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Turkey Offers Condolences to Armenians Over Killings Turkey Offers Condolences to Armenians Over Killings
(4 months later)
ISTANBUL — For the first time, the Turkish government offered condolences on Wednesday to the descendants of Armenians who were killed by the Ottoman Army in 1915. But it stood by its official position that the events were not a genocide, as they have been called by several Western governments and international organizations. ISTANBUL — For the first time, the Turkish government offered condolences on Wednesday to the descendants of Armenians who were killed by the Ottoman Army in 1915. But it stood by its official position that the events were not a genocide, as they have been called by several Western governments and international organizations.
The office of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan posted a lengthy statement on the matter on its website, and it was translated into nine languages, including Armenian. The statement encouraged people to talk about and remember their losses “with maturity.”The office of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan posted a lengthy statement on the matter on its website, and it was translated into nine languages, including Armenian. The statement encouraged people to talk about and remember their losses “with maturity.”
“And it is with this hope and belief that we wish that the Armenians who lost their lives in the context of the early 20th century rest in peace, and we convey our condolences to their grandchildren,” the statement said.“And it is with this hope and belief that we wish that the Armenians who lost their lives in the context of the early 20th century rest in peace, and we convey our condolences to their grandchildren,” the statement said.
It was a major departure for Turkey, where until recently even a simple reference to the events of 1915 was regarded as an insult to Turkishness, and people who expressed any disagreement with the official line could be jailed for up to two years. Charges were brought against intellectuals and writers, including Orhan Pamuk, a Nobel laureate, and Elif Safak, a novelist and political scientist; however, both of those cases eventually were dropped. The Turkish government still insists that the deaths of at least 1.5 million Armenians in eastern Turkey in 1915 were caused by the hardships and violence of World War I, and not by government-directed mass killings or death marches, as many historians say.It was a major departure for Turkey, where until recently even a simple reference to the events of 1915 was regarded as an insult to Turkishness, and people who expressed any disagreement with the official line could be jailed for up to two years. Charges were brought against intellectuals and writers, including Orhan Pamuk, a Nobel laureate, and Elif Safak, a novelist and political scientist; however, both of those cases eventually were dropped. The Turkish government still insists that the deaths of at least 1.5 million Armenians in eastern Turkey in 1915 were caused by the hardships and violence of World War I, and not by government-directed mass killings or death marches, as many historians say.
Even so, Mr. Erdogan’s government adopted an unprecedented conciliatory tone in its statement, and suggested that a group of renowned international historians be convened to examine international archives and resolve the issue.Even so, Mr. Erdogan’s government adopted an unprecedented conciliatory tone in its statement, and suggested that a group of renowned international historians be convened to examine international archives and resolve the issue.
“Having experienced events which had inhumane consequences — such as relocation — during the First World War,” the statement said, “should not prevent Turks and Armenians from establishing compassion and mutually humane attitudes.”“Having experienced events which had inhumane consequences — such as relocation — during the First World War,” the statement said, “should not prevent Turks and Armenians from establishing compassion and mutually humane attitudes.”
Many Armenians in Turkey said they were surprised by the new approach. “This statement is the most positive and constructive statement that has ever come from a senior Turkish office, although it still identified people killed in a genocide as casualties of war,” said Rober Koptas, editor of Agos, an Armenian and Turkish weekly newspaper published in Turkey. “We’ve been so used to hearing terribly negative statements that now, recognition of pain, condolences offered and remembrance of the dead strike me as an important recognition.”Many Armenians in Turkey said they were surprised by the new approach. “This statement is the most positive and constructive statement that has ever come from a senior Turkish office, although it still identified people killed in a genocide as casualties of war,” said Rober Koptas, editor of Agos, an Armenian and Turkish weekly newspaper published in Turkey. “We’ve been so used to hearing terribly negative statements that now, recognition of pain, condolences offered and remembrance of the dead strike me as an important recognition.”
To make a real impact, though, Mr. Koptas said, the government would have to take more tangible steps, like removing language in school textbooks that paints Armenians as traitors.To make a real impact, though, Mr. Koptas said, the government would have to take more tangible steps, like removing language in school textbooks that paints Armenians as traitors.
“We cannot talk about real change unless history books are corrected and the state ends financing propaganda material on this issue,” Mr. Koptas said.“We cannot talk about real change unless history books are corrected and the state ends financing propaganda material on this issue,” Mr. Koptas said.
Turkey has had repeated diplomatic skirmishes in countries where the Armenian diaspora is influential and where lawmakers have moved to declare officially that the events of 1915 were a genocide. In Washington, a Senate committee passed such a resolution this month, drawing sharp criticism from the Turkish Foreign Ministry.Turkey has had repeated diplomatic skirmishes in countries where the Armenian diaspora is influential and where lawmakers have moved to declare officially that the events of 1915 were a genocide. In Washington, a Senate committee passed such a resolution this month, drawing sharp criticism from the Turkish Foreign Ministry.