!ßõ�  ellspacing="0" ce�ÿ& 7PATRIARCH MUTAFYAN AND THE ARMENIAN VERSION OF 301 (II)À

The Turkish-Armenian reconciliation has actually long before become a battlefield of politics, rather than a matter of ethics.

`litics, rather than a matter of ethics.

  The West's one-sided and biased involvement makes the situation more complicated. There is an urgent need for empathy, but the parliamentary resolutions will merely justify respective standpoints, further closing the doors to dialogue. If I were a U.S. or European authority I would certainly be pondering why the patriarch, in his said speech, might have criticized the great powers of the time, ranging from France to the U.S., since they bore “a responsibility” as well.  

  At present, no sensible Turk underestimates the extent of the tragedy suffered in these lands over the last two centuries. The recollection, however, does not come easily because it inherently causes a kind of self-defense reflex. Turks perceive the insistence on reconciliation with the past as being politically-motivated.

  Turkish mistrust becomes strengthened. In fact, here emerges another question which, unless answered, makes me pessimistic with regard to prospects for Turkish-Armenian reconciliation: Can societies reconcile with their past when they increasingly feel insecure?

  In such a milieu, my suggestions to the Turkish state for addressing the Armenian allegations would include the following steps:

  I. Short-term: Immediately convene the Turkish Grand National Assembly to formulate a national declaration, to be signed by all political parties in and outside of the parliament, reaffirming that the Armenian "genocide" allegations are baseless and unacceptable, adding that Turkey is ready to pay the consequences of its alleged “denial” whatever they may be; organize an inter-governmental institution with the participation of relevant branches of government to deal affectively with the Armenian allegations and the West's ignorance; increase your international efforts for a joint commission of historians; and, do not open the border unless Armenia announces that it agrees to work out the resolution to Azerbaijan's occupied territories as well as Nagorno-Karabakh.

  II. Medium-term: Encourage the development of a network of citizen groups or NGOs to promote understanding and prevent popular venting of anger among societies; create a war dead memorial where Turkish people can pay their respects to the victims of World War I, including to those of Armenian descent; call for a working group of scholars to draft history textbooks that will prevent both sides from using textbooks that promote xenophobia and nationalism; institutionalize high-level reciprocal visits.

  III. Long-term: Work on formulating legislation similar to that in Germany that restricts “hate speech” toward non-Muslim citizens of the country.

  After seeing what Patriarch Mutafyan, both among the Turks as well as Armenians, has had to go through, I am saddened to say that one cannot be optimistic about solving this Gordion's knot. I find this particularly disheartening as I believe this dispute can only be solved by actions of such brave people as the patriarch.