer Şeyhmus Diken, journalists Sinan Kara, Adnan Gerger, Bahattin Arı, authors Nihat Ziyalan and Ayşe Günaysu and musician and free speech activist Şanar Yurdatapan. Many other prominent academics, writers, journalists, and human rights activists have signed onto the campaign. Hrant Dink was assassinated in Istanbul on January 19, 2007 in front of the offices of Agos newspaper which he founded. (3)

In response to official statements that the Royal Library of Denmark has agreed “to balance” an Armenian Genocide exhibition by allowing the Turkish government to mount its own “alternative” exhibit, a group of Turkish citizens–including academics, writers, Artists, former MPs , and mayors–have signed an open letter to the Royal Library,asking them them not to Stand Against Turkey’s Democratization and Confrontation with its History! Şanar Yurdatapan was one of the signatories.(4)

According to “Today’s Zaman”, September 26, 2014, “A group of academics, journalists, artists and intellectuals have released a statement condemning in the harshest terms what they define as expressions that include ‘open hatred and hostility’ towards Armenians in Turkish schoolbooks, which were recently exposed by the newspapers Agos and Taraf. A letter accompanying the text of the condemnation, written by historian Taner Akçam, notes that including such expressions as lesson material to teach children is a disgrace. The statement said ‘The revolutions history and history textbooks should be collected immediately, with an apology issued to everyone and particularly to Armenian students.” The signees said textbooks in schools should seek to encourage feelings of peace, solidarity and living together over inciting hatred towards different religious and cultural groups. Şanar Yurdatapan was one of the many most respected Turkish Human Rights activists who signed it.(5)

According to http://setasarmenian.blogspot.com, under the title “24 April, the anniversary of the 1915s events, will be remembered this year in Turkey, too.”, Taraf Newspaper of 20th April 2010 wrote ” A group of intellectuals as Ali Bayramoğlu, Ferhat Kentel, Neşe Düzel, Perihan Mağden, Sırrı Süreyya Önder, for the first time in Turkey, will commemorate this year on 24 April as the anniversary of the events of 1915, under the leader-ship of “Say Stop!” group. The commemoration will start in front of the tram station in Taksim Square. The group will be dressing in black and carry photos of massacred Armenian intellectuals who were deported from that station.” the following abstracts are from the text of the commemoration activity, “This pain is OUR pain. This mourning is for ALL of US. In 1915, when our population was just 13 million, 1,5 to 2 million Armenians were living in these lands…. In April 24, 1915 it was started “to send them”. We lost them. They are no longer available. They have not even graves. But the “Great Pain” of the “Great Disaster” , with its utmost gravity EXISTS in our pain”. Şanar Yurdatapan, was one of the Turkish intellectuals who signed the text.(6)

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1- http://freemuse.org/archives/807

2- http://www.sari-gelin.com/5-facts-about-sari-gelin.html

3- http://www.bianet.org/english/politics/90480-retrospective-on-trials-against-hrant-dink

4- http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/12/18/turkish-citizens-sign-petition-against-denialist-exhibit-in-denmark/

5-http://www.todayszaman.com/national_group-of-intellectuals-condemn-anti-armenian-statements-in-textbooks_359935.html

6- http://setasarmenian.blogspot.com/2010/04/good-thoughtful-and-ugly-from-turks-on.html

LA city council bill urges Obama to recognize Armenian Genocide

March 28, 2015 By administrator

Los Angeles City Councilmembers introduced a measure urging US President Obama to recognize the Armenian Genocide and voicing LA’s support for H-Res 154, the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice resolution introduced in Congress last week, reported Asbarez.

“Los Angeles is home to one of the largest Armenian populations in the world, including a tremendous number of Genocide survivors and their descendants,” said Councilmember Paul Krekorian.

Armenian, Assyrian and formally recognizes the Pontic genocide

March 23, 2015 By administrator

National Assembly of Armenia,

National Assembly of Armenia, recognized as genocide massacre of Assyrians and Pontic experienced in the Ottoman Empire between 1915-1923 year decision taken today.

