YERVEVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net/Armenian Weekly)–According to Armenian-Turkish Reconciliation Commission (TARC) member–assistant professor at the Yerevan State University Davit Hovhannisian–a meeting of the commission will take place January 22-24 in New York. He did not–however–specify a possible agenda–noting that details could be released only after the meeting.
Having begun its activities over a year ago–TARC was considered ‘dead’ after the Armenian side pulled out of the commission in December 2001. The move was prompted by the actions of Turkish participants who appealed to the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) to refrain from proceeding with an agreed on study concerning the applicability of the 1948 UN Genocide Convention to the Armenian Genocide.
On October 31–2002–a source present at an Harvard University Study Group on Modern Turkey–revealed that TARC moderator David Phillips speaking ‘off the record,’ in front of approximately 50 attempted to argue that TARC led to some "small victories," leading to improved dialogue and relations between Turkey and Armenia–although no progress has been registered on the issue of recognition of the Armenian Genocide since TARC’s inception.
Another source present at the seminar said Phillips seemed almost disappointed that the press had reported that TARC was "dead," and assured those in attendance that the group was still meeting privately. The source also said Phillips revealed that many parallel activities–such as cultural programs and exchanges between journalists–were part of the TARC agenda.
