Historian: Inferences on Armenian Genocide Must be Grounded Only on Evidence And International Experts’ Views
06.09.2008,
18:31
Hayk Demoyan, the director of Armenian Genocide Museum, speaking in Novosti International Press Centre about the proposal made by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2005 to set up an Armenian-Turkish commission for considering mass violence ag
YEREVAN, September 5. /ARKA/. On Wednesday, Hayk Demoyan, the director of Armenian Genocide Museum, speaking in Novosti International Press Centre about the proposal made by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2005 to set up an Armenian-Turkish commission for considering mass violence against Armenians, said the historians included in the commission should draw inferences only grounding on the evidence and experts’ opinions.
“Armenia sees no problem with coexistence of Armenians and Turks, but Turkey should display good will and stop denying the fact of Armenian Genocide, which has been examined for decades and confirmed. Turkey should not turn a blind eye to irrefutable evidence and start discussing the matter from zero”, Demoyan said.
He said that the problem has been studied not only by Armenian and Turkish specialists, but also by experts of other nations.
Many countries have peaces of evidence and testimonies of witnesses.
“If Turkey tries to start considering this issue from zero, we’ll say we have no time for that”, Demoyan said.
He said that the problem has also juridical aspect.
The museum director said historians can’t confirm or deny the fact of the genocide – they are only empowered to present and discuss evidence.
“That is why I think that specialists stuck to different views should be included in the commission and Turkey who made this proposal should display good will and involve in the process those people who undergo harassment in Turkey for their views”, he said.
Demoyan also thinks that politicians, economists and culture activists can be included in the commission in the process as well.
Besides, he thinks that international specialists on genocides can contribute a great deal to the commission efforts.
“There are at least two respected organizations – international association of genocide specialists and the association of scientists studying Holocaust. Their experts can be involved in the process as well, since they can’t be accused of biasness”, he said. The first genocide in the 20th century by the Ottoman Turkey, the Armenian Genocide took lives of over half million Armenians during the First World War. Turkey keeps on denying the fact of the Armenian Genocide and reacts strongly on any critical approach from the West on the issue.
Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, the Lower House of Italy, the majority of the United States, as well as the Greek Parliament, Cyprus, Argentina, Belgium, Wales, the National Assembly of Switzerland, the House of Commons of Canada and the Polish Seim have all recognized the Armenian Genocide. –0--
“Armenia sees no problem with coexistence of Armenians and Turks, but Turkey should display good will and stop denying the fact of Armenian Genocide, which has been examined for decades and confirmed. Turkey should not turn a blind eye to irrefutable evidence and start discussing the matter from zero”, Demoyan said.
He said that the problem has been studied not only by Armenian and Turkish specialists, but also by experts of other nations.
Many countries have peaces of evidence and testimonies of witnesses.
“If Turkey tries to start considering this issue from zero, we’ll say we have no time for that”, Demoyan said.
He said that the problem has also juridical aspect.
The museum director said historians can’t confirm or deny the fact of the genocide – they are only empowered to present and discuss evidence.
“That is why I think that specialists stuck to different views should be included in the commission and Turkey who made this proposal should display good will and involve in the process those people who undergo harassment in Turkey for their views”, he said.
Demoyan also thinks that politicians, economists and culture activists can be included in the commission in the process as well.
Besides, he thinks that international specialists on genocides can contribute a great deal to the commission efforts.
“There are at least two respected organizations – international association of genocide specialists and the association of scientists studying Holocaust. Their experts can be involved in the process as well, since they can’t be accused of biasness”, he said. The first genocide in the 20th century by the Ottoman Turkey, the Armenian Genocide took lives of over half million Armenians during the First World War. Turkey keeps on denying the fact of the Armenian Genocide and reacts strongly on any critical approach from the West on the issue.
Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, the Lower House of Italy, the majority of the United States, as well as the Greek Parliament, Cyprus, Argentina, Belgium, Wales, the National Assembly of Switzerland, the House of Commons of Canada and the Polish Seim have all recognized the Armenian Genocide. –0--