Republican Party of Armenia genocide bill, which was approved by parliament to present National Assembly of Armenia.

Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov said in a statement after the decision to Armenpress “Armenian parliament will not accept a new law every day. The adoption of this draft terms of Pontus and Assyrian brothers before our means conviction of all genocides in Armenia before parliament, “he said.

WASHINGTON: Over 40 House Members Introduce Bipartisan Resolution to Recognize Genocide

March 18, 2015 By administrator

Congressional hold press conference to introduce Genocide resolution

WASHINGTON–Representatives Robert Dold (R-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), David Valadao (R-CA), and Frank Pallone (D-NJ), along with 40 other Members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday introduced the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution. This bipartisan resolution calls upon the President to work toward equitable, constructive, and durable Armenian-Turkish relations based upon the Republic of Turkey’s full acknowledgement of the facts and ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide. The resolution will also establish a fair, just, and comprehensive international record of this crime against humanity.

This year, 2015, marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide – a systematic and deliberate annihilation campaign launched by the government of the Ottoman Empire against its Armenian population which left 1.5 million Armenians dead and millions more displaced. While the Armenian Genocide has been recognized by more than twenty nations including Canada, Italy, Sweden, France, Argentina and Russia, as well as the European Parliament, it has not been formally recognized by the U.S. Congress in decades and has not been recognized by President Barack Obama.

“Denial of the Armenian Genocide undermines foundations for durable peace and security, making future atrocities more likely,” said Rep. Robert Dold. “As the greatest force for human dignity in the world, the United States has an obligation to send an unequivocal message that we will never forget those that were lost, nor shall we tolerate any country that hides behind bully tactics to shroud violations of human rights.”

“One hundred years ago, one and a half million Armenian men, women and children were deliberately murdered in the first genocide of the 20th Century – these facts are indisputable,” said Rep. Adam Schiff. “And on this important anniversary and while there are still survivors among us, we in Congress and the President have an opportunity and an obligation to send a strong message that we will never forget those who were lost, and we will call this crime against humanity what it was, genocide. We feel a powerful sense of urgency and the profound call of moral duty to recognize the Armenian Genocide unequivocally and without delay.”

“One hundred years after the Genocide, the sense of loss and pain is still strong as many in our community have a direct connection to someone who was unable to escape,” said Rep. David Valadao. “While those impacted by the Genocide are always in our hearts, let us take an extra moment to remember the two million Armenians whose lives were lost.”

“As we recognize the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we remember the one and a half million Armenians who were slaughtered by Ottoman Turks,” said Rep. Frank Pallone. “Now is the time for the United States government to do the moral thing and recognize these atrocities for what they are—genocide. While we mark 100 years since this horrible act of violence we also recommit ourselves to the work of speaking out against oppression and senseless violence. Today, I join my colleagues in remembering the victims and paying homage to the Armenian people who, for thousands of years, have shown their perseverance and strength in the face of great challenges,” said Congressman Frank Pallone.

The full text of the resolution, introduced today during a press conference on Capitol Hill, reads:

Calling on the President to work toward equitable, constructive, stable, and durable Armenian-Turkish relations based upon the Republic of Turkey’s full acknowledgment of the facts and ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide, and a fair, just, and comprehensive international resolution of this crime against humanity.

Whereas the Obama Administration has, since early 2009, sought to improve Armenian-Turkish relations through diplomatic efforts to lift the Republic of Turkey’s blockade of Armenia and facilitate an end to Ankara’s refusal to establish diplomatic relations with Yerevan;

Whereas at the start of this process, President Barack Obama had, on April 6, 2009, voiced the United States Government’s expectation that Armenia-Turkey dialogue would `bear fruit very quickly’, but that since then, the Obama Administration has commended Armenia’s participation in this dialogue while holding Turkey largely responsible for the lack of results from this process, with the Secretary of State noting, on June 4, 2012, that, on this matter, `the ball remains in Turkey’s court.’;

Whereas on April 24, 2013, President Barack Obama stated, `A full, frank, and just acknowledgment of the facts is in all of our interests. Nations grow stronger by acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the past, thereby building a foundation for a more just and tolerant future.’;

