WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE ?GENOCIDE? RESOLUTIONS

The adoption of the “Armenian genocide” resolution by the Congress and its joining the long list of parliaments that have taken similar decisions will surely not prove the truth of the allegations. And responsibility for the tragedy that befell the Armenians in 1915 surely does not rest with the Turkish people but with the CUP (Committee for Union and Progress) dictators [the triumvirate of Talaat, Enver, and Djemal] who took the decision to force the deportation of the Armenians with the approval of their German allies. It is certain, however, that the growing number of parliamentary resolutions, films and documentaries about the “Armenian genocide” have damaged Turkey’s image in the world and are fanning feelings of animosity towards Turks. What to do to avert the spread of the genocide resolutions is therefore the topic of a broadening debate in Turkey.
The late President Turgut Özal was the first to raise the question: “What if we recognize the genocide?” back in 1991. Such recognition, however, is out of question. Even those great majority of those Turks who have a sufficient amount of knowledge about what happened to the Ottoman Armenians -- believe that the Turkish government should, in one way or another, express its sorrow over the tragedy, suggesting the erection of a monument in the memory of Turks and Armenians who lost their lives during the First World War -- do not agree with the allegation that the Ottoman government’s decision for forced deportation was taken with the intention of genocide.
The initiative put forward by the ruling Justice and Development Party government in April 2005 was to propose, to the government of Armenia, the forming of a Joint Historians Commission to investigate the historical truth about what happened in Ottoman Turkey in 1915.  The government of Armenia responded negatively, saying that there was no need for any investigation since the historical truth had already been established, and that it was impossible for two countries which do not even have diplomatic relations to form a joint commission. Despite that, the Armenian government has been repeatedly calling for the normalization of relations between the two countries without any preconditions.
Two retired diplomats, Şükrü Elekdağ, a Parliament member from the main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party, and Gündüz Aktan have suggested that Turkey should seek international adjudication or arbitration to settle the issue once and for all (see Gündüz Aktan, Radikal, 18.11.06 and 13.02.07). Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül has also indicated that the government was considering the idea. It has been warned, however, that this would mean Turkish government’s consent to the application of the UN Genocide Convention of 1948 to events prior to its conclusion, risking the possibility of a negative decision with undesirable consequences for Turkey (See: İlter Türkmen, former minister of foreign affairs, Hürriyet, 20.11.06). Others argue against the above suggestion saying that republican Turkey cannot and should not assume responsibility for the decisions of the Ottoman state. It seems, therefore, unlikely that the Turkish government would seek international adjudication or arbitration on the issue.
The initiative that has been supported by at least part of public opinion and civil society since the 1990s, which I also subscribe to, is the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ankara and Yerevan and the opening of the borders between the two countries which have been closed since 1993. This is expected to put an end to the domination of the relationship between Turkey and Armenia by the Armenian diaspora, and open the way for the Turkish - Armenian reconciliation.
The person who has called for such an initiative most forcefully is Kaan Soyak, co-chairman of the nongovernmental Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council. Soyak argues that “if Turkey approaches Armenia with the intention of normalizing relations, Armenian authorities are ready to agree to Ankara’s suggestion for the forming of a joint historians commission, to recognize the current border between Turkey and Armenia, and to withdraw from Nagorno-Karabakh following the guaranteeing of the security of Armenians of the region in the context of the Minsk process with the participation of Turkey…” Soyak, moreover, claims that “Yerevan is prepared to even stop supporting genocide resolutions in various parliaments if Turkey takes such an initiative.” (See: Yasemin Çongar, Milliyet, 08.01.07)
It may be assumed that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government which is pursuing a policy of “zero problems with our neighbors” is not cold towards normalization of relations with Armenia. It is possible that the Turkish government is waiting for steps to be taken towards the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the start of withdrawal of Armenian forces from occupied Azeri territories. Let us hope that coming months are prone to such developments.