WHEN WILL THE FARCE END ?--ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL

Gibrahayer e-magazine Editorial by Jean Ipdjian - Nicosia - Wednesday 21 April 2010 - Every time that a country discusses the recognition of the Armenian Genocide or worse still it votes to recognise the Armenian Genocide, Turkey and the Turkish government go into a frenzied and hysterical theatrics which starts with threats about cutting trade agreements and ends up with recalling their ambassador to that country ‘indefinitely’, which usually means for a couple of weeks until the furore passes away. Then the ambassador sneaks back into the country and its business as usual. The same scenario has happened on and on again, as it happened lately after the successful adoption of a resolution regarding the recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the US House of Representatives’ foreign relations committee and by the adoption of a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide by the Swedish Parliament, which was backed ironically by the minority opposition parties there. The Turkish reaction is understandable. She has to keep appearances and entertain to the internal audience of semi-literate peasants in the ‘Anadolou’ regions and to the whims and appetites of extremist groups such as the ‘Grey Wolves’, who are overtly frowned upon by the State and covertly backed, encouraged and managed by the state and the almighty military hierarchy. As for the reaction of Western governments and notably of the United States, who seem to bend backwards to accommodate Turkish wishes, it can only be said that it is beyond hypocritical, and that it gives the word a new twisted meaning. It is so hypocritical and tragic, because these governments know very well the extent of Turkey’s reliance on their trade, the extent of Turkey’s reliance on the near blanket diplomatic cover they extend to her actions against neighbouring countries such as Greece, Cyprus, Syria and of course, Armenia. The only logical explanation to their actions and behaviour seems to be a carrot and stick game being played to keep Turkish appetites at bay while at the same time not antagonising her too much. However despite all these machinations, sooner rather than later more and more countries will follow suite and will put aside their cautious policies towards Turkey and will recognise the Armenian Genocide building up the pressure not only on Turkey, but on the rest of the few countries, who I suspect will steadfastly continue to back her in her denial of the undeniable fact of genocide planned, organised and executed by the forefathers of present day ‘civilised’ and ‘Europeanised’ Turkey against the Armenian people living in their homeland from times immortal. And each time one more country recognises the Armenian genocide, Turkey will act out her already ineffectual and hollow series of threats and actions. One of the most potent tools of strengthening an idea or a movement, experience and history have shown, is confrontation, forceful suppression and in the case of historic happenings and events, their distortion and denial. Ideas and movements, causes and aspirations thrive in hostile circumstances. Every time Turkish politicians, historians in their employment or personalities in other countries repeat their denial and contortions of the undeniable fact of the Armenian Genocide they not only strengthen our resolve to succeed, they also concentrate the attention of the international media and public opinion on the matter and thus inevitably increase the awareness of the world regarding the Genocide and the futility and absurdity of their denial of it. Therefore, one comes and wonders when will this farce end and when will Turkey realise that just like in the case of drug addicts, alcoholics, rapists, usurpers of other people’s properties and thieves, the process of healing and acceptance into society and in this case in the society of nations, starts from the time they genuinely admit to themselves and others that they are any one of the above mentioned. Only then they can hope to heal themselves and hope to be accepted as equals.
News in Brief - by Sevag Devletian