Whereas the Republic of Turkey, rather than acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the past, has escalated its international campaign of Armenian Genocide denial, maintained its blockade of Armenia, and increased its pressure on the small but growing Turkish civil society movement acknowledging the Armenian Genocide and seeking justice for this systematic campaign of destruction of millions of Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Pontians, Syriacs, and other Christians upon their biblical-era homelands;

Whereas the United States is on record as having officially recognized the Armenian Genocide, in the United States Government’s May 28, 1951, written statement to the International Court of Justice regarding the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, through President Ronald Reagan’s April 22, 1981, Proclamation No. 4838, and by Congressional legislation, including House Joint Resolution 148 adopted on April 8, 1975, and House Joint Resolution 247 adopted on September 10, 1984;

Whereas even prior to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the United States has a record of having sought to justly and constructively address the consequences of the Ottoman Empire’s intentional destruction of the Armenian people, including through Senate Concurrent Resolution 12 adopted on February 9, 1916, Senate Resolution 359 adopted on May 11, 1920, and President Woodrow Wilson’s Decision of the President of the United States of America Respecting the Frontier between Turkey and Armenia, Access for Armenia to the Sea, and the Demilitarization of Turkish Territory Adjacent to the Armenian Frontier, dated November 22, 1920;

Whereas President Barack Obama entered office having stated his `firmly held conviction that the Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence’, affirmed his record of `calling for Turkey’s acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide’, and pledged that `as President I will recognize the Armenian Genocide’; and

Whereas the United States national interests in the establishment of equitable, constructive, stable, and durable relations between Armenians and Turks cannot be meaningfully advanced by circumventing or otherwise seeking to avoid materially addressing the central political, legal, security, and moral issue between these two nations, Turkey’s denial of truth and justice for the Armenian Genocide: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives calls on the President to work toward equitable, constructive, stable, and durable Armenian-Turkish relations based upon the Republic of Turkey’s full acknowledgment of the facts and ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide, and a fair, just, and comprehensive international resolution of this crime against humanity.

The European Parliament urges EU Member States to recognize the Armenian Genocide

March 13, 2015 By administrator

The European Parliament (EP) called on Thursday, March 12 member states of the European Union (EU) to recognize the Armenian genocide as we approach the 100th anniversary of the crime.

The European Parliament adopted the 2013 annual report on human rights and democracy in the world and the EU policy in this area. Article 77 of the adopted report says “the approach of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, invites all Member States of the Union to recognize the legal terms and encourages them and the European institutions, to continue to promote recognition; “

Section 129 of the report also mentions the fate of the Apostolic Armenians and other Christian minorities in the Middle East. The article “calls on the EU and its Member States to ensure that religious minorities are respected in the world and especially in the Middle East where Christians, such as Catholics, Armenian Apostolic, Coptic and Yezidis and Muslim minorities are persecuted by EIIL and other terrorist groups; “

The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) welcomed the report. “We expected this report for some years now, when the Special Representative of the European Union for Human Rights was established to promote the values of the European Union in the negotiations, Whether on foreign policy, trade, energy or other cooperation with third countries, “said the EAFJD in a statement.

“We welcome and support this resolution unequivocally, particularly in this centenary year of the Armenian Genocide, in particular paragraph 77 … We expect the EU to put pressure on Turkey to recognize that thus it officially the Armenian genocide it committed, “adds EAFJD.

The EAFJD also stressed the importance of the resolution, which protects all vulnerable groups, minorities and people “in these times of racism, xenophobia, and crisis in the Middle East, in the European neighborhood and the world whole. “

The adoption of the report was also welcomed by European Friends of Armenia (EuFoA). In a statement issued immediately after the adoption, the Director EuFoA Eduardo Lorenzo Ochoa, said: “After a long pause, the European Parliament reaffirmed its position on the Armenian genocide, and again reiterates that genocide and their negations are a human rights issue. During this special year, we are grateful for this strong signal of European solidarity with the Armenian people. “

