Turkish Scholar Discusses Armenian Genocide Reparation
It is hard to expect confrontation from Turkey, from a society which created its whole world through taking the neighbor’s wife, girl, work and fields. It is very difficult to overcome the moral and psychological situation which was created in 1915, famous Turkish scholar Sait Çetinoğlu said this during an interview with “Armenpress”.
He stated that the Armenian Genocide was committed by the party-army-people cooperation, that’s why we deal with the issue of collective responsibility. “Besides the fact that Turkish people gained material interest from the Genocide, they declared the perpetrators of that crime as their heads which is another issue of responsibility. From this perspective, the recognition of the Genocide will mean destruction of paradigm of the country’s foundation”, he said.
He referred to the fact that nowadays Turkey commits Genocide beyond its borders. “The Turkish assistance to the “Islamic State” can be considered as an action to spread genocide beyond its borders since it results in the killings of the Genocide survivors. We can say the same also in case of the Karabakh attack.
Kesab, Malula, Khabur, Ninova, Sinjar…what happened in these places and the separation of Syria are the other parts of the continuing genocide. Turkey gives opportunity to transform genocide from its borders. Closing eyes and supporting the IS actions put in danger the future of Christians, Yazidis, non-Muslim people of the Middle East. The actions against them are in accordance with the provisions of the UN Convention on Genocide”, Çetinoğlu stated.
Speaking about the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey, Çetinoğlu said he did not see such perspective in the nearest future. “However, if we take into account the point where the people reached, it is also impossible to continue the denial. Sooner or later the Genocide will be recognized and the issue of reparation will be discussed”, Çetinoğlu stated this highlighting the role of the international community on this issue.
He identified several steps in order to reach the reparation.
“First of all, forgiveness, acceptance of the crime of genocide, shame release, acceptance of the collective responsibility of the genocide are among the most important steps. From this perspective, it is vital that each family understands what happened in 1915. Being as a part of the collective responsibility everyone should ask himself what was my grandfather doing in 1915?.
-Being as a part of the collective responsibility everyone is obliged to apologize.
-There is a need to apologize on behalf of the state and establish a monument entitled “Never again” for the memory of the victims. The names of the people associated with Genocide should be removed from schools, avenues, streets and other public places. Buildings should be returned to their real heirs…
-Political parties can express their desire to clarify in what conditions the officials who took others’ property as a result of genocide should return to their real heirs. Especially parties with freedom and socialist ideologies should express such a desire.
-Coming to the individuals, it is important that intellectuals take the lead in this matter.
-Islamized women and children should become known to the public.
-Counties that agreed on the exchange of people without considering people’s desire, must apologize.
-Archives and documents should be opened for researchers.
-Citizenship and the right to live must be given to representatives of the Genocide victims and the third generations of the exiled people, who will have such a wish.
Only after this the works over reparation issue are possible to start”, Çetinoğlu concluded.
