The round table meeting on “Armenian Issue” was held on the date of March 13, with the invitation of Bahcesehir University American Research Center Advisory Board Chairman Dr. Zeynel Abidin Erdem, and with the participation of Sabancı University Istanbul Policies Center Executive Board Member Prof. Dr. Ersin Kalaycıoğlu, Retired Ambassador Özden Sanberk, Bilgi University Chancellor Prof. Dr. İlter Turan, Bahçeşehir University Government and Leadership School President Burak Küntay, Journalist Fehmi Koru and Journalist Can Ataklı. The article written by Mr. Fehmi Koru in Yeni Şafak Newspaper after the meeting is submitted to your attention below.

Fehmi Koru 14th March 2010, Sunday f.koru@yenisafak.com.tr http://www.yenisafak.com.tr/yazarlar/default.aspx?i=21351&y=FehmiKoru

Advise from wise men...

Until the last couple of years, almost all problems of the country were left unattended; no matter how complicated they were, it was only the state bureaucracy and politicians, who were charged with overcoming them. Today, the situation is quite different than the past. Comprehensive studies are being made in almost all the universities with regard to the problems of the country; there are many qualified institutions in Ankara and Istanbul, which are generating ideas.

American Research Center (AMERS) operating under the body of Bahcesehir University organized a meeting yesterday, to reflect on and generate solutions for “Armenian Proposal”. With this aim, the Chairman of AMERS, Dr. Zeynel Abidin Erdem brought together the academicians, a former Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Ministry and two journalists, who are well-informed on the subject.

The first shock is: Although it is well known that the “Armenian Proposal” have been brought to the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Congress many times by U.S. politicians, it is considered that none of these proposals was approved by the general assembly. Another assumption was that no U.S. President has used the word starting with the letter “g” in his statement for 24th April… However, there is a joint resolution of the House of Representatives dated 8th April 1975. In the statement made by U.S. President Ronald Reagan on 22nd April 1981, that critical word had been used...

It is also a common concern that approval of the decision by U.S. Congress and U.S. President’s use of that word starting with the letter “g” in his statement may prompt United Nations (UN) into action. In fact, the UN Commission for the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities has already done what is feared of, and published a report on the subject in year 1985… The report, which was approved with 14 votes against 1 vote, mentions about the “genocide suffered by the Armenians during the period between 1915-1916”. Whereas, President George W. Bush also signed a letter in year 2004 (24 April), mentioning about the “annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians through mandatory deportation that they were exposed to and by killing”… Seems that you are surprised. This situation is exactly the opposite of the impression given by the news we have read and statements that have been made about the subject recently. However, all the information presented above is right. These information and much more has been exactly included in the “draft resolution” numbered 252, which was approved by the Foreign Affairs Committee of U.S. Congress with one vote difference (Turkish version is also available.)

Is it possible to draw healthy conclusions from the discussions that are made with incomplete or erroneous information? Surely, the extreme response given to the latest voting clearly conflicts with the fact that the decision made by the Commission against Turkey is not the “first” one, that various U.S. Presidents also used that critical word before, and that the issue was also approved by the House of Representatives. A calmer approach is needed.

The major difference between today and the past is that Ak Party government has initiated a process for the solution of the conflict rather than neglecting the issue as its predecessors. This is why the previous decisions taken by USA and the discourse it has adopted fail against the reality of today. The thing that Turkey must do now is to remind the general public and the politicians that attitudes may in fact aggravate resolution of the conflict.

This is why “public diplomacy” is required.