Friday, March 13, 2015,
Stéphane © armenews.com

İpek Çalışlar Turkish Intellectuals Who Have Recognized The Armenian Genocide

March 10, 2015 By administrator

By: Hambersom Aghbashian

İpek Çalışlar, Turkish Intellectuals Who Have Recognized The Armenian Genocide

İpek Çalışlar (born in 1947 in Istanbul), is a Turkish prominent journalist and writer. After finishing her high school (Üsküdar American High School), she received her education at Ankara University, Faculty of Political Sciences. She lived in Hamburg-Germany, 1990-1992, where she researched about ‘Homosexuality’ and ‘women and Islam ‘ issues. In 2003 she visited Iran with her husband where they met Iranian intellectuals and wrote their book “Iran: A Man Dictatorship” in 2004. İpek Çalışlar has worked at the Turkish Cumhuriyet daily for 12 years and served at the Association for Education and Supporting Women Candidates (KA-DER), which defends equal representation of women and men in all fields of life, also at PEN Turkey. Her first literary book “Latife Hanım” has been translated into 11 languages, including Bulgarian, Arabic, German and Albanian. She wrote also “Halide Edip: Biography of Sigma Women (2008) .” (1)(2).

Ipek Çalışlar was tried for her bestselling biography of Atatürk’s first wife, Latife Hanim, under Article 5816 of the Penal Code for a passage that described the founder of the Turkish Republic escaping a life threatening situation in the guise of a woman and she was acquitted.(3)

A group of Turkish intellectuals signed a petition against a Denialist Exhibit in Denmark, an exhibition which was planned by the Turkish embassy to support their point of view concerning the Armenian Genocide . ” Don’t Stand Against Turkey’s Democratization and Confrontation with its History! ” was the message to the Royal Library of Denmark who has given the Turkish government the opportunity to present an “alternative exhibit” in response to the Armenian Genocide exhibition. Ipek Çalışlar was one of the Turkish intellectuals who signed the petition.(4)

In December 2008, two hundred prominent Turkish intellectuals released an apology for the “great catastrophe of 1915”. This was a clear reference to the Armenian Genocide, a term still too sensitive to use so openly. The signatories also announced a website related to this apology, and called on others to visit the site and sign the apology as well. The complete, brief text of the apology says ” My conscience does not accept the insensitivity showed to and the denial of the Great Catastrophe that the Ottoman Armenians were subjected to in 1915. I reject this injustice and for my share, I empathize with the feelings and pain of my Armenian brothers and sisters. I apologize to them.” İpek Çalışlar was one of the intellectual who signed the petition which in few days was signed by over 13,000 signatories.(5)

According to http://setasarmenian.blogspot.com, under the title “24 April, the anniversary of the 1915s events, will be remembered this year in Turkey, too.”, Taraf Newspaper of 20th April 2010 wrote ” A group of intellectuals, among them Ali Bayramoğlu, Ferhat Kentel, Neşe Düzel, Perihan Mağden and Sırrı Süreyya Önder, for the first time in Turkey, will commemorate this year on 24 April as the anniversary of the events of 1915, under the leader-ship of “Say Stop!” group. The commemoration will start in front of the tram station in Taksim Square. The group will be dressing in black and carry photos of massacred Armenian intellectuals who were deported from that station.” the following abstracts are from the text of the commemoration activity, “This pain is OUR pain. This mourning is for ALL of US. In 1915, when our population was just 13 million, 1,5 to 2 million Armenians were living in these lands…. In April 24, 1915 it was started “to send them”. We lost them. They are no longer available. They have not even graves. But the “Great Pain” of the “Great Disaster” , with its utmost gravity EXISTS in our pain”. The text was signed also by İpek Çalışlar.(6)

—————————————————————————————————————————————–1- http://www.todayszaman.com/national_ipek-calislars-biography-of-ataturks-wife-published-in-london_331881.html

2- http://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/İpek_Çalışla

3- http://www.englishpen.org/campaigns/turkey-insult-trials-continue-ipek-calislar-acquitted/

4- http://www.genocide-museum.am/eng/19.12.12.php

5- http://www.armeniapedia.org/wiki/200_prominent_Turks_apologize_for_great_catastrophe_of_1915

