430) Armenian Academics in US: Conference in Turkey was Encouraging

A conference titled “Ottoman Armenians during the Decline of the Empire: Issues of Scientific Responsibility and Democracy� held at Istanbul Bilgi University recently had many repercussions both in Turkey and abroad. Although some circles in Turkey interpreted the conference with reference to “high treason� both before and after its conduction, thanks to the government’s stance that “every kind of issue should be discussed freely� the result was a plus in Turkey’s democratic development. . .

What are the impressions of the subject at issue then? We interviewed two Armenian academicians living in the United States to find an answer. Result: There is still hope. American Armenian academicians described the initiative by Turkish intellectuals as a bold step aiming to eliminate taboos between Armenian and Turkish societies.

Professor Dennis R. Papazian from Armenian Research center at University of Michigan-Dearborn says determinacy by Turkish academicians to discuss problematic events during Ittihat ve Terrakki (Union and Progress) Party era promises well for the future. Papazian stresses the events in 1915 was prompted not by the Ottomans but some ideological streams in Europe that inspired the Young Turks. Terming the conference and Turkish government’s support for it as an indicator of consolidation of democracy and academic freedom in Turkey, Professor Papazian notes even though the issue discussed was a significant one, its discussion by academicians was a more important factor.

Unfortunately, Turkish and Armenian cultures that were once very close do not understand each other nowadays, Papazian complains. He attributes this to the fact that Armenians perceive the past tragedy with great sorrow and to the unawareness of what really happened by Turks. Papazian arguing that what was experienced has been excluded from the collective memory of Turks expresses his belief that such conferences will bridge the gap between the two cultures. Reminding that the Ottoman Empire collapsed a century ago, Papazian asserts that what happened at that time and polices of the Young Turks should be openly discussed with constructive suggestions today. According to him, the problem between the two societies might be settled through an in-depth scientific research that Turks will conduct based on their free will. Papazian also draws the attention to an ideological risk: If both societies remain stuck in an old fashioned nationalism of the 19th century, they will both miss the fruits of our present day and age!

American University of Armenia (AUA) President Dr. Haroutune Armenian also describes the conference “as a first encouraging step of a highly difficult journey�. We shall provide our cultures to understand each other based on ideas we develop through discussing our taboos, Armenian says. He reminds Armenian satirist Agop Baronian’s verse of “Look behind you so that you can see where you can go� and calls on Turks to embrace the past bravely. Armenian concludes his remarks by reading verses of a poem he wrote after the death of his daughter, who died from leukemia 12 years ago. “Life is sometimes a pathway resulting in dead ends… May be it is this pathway that would take us to flowery paths and happiness… We all, either Turk or Armenian should try to reach flowery paths,� he comments.

By Ali Cimen
Published: Sunday, October 16, 2005
zaman.com
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