Almost all the people included in the group, meeting at Bahcesehir University American Research Center, requested immediate initiation of a campaign, which would explain the truth through “public diplomacy”. With the recommendation that the Ambassador, who was recalled, shall be sent to Washington in order to tell U.S. people what to do, rather than waiting in Ankara to see what the U.S government will do next…

One clearly understands why two heads are better than one, when he attends in the studies of institutions that generate ideas…

Can Ataklı 16th March 2010 Sunday catakli@gazetevatan.com http://haber.gazetevatan.com/haberdetay.asp?tarih=11.11.2007&Newsid=293969&Categoryid=4&wid=142

We must be calmer on Armenian issue

On Saturday, we have discussed the Armenian issue with a small group, at the senate hall of Bahçeşehir University. The meeting was organized with the initiatives of Zeynel Abidin Erdem and Burak Küntay, and with the participation of Prof. Ersin Kalaycıoğlu, retired ambassador Özdem Sanberk, Prof. İlter Turan and Fehmi Koru. A couple of young students carrying out academic studies at Bahçeşehir University also attended the meeting as audience.

Our subject was the things to be done about the decisions on Armenian Genocide, which were approved by the Sub-Committee of U.S. House of Representatives and Swedish Assembly, with one vote difference each.

The speeches delivered at this mini meeting, which was quite informative for me widening my horizons, was generally about “acting prudent and calm”.

Retired Ambassador Özdem Sanberk said, Turkey “no longer has the world general public on its side” adding that “Currently the axis of the world shifted towards the general public of the countries. The general public may often become more important than the governments, and Turkey should realize this fact”.

Noting that this problem may not be solved through classical diplomacy, Sanberk said “Genocide is not a historical but a political definition. A real freedom of thought must be ensured in Turkey. In order to explain this issue to world general public, a long-term program must be prepared and the related staff must be educated on this issue”.

Speaking at the same meeting, Prof. İlter Turan pointed that Turkey was in a general state of negligence, noting that “The death of Hrant Dink was expected. The murderer may have been caught, but we got lost in the details afterwards and could not explain our thoughts. Unfortunately, due to these details, the government is perceived to be pursuing a policy that aims to annihilate the minorities.”

On the other hand, Fehmi Koru noted that the latest decisions were bothersome, and that being a slave of cold policies during the voting held each year in USA produced no benefits.

While speaking at the same meeting, I told that the general public was unaware of the main policy implemented by the government in this scope, and said it would be wrong to determine policies with anger. I also noted that the government’s use of each external issue in domestic politics would not help to resolve the problems.

During the mini meeting, it has also been emphasized that it would be wrong for Turkey to keep its Ambassador to U.S in Ankara until April 24. On this issue, Prof. Ersin Kalaycıoğlu said “Namık Tan is an experienced diplomat, who knows USA well, who has spent his many years in Washington, and who has good relations with the White House. It would be quite beneficial if he was there. Problems may not be solved by running away from them”.

Incorrect Information about the Decision on Genocide

At the beginning of our mini meeting, Burak Küntay made a short presentation. In his presentation, Küntay listed some information about the “decision on genocide”, which are misconceived by Turc-American the general public and opinion leaders.

For instance, it is wrong to say that “This decision has not been approved by the House of Representatives up to the date”, since the House of Representatives already used the term “genocide” about 1915 events on the date of 8th April 1975.

The argument that “U.S. Presidents have not used the term Armenian Genocide until now” was also wrong, since President Reagan used this term in year 1981 by mentioning about “Armenian Genocide before and Cambodian Genocide after the Holocaust.

Meanwhile, it was noted in the Assembly Decision dated 10th September 1984 that 1.5 million Armenians were exposed to genocide in year 1915.

The information that “The decision on Armenian Genocide has not been approved by the sub-committee until the latest meeting” is also wrong, since the decision had been approved by the sub-committees in year 2005, 2006 and 2007, with more than one vote difference, however had not been brought to the agenda of the House of Representatives.

So, what if this decision is approved? Of course, it is not the end of the world, but the first problem is that the issue would be officially certified. In legal terms, it does not seem possible to bring a suit against Turkey, however if this decision is supported by other decisions, this might facilitate initiation of legal action. Most importantly, the credibility of Turkey is being damaged and its theses are put on the shelves maybe without being listened to once more.