6- http://setasarmenian.blogspot.com/2010/04/good-thoughtful-and-ugly-from-turks-on.html

Largest Group in European Parliament Condemns Armenian Genocide, Calls for Restitution by Turkey

March 4, 2015 By administrator

A scene from Tuesday’s session of the European People’s Party convention, with the Armenian delegation in the center

BRUSSELS—The Political Assembly of the European Political Party (EPP), the largest political group in the European Parliament, on Tuesday adopted a resolution condemning the Armenian Genocide, and calling on Turkey to recognize it.The resolution entitled ‘The Armenian Genocide, Turkish Responsibility, and European Values’ reaffirms EPP’s “recognition and condemnation of the Genocide and Great National Dispossession of the Armenian people on the eve of its 100th Anniversary on 24 April 2015”. The resolution emphasizes the incontrovertible evidence documented in the archives of several western states, including Germany, United Kingdom, USA, France, that the “Armenian Genocide… was perpetuated by the Young Turk Government in the final years of the Ottoman Empire.“ The resolution also criticizes the destruction of thousands of Armenian cultural monuments in Turkey.

The largest political group of the European Parliament calls on Turkey inter alia “to face history and finally recognize the ever-present reality of the Armenian Genocide”, “make restitution appropriate for a European country, including but not limited to ensuring a right of return of the Armenian people to, and a secure reconnection with, their national hearth…”

The President of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) Kaspar Karampetian said “we welcome the resolution adopted and we thank the European People’s Party and in particular President Joseph Daul for his support. EPP sister Armenian parties – Republican Party of Armenia, Rule of Law and Heritage – showed that the Armenian political parties are united in pursuing Armenian Genocide recognition in this centennial year.” “The other political groups of the European Parliament, as well as the Parliament as an institution, should show similar determination and courage, in condemning the Genocide and restoring historical justice,” concluded Karampetian.

Below is the text of the resolution.

Resolution adopted by the EPP Political Assembly ( 3rd March 2015) on “The Armenian Genocide and European Values”

The European People’s Party reaffirms its recognition and condemnation of the Genocide and Great National Dispossession of the Armenian people on the eve of its 100th Anniversary on 24 April 2015.

1. We condemn the genocidal acts against the Armenian people, planned and continuously perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire and various regimes of Turkey in 1894-1923, dispossession of the homeland, the massacres and ethnic cleansing aimed at the extermination of the Armenian population, the destruction of the Armenian heritage, as well as the denial of the Genocide, all attempts to avoid responsibility, to consign to oblivion the committed crimes and their consequences or to justify them, as a continuation of this crime and encouragement to commit new genocides.

2. We commemorate one-and-a-half million innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide in 1915 and bow in gratitude to those martyred and surviving heroes who struggled for their lives and human dignity. Moreover, we recognize, that the Genocide resulted in the death and dispossession not only of Armenian people but also extended to the Pontic Greeks and Assyrians peoples, and we commemorate them as well.

3. We join and strongly support the commitment of Armenia and the Armenian people to continue the international struggle for the prevention of genocides, the restoration of the rights of people subjected to genocide and the establishment of historical justice.

4. We invite Turkey, in the finest example of integrity and leadership proffered by the Federal Republic of post-war Germany, to face history and finally recognize the ever-present reality of the Armenian Genocide and its attendant dispossession, to seek redemption and make restitution appropriate for a European country, including but not limited to ensuring a right of return of the Armenian people to, and a secure reconnection with, their national hearth―all flowing from the fundamental imperative of achieving Reconciliation through the Truth.

5. We call upon the Government of Turkey to respect and realize fully the legal obligations which it has undertaken including those provisions which relate to the protection of cultural heritage and, in particular, to conduct in good faith an integrated inventory of Armenian and other cultural heritage destroyed or ruined during the past century, based thereon to develop a strategy of priority restoration of ancient and medieval capital cities, churches, schools, fortresses, cemeteries, and other treasures located in historic Western Armenia, and to render the aforementioned fully operational cultural and religious institutions.

