Podium Left To Politicians As Journalists

[MosJan]

PODIUM LEFT TO POLITICIANS AS JOURNALISTS HAVE SPOKEN OUT

 

Bundestag to Discuss Armenian Genocide Today

 

The Bundestag website informs that the announcement of Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) will be read during the 172d session of Bundestag on April 21. During 45 minutes granted for the Genocide issue all parties will have to express their opinion. Answering Der Tagesspiegel's questions representatives of CSU said that only CDU/CSU's initiative will be presented at the Bundestag and the discussions will show whether it is possible to work out a common project of all parties. CDU/CSU eschewed using the word "genocide" in its project and labeled the events with word "Massaker" -- massacre.

 

Analysts in Germany think that official Berlin will hardly offend its former ally and today's partner on the eve of Chancellor Schroder's May visit to Turkey especially considering the fact that 2.5 million Turks of overall 4 Turks in Europe live in Germany.

 

Our survey of German Armenians' expectations from Bundestag discussions showed that most of them expect recognition. But the greatest part of our compatriots is suspicious that German politicians will display impartiality in making assessment of the historic events. One of German-born Armenians says that the Bundestag will cook a thick soup, then will pour water and we will see only vapor.

 

Dr. Mihran Dabagh, head of the Institute of Diaspora and Genocide at the Ruhr University of Bochum, commented: "The announcement has 2 key features: the term 'genocide' is omitted, secondly, the Diaspora as an institution that bears the memory of the Genocide is not included in it. This is very important and it demonstrates Germany's and Europe's strategy of wiping the history of Western Armenians from mankind's memory. This is in fact the continuation of the executioner's program. Armenia being a state institution and overloaded with its own problems is more vulnerable and likelier to compromise. A nation wounded by the Genocide is now forced if not to deny the Genocide then accept another definition of it". Mr. Dabagh mentions the widely used statement that relations between two countries should normalize. "They love the word 'normal' too much in Armenia. It is impossible to have normal relations with a nation that has the Genocide as legacy, those relations must be private and there must be present responsibility for the Genocide. Relations with a genocided nation cannot be normal but only private. Private means guaranteeing absolute security for the Republic of Armenia, never let threats go off and secure Armenia's development. The issue of the genocide should not be viewed as a burden. It is what 'differentiates' our history and draws attention to it. The Western Armenians need to be resolute to prevent Armenia from sacrificing their historic peculiarity to normalization but instead make Armenia stand on guard of the history together with Diaspora", he says. Dr. Mihran Dabagh reminded relations of Germany and Israel, which are not normal but private. "Armenian reality is not limited to the Armenian state but there is the Diaspora which is the result of the Genocide and is one of the central concerns. Both Turkey and EU strive to isolate Diaspora from the argument. The greatest concern is that the RA authorities are showing readiness to compromise, making agreements with Turkey, completely overlooking Diaspora's claims. One of Turkey's objections to the Genocide recognition is linked with the claims of the Armenian side that are usually ascribed to the Diaspora. It is impossible to reduce the Genocide issue to the formula 'give up everything and I will recognize it'. The issue of reparations and territory return will find its course after the acknowledgement. RA authorities may be less resolute than the Diaspora but resolution is the only way out from this situation. The Genocide can never be a means of bargain. This is what we owe our victims and even more our survivors worldwide".

 

The head of Genocide and Diaspora Institute recalled the Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission and quoted a Turkish journalist's words, "It is a policy of gaining time in order to wipe the memory of Armenian presence out of the society as it is still present in stories of families. To create a Turkish society cleared off memories about Armenians. There can be no talk about the non-existence. There can be no dialogue with a memory free society nor even about reconciliation. The Commission is to bring a political solution and not to study. The issue of the Armenian Genocide is not an issue for the historians; historiography has conducted its research and named the events Genocide. A descent study may be done only when it is recognized, when a scientist is free, has no burden of getting the Genocide recognized", Dr. Dabagh says.

 

Coming to our main question as to his expectations from official Berlin, he said that "Germany has created a political culture of post-holocaust memory which demands a clear position on negation of genocides. In case of the Armenian Genocide, it is unacceptable that Germany will not call it a genocide especially considering the latter's complicity. I hope that Bundestag's statement will go beyond being simply an attempt but will recognize Germany's responsibility as well".

 

By Anahit Hovsepian