Dialogue between Armenians and Turks is necessary

[Ashot]

Hayk Demoyan: Dialogue between Armenians and Turks is necessary

 

“Dialogue between Armenians and Turks is necessary,” Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Hayk Demoyan said during the international conference on “Countries of the Caucasus and the Middle East: Possible partners in the process of formation of the regional security system.” He noted that Turks must realize that the genocide is part of their history they have been carefully concealing for many years. According to Hayk Demoyan, the dialogue will promote the establishment of trust between the younger generations of Armenians and Turks. According to him, it’s pleasant that positive progress has been registered over the past years: the number of Turks interested in the topic has increased. “Turkish citizens visit the Museum to familiarize themselves with history, but a different history which is not spoken about in Turkey, because there is Article 301 of the Penal Code and there is a common atmosphere,” Hayk Demoyan declared.

 

Turkey’s activity in the direction of denying the fact of the Genocide results in deepening of crisis among the Turkish society. Thus, a special organization on the level of National Security Agency has been established in Turkey to act against the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. However, the further denial of this fact is a threat to Turkish identity. “The official interpretation of history is one thing, what the world speaks and writes about is a different thing. It’s already a serious challenge, since the most terrible may happen: own citizens will stop trusting their authorities. A conflict will emerge that can lead to the collapse of the state. Currently deep processes of restoration of history are underway: the heritage of Ataturk is being discussed, which was not the case before.

 

According to Hayk Demoyan, the discussion of the Genocide issue is certainly a challenge to Turkey. Nevertheless, the task of Armenia is not to aggravate the situation. “We must not present the Turks as enemies or potential enemies, we must conceive them as partners for the dialogue that will serve the interests of both countries,” he noted.

 

Vice-President of the Istanbul Fund of Journalists and Writers Jemal Ushak also addressed the conference. He also underlined the necessity of launching dialogue between the societies of the two countries.

 

Public Radio of Armenia