6. We appeal to EU and CoE member states, international organizations, all people of good will, regardless of their ethnic origin and religious affiliation, to unite their efforts aimed at restoring historical justice and paying tribute to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

7. Taking the foregoing into account, the European People’s Party invites Turkey to take the following measures pursuant to its international commitments and the European identity to which it aspires:
to recognize and condemn the Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire, and to face its own history and memory through commemorating the victims of that heinous crime against humanity;

to provide a vision and an implementing plan of action worthy of a truly European Turkey, including a comprehensive resolution of issues relating to the freedom of expression and reference to the Genocide in state, society and educational institutions, as well as the repair of religious and other cultural sites a nd their return to the Armenian and other relevant communities;

to launch the long-awaited celebration of the Armenian national legacy based on a total Turkish-Armenian normalization anchored in the assumption of history, the pacific resolution of all outstanding matters, and a complete Europeanization of their relationship.

8. It also invites the European Union, its Commission, Council and Parliament, and the international community as a whole, in assessment of the honoring of commitments and obligations undertaken by Turkey, to accord continued attention to the recognition, restoration, and restitution of our shared heritage as herewith tendered, and hereafter officially to commemorate April 24 as a day to remember and condemn the Armenian Genocide and man’s inhumanity to man.

9. We express the hope that recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey will serve as a starting point for the historical reconciliation of the Armenian and Turkish peoples.

Osman kavala: Turkish Intellectuals Who Have Recognized The Armenian Genocide

February 26, 2015 By administrator

By Hambersom Aghbashian,

Osman kavala, recognize Armenian Genocide

In its article “Armenian culture in Turkey, From the ashes” , “The Economist” wrote on Aug 24, 2013, “Around 2 million Armenians are believed to have lived in Turkey before the genocide. Now there are about 70,000. Survivors are scattered across the Middle East, Europe, America and Australia. Many more converted to Islam to carry on, but their numbers remain unknown. Osman Koker, a Turkish historian, reckons that more than half of Diyarbakir’s population used to be non-Muslim, mainly Armenian Orthodox, but also Catholic, Syrian Orthodox and Jewish. “Now”, says Mr Koker, “there is practically none.”(2)

In a text released with a you tube by EGAM – European Grassroots Antiracist Movement, about Osman Kavala’s Impression of the “Remember 24 April1915” , 2014 initiative, EGAM quoted Kavala, Founder of Anadolu Kültür Foundation-Turkey saying “We are getting closer to the 100th year, and this is affecting the feelings, making them heavier, of everyone involved. Having the European Delegation is important, and shows a bond of solidarity with them and the local organizations in Turkey.” It added that European leaders, who are members of DurDe!, EGAM, and AGBU Europe, helped to facilitate large public commemorations of the Armenian Genocide, and helped in bringing together many people affected by it. Everyone involved was there to show their support and to help work towards stopping the continual denial of the genocide by the Turkish government.(3)

Ozgun Caglar, wrote an article on October 2014 in Agos, entitled “Unresolved Trauma Reason for Violence, Suffering”. He mentioned that Diyarbakir’s Ismail Besikci Foundation hosted a symposium on Oct. 25 titled “1915 Diyarbekir and the Kurds”. Sociologist Osman Kavala, one of the participants said that “Turkish civil society has to campaign for the recognition of the Genocide because there is no big Armenian community in Turkey any more. There is no genocide anymore. But this issue is not local anymore. It’s an international issue because the Genocide created the Armenian Diaspora and this Diaspora is working for the recognition of the Genocide by the parliaments in the countries where Armenians live. ” He added “We are trying to explain to people that this is an internal issue to be solved in Turkey. We are trying to explain that we are not working on this issue to compensate the injustice committed against the Armenian people but to make Turkey a more civilized and democratic state.”(4)

