BY HARUT SASSOUNIAN
On the eve of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in 2005, Mehmet Ali Birand, a prominent Turkish commentator, wrote an article in Hurriyet urging the Turkish public to be prepared for the upcoming “Armenian tsunami.”
Earlier this month, the Turkish newspaper Gazete Kars published a similar editorial titled, “The Armenian preparations for 2015,” alerting Turks of the approaching 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in 2015, and advising them to take effective counter-measures.
The editorial reflects how closely Turks are following Armenian preparations for the Genocide centennial and how anxiously they are weighing the impact of the forthcoming Armenian activities on Turkey.
The lengthy column reports that Armenia and the Diaspora are expanding their joint campaign against Turkey on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The article warns that “Armenians through their lies will raise the entire world to its feet” and suggests that “the Republic of Turkey immediately put into action all its resources and take preemptive measures to bring to naught this deception.”
Gazete Kars complains that Armenians are “tarnishing Turkey’s reputation by launching powerful attacks on forty fronts. To counter these attacks Turkey must take far greater defensive and offensive measures. There is not a single minute to waste. The world is swallowing their lies.”
The editorial proceeds to outline the activities of notable individuals and organizations in preparation for the Armenian Genocide centennial. The newspaper specifically mentions Prof. Taner Akcam, filmmaker Steven Spielberg, the French and Armenian governments, Berlin University, and Hayk Demoyan, Director of the Genocide Museum in Armenia, who is quoted stating: “the struggle for Genocide recognition must be combined with an understanding for restitution…. We must pursue legal avenues to assign responsibility for this crime.”
Gazete Kars also lists the Armenian National Committee of America, Armenian National Institute, Zoryan Institute, and Gomidas Institute as organizations that have succeeded in bringing the Armenian Genocide to the attention of scholarly and media circles worldwide. Prominent Turkish novelists Orhan Pamuk and Elif Shafak, who have bravely condemned Turkey’s distortions of the Armenian Genocide, are accused of enjoying the backing of “Diaspora Armenian lobbying organizations.”
The Turkish newspaper reports the formation of a central coordinating committee in Yerevan on April 23, 2011 to prepare the program of activities for the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The committee, chaired by Armenia’s president, convened its inaugural meeting on May 30, 2011.
The Turkish editor then focuses on my articles, wrongly identifying me as “Ara” Sassounian, publisher of the California Courier. I am quoted stating that “demanding genocide recognition is no longer useful for Armenians. On the contrary it is harmful. Turks are happy that we are satisfied with this demand. What we should demand is justice. When he is asked what does justice entail, he explains that it means financial, moral and territorial restitution.”
The Turkish writer further elaborates on my views by stating: “Sassounian believes relations between Armenia and the Diaspora are not perfect, and that it is imperative to have a common understanding, especially on issues related to ‘Hay Tad’ (the Armenian Cause). Sassounian also believes that more serious results could be achieved by bringing together Armenians living in 100 countries under the umbrella of a Diaspora Parliament composed of 350 representatives.”
Gazete Kars concludes its editorial by outlining some of the Armenian activities planned for the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide:
1. Prepare publications in seven languages: Armenian, English, French, German, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish.
2. Produce films and documentaries, organize concerts and exhibitions, and publish books and scholarly materials.
3. Enlarge threefold the Armenian Genocide Museum in Yerevan.
4. Create a central coordinating committee for the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
5. Organize media conferences, establish contacts with press agencies in 89 countries, and invite Diasporan TV and Radio journalists to Armenia in advance of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
6. Using modern technology, publish e-books in various languages, and establish contacts with academic and cultural figures, media and civil society, and international organizations conducting genocide research.
7) Produce an Armenian Genocide film with well-known Indian director Shekhar Kapur and Puerto Rican screenwriter Jose Rivera.
Since Turks are expecting a flurry of activities for the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Armenians should do everything possible not to disappoint them!
The editors of Gazete Kars do not seem to realize that Armenians in fact welcome Turkish attempts to counter the upcoming genocide centennial activities. By doing so, the Turkish side would be helping to publicize the Armenian Cause beyond what Armenians are capable of doing on their own.
Armenian’s should be alert, these days everything is bought and sold, even countries like Denmark are having the efect of the $$$$$$$$$$$$, lately the Royal Library of Denmark has agreed “to balance” an Armenian Genocide exhibition by allowing the Turkish government to mount its own “alternative” exhibit, As usual $$$$$$$$$$ is doing it’s damage, Why not Royal Library of Denmark agree “to open an exhibition to balance” Jewish Holocaust by allowing the Iran’s government of Ahmadinijad to mount its own “alternative” exhibit….. what a shame, It is not a brainer if not convinced to ask from where these 8 million diaspora Armenians came from? again and again $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ talk, Honesty and Values walk
As usual, the Sassounian is right on the mark. His attention to detail and overall approach are exemplary and progressive.
It will be 100yrs in 1915,of the Armenian Genocide,the animal of all animals,animal mongol jerky turkey,still denies it,hoping all survivors will be gone.Yet,the childrens children remembers,fore ever.The world has finally realized SLOWLY,that jerky turkey is not a lion,but pussey cat. A country built on a LIE,cannot prevail, among decent humans.
I wonder, this “Gazet Kars” & editor, situated in KARS-ARDAHAN of Western Armenia and he is one of our Armenian Nationale Commity of Turkey (ANCT) in disguise, and preparing (Dzbdvadz Hajer- Ծպտուած Հայեր) and Kurd PKK for an uprisings in Western Armenia,
As turkey since 1923 grown prematurly too old and got themseves into internationale politics, and suckt into Syria’s internal problem, and now they can’t get out of it because its tooooo late (I see turkey’s end).
Its ideal combination…WE ARE COMING ON YOU TURKEY LIKE TONS OF BRICKS.
The turks are the liars. Unfortunately we live in a world where alertness to islamic imperialism is considered “islamophobia”. Thus it will be difficult for us to get the genocide recognized since the main reason for it lies in islamic imperatives to wage war on infidels. We should forget about recognition and get nuclear weapons immediately.
Repperations will be made! Be ready for Ani to be rebuilt and given Back to Armenia, Armenian tours to start going to Ararat, moneys to be given to victims, and much, much more. Turkey is terrified, and rightfully so. Once the Afghan war is over, and Turkey’s airspace and bases are less important, then we will hear an American President utter the word Genocide, Just as Reagan did in the early eighties. Then we can talk about Nagorno Karapagh. What most turks fail to realize is that ALL of these issues are connected. The Diaspora is a creation of thier follies, and one and a half million souls that are still screaming from the vaults of time will be avenged!
Mel Gibson is the best Director for the job.
Mel Gibson is a way better Director for the Armenian Genocide movie.
As a Turk I am ashamed of the continuing denial… We Turks(our grandparents) did a terrible thing to the Armenian Christian populations of Turkey some 100 years ago, Yes we did horrific acts of brutal killings!
It makes me sad and sick to think as a people in modern times that such an atrocity was not condemned within our own Turkish borders and we allowed and innocent Christian minority to be slaughtered!
Both my Grandparent told me terrible stories of how the Armenians were rounded up and brutaly killed, along with rape and other forced marches to death etc..
Again,, as a Turk, I hope one day we can all live next to each other again and that this, as a lot of Turks say so-called Genocide will be recognized and reperations of land given back to these peoples, the Armenians and then we all can live in peace!