“Turks, Armenians, foreign delegation commemorate 1915 events” was “Todays Zaman”s April 24, 2013 article where it mentioned that “Turkish Armenians and Turkish civil society groups joined with a foreign delegation comprising 20 anti-racist and Armenian representatives from 15 countries to commemorate the 98th anniversary of the tragic events of 1915 in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet Square on Wednesday.” It added that many of the protesters think that public opinion should be changed in such a way that when Turkey recognizes the 1915 events, there will not be strong opposition to the steps that will be taken by the government to solve the issue. Osman Kavala, who attended the commemoration, told Today’s Zaman that public opinion could be changed through giving objective information to schools and via media. “Opinion may change in a short time period,” he added.(5)

In his article entitled ” Turks Could Gain More Than Armenians By Acknowledging the Genocide” , Harut Sassounian Publisher, The California Courier wrote in

Armenian Pundits, “It is noteworthy that prominent and sensible businessman Osman Kavala wrote in his “armworkshop” posting: “It is not possible to dismiss the issue of compensation so readily. One can find it controversial, unrealistic [and] harmful to strategic priorities, etc., but it is clear that unlike ‘land return,’ it [compensation] will remain an issue to be discussed in the course of the reconciliation process.”(6)

On May 2, 2011, “Hye Media” wrote: “A current exhibition of Turkish photographer Erhan Arik in Istanbul telling about genocide survivors has moved not only local Armenians, but also many Turks visiting it. The photographer himself says with his exhibition called “Horovel” he has opened for his countrymen a new page of history – a painful one. But Erhan says “keeping silence about is a bigger and more dangerous crime”. The Exhibition was organized in the DEPO hall of the Anadolu Kultur cultural center, which is an establishment that has advocated Turkish-Armenian relations and has implemented a number of joint projects to this effect.The hall’s director Osman Kavala, despite risks, continues to provide space to Armenian artists and for various events on Armenian subjects. “We are interested in having such exhibitions, as we need to create space for dialogue, for discussion on different issues, such as human rights, social, political issues. Such an exhibition could not have been organized in Turkey only a few years ago, but now it is already normal. Unless there are certain steps by nationalists, everything goes quite well,” Kavala told ArmeniaNow.”(7)

Osman Kavala ( born in Paris in 1957), is a prominent Turkish businessman. After graduating from Robert College in Istanbul he continued his higher education and graduated from Manchester University, Department of Economics. After his father’s death in 1980 , he began working as a manager for many business groups. Osman Kavala is the Chair of the Board of Anadolu Kulture which is a non-profit company based in Istanbul, and is a member of various business and social organizations Board of Directors. He is also the sponsor of many cultural organizations.(1)

1- http://www.ensonhaber.com/is-adami-osman-kavala-biber-gazi-yedi-2011-06-27.html

2- http://www.economist.com/news/books-and-arts/21583981-turkish-armenians-are-beginning-celebrateand-commemoratetheir-past-ashes

3- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wsHqcxY8Wc

4- http://www.keghart.com/Caglar-Suffering

5- http://www.todayszaman.com/diplomacy_turks-armenians-foreign-delegation-commemorate-1915-events_313616.html

6- https://armenianpundits.wordpress.com/2007/12/20/turks-could-gain-more-than-armenians

7- http://hyemedia.com/2011/05/turkish-photographer%E2%80%99s-exhibition-in-istanbul-presents-accounts-of-armenian-genocide-survivors/

Turkish Intellectuals Who Have Recognized The Armenian Genocide Delik Kurban

February 5, 2015 By administrator

By: Hambersom Aghbashian

Dr. Delik Kurban received her bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations from Bogazici University, Istanbul. She received her master’s in international affairs in human rights from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and her Jurist Doctor degree from Columbia Law School. Between 1999 and 2001, she worked as an associate political affairs officer at the Security Council Affairs Division of the UN Dept. of Political Affairs in NY. Currently, she is the program officer for the (TESEV)*, and an adjunct professor of law at the Political Science Department of Bogazici University. She is an editor for Agos, a Turkish-Armenian bilingual weekly and a founding member of the Diyarbakir Institute for Political and Social Research. She has published in the areas of minority and human rights in Turkey, international displacement in Turkey, and on European minority and human rights law.(1)

According to “aghet1915.wordpress.com”, Dilek Kurban is one of the Turkish intellectuals who have recognized the Armenian genocide.(2)

Dilek Kurban was criticized by ” www.tallarmeniantale.com” an Anti-Genocide recognition source, which categorized her as one of the most prominent turncoats, because of her recognition of the Armenian Genocide.(3)

Talia Jebejian wrote on April 25, 2001, “Approximately 140 people, primarily of Armenian and Turkish descent, gathered to participate in A Psycho-spiritual and Educational Dialogue Between People of Armenian and Turkish Descent, sponsored by the Armenian American Society for Studies on Stress and Genocide (AASSSG) and co-sponsored by the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) NY Chapter, The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) and Fordham University. This open dialogue was held in commemoration of the 86th Anniversary of the Ottoman Turkish Genocide of the Armenians and was met with overwhelming success. Rational and intellectual dialogue was presented and exchanged between the panelists and audience members, resulting in a positive step toward reconciliation between Turkish citizens and Armenians.” She added a list of The facilitators of the program and The panelists participating in it. Dilek Kurban was mentioned as one of the participants.(4)

“hakikatadalethafiza.org.”, wrote under “Background, Situation Analysis”: Turkey and its historic and legal predecessors have a longstanding track record of human rights violations…, Just in the last 100 years, widespread violations were committed in several different periods… The most notable ones were the Armenian genocide of 1915. An estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed or deported from the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and1917. The Republic of Turkey, even though it is a legal successor of the Ottoman Empire, never acknowledged the campaign of persecution of Armenians as genocide. In Dilek Kurban’s book “Reparations and Displacement in Turkey, Lessons Learned from the Compensation Law, Int. Center for Transitional Justice and LSE – Brookings, July 2012 “, it is stated that “Although it can be noted that countries that have the responsibility for massive abuses effectively take on a huge financial and administrative burden by a formal recognition, this cannot be used as an argument to avoid such responsibility.”(5)

Under the title “JUDICIARY AND STATE BEHIND ALIENATION OF NON-MUSLIMS”, Today’s Zaman wrote on March 16 2009 , “Turkey’s non-Muslim communities have been alienated, and it was done by the state and judiciary, said the writers of a new report revealing the facts behind the real estate ownership problems of non-Muslim foundations dating from the Ottoman period.” Zaman quoted Kezban Hatemi, the co-author of the report, titled “The Story of an Alien(ation): Real Estate Ownership Problems of Non-Muslim Foundations and Communities in Turkey,” saying “In the 1930s, it became evident that pushing or directly forcing the few non-Muslims left in Turkey to abandon the country was an explicit state policy,” the report was released as part of the (TESEV)*program. Dilek Kurban, co-author of the report, said that when Turkey became a candidate for European Union membership, it became evident that it was not possible to sustain this state policy toward non-Muslim communities. Kurban started filing lawsuits with the European Court of Human Rights after exhausting avenues within the Turkish legal system.”It was no longer easy for the bureaucracy to take over the assets of non-Muslim foundations, and the government was expected to take legal action to return or pay indemnity for seized assets,” Kurban said.(6)

——————————————————————————————————————— *TESEV : Democratization Program of the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation

1-http://www.archons.org/conference/bio-kurban.asp

2-http://aghet1915.wordpress.com/recognition/

3-http://www.tallarmeniantale.com/TURKISH-SCHOLARS.htm

4- www.atour.com/~aahgn/news/20010425aa.html

5-http://hakikatadalethafiza.org/sayfa.aspx?PageId=196&LngId=5

6-http://setasarmenian.blogspot.com/2009/03/turkeys-treatment-of-its-minorities.html

Spain’s Burjassot city recognizes Armenian Genocide

January 31, 2015 By administrator

The municipal council of Spain’s Burjassot city has approved a motion to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
The measure, submitted to the city authorities by the political party Compromis, calls for an official acknowledgement of the 1915-1921 killings of the 1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, reports the Armenian Foreign Ministry’s press service.
The draft is due to be submitted to the Mislata-based Armenian association Ararat, the Spanish foreign minister, the political groups represented in the Congress of Deputies (lower chamber of Spain’s parliament), the Armenian Embassy to Spain and the NGOs based in Burjassot.

#armeniangenocide