Fr. Papken Anoushian, Esq.Said “Dialogue Between Both Governments is Central, if Both Countries…

By Madlen E. Setian

TENAFLY, NJ – Recently, while visiting his family in Turkey, Very Rev. Father Papken Anoushian was introduced to certain high-level Turkish governmental officials to exchange ideas pertaining to Armenians and Turks. Fr. Papken is the pastor of St. Thomas Armenian Church here and is also an attorney. The following is the text of the interview, which took place on Thursday, October 20, 2005, between Fr. Anoushian and Madlen Setian, Managing Editor of Nor Tar Magazine, describing his meetings:

M. Setian: Hayr Soorp, you recently visited Turkey and, from the editorial that was published in the Turkish Daily News, it is known that you had meetings with high-level Turkish governmental officials. Could you tell us about the nature of your conversations with them?

Fr. Anoushian: Certainly. As you mentioned, I did have unofficial and private meetings with them at the end of September in Ankara. However, the purpose of my presence in Turkey was to visit members of my family. As to our meetings, they were, sort of, get-togethers and an opportunity to exchange ideas.

M.S.: Can you elaborate on the content of the meetings?

Fr. A.: The nature of our conversations pertained to mutual interests, meaning the relations that exist between the Armenians and the Turks.

M.S.: Did the issue of the Armenian Genocide come up in your conversations with different Turkish personalities?

Fr. A.: Undoubtedly, it did.

M.S.: In what way did it come up?

Fr. A.: I did not open the subject. The subject opened by itself, and when the subject was being addressed I made no comments. Most of the time during our meetings, I listened intently. They emphasized that the subject of the Armenian Genocide was taboo in Turkey. They added that, for decades, the Turkish public was not taught about the Armenian Genocide in high schools and colleges; and that the public does not know much about the Armenian Genocide, especially the young generation; and that they are eager to learn more about it. We must also bear in mind what took place at Bilgi University in Istanbul a few weeks ago. I am specifically referring to the symposium about the Armenian Genocide. This is the beginning of a new phase in Turkish politics and in the life of the Turkish public. It was at Bilgi University symposium that scholars acknowledged the Armenian Genocide. In the words of extremely influential members of the Turkish intelligentsia and governmental officials, “…taboos were destroyed, never to rise again.” Even the current government of Turkey — which is the only government within the last fifty years that came to power without forming a coalition government — is determined to keep the taboos as something that belonged to the past. Armenians must grasp the opportunity.

M.S.: In your conversations, did you bring up current issues that are of interest to Armenia and Armenians in the Diaspora?

Fr. A.: Yes, during our cordial conversations, I brought up the following issues, to wit: the embargo that is imposed upon Armenia; the closure of the border between Armenia and Turkey; and the new railroad project that will circumvent Armenia.

M.S.: What were their reactions?

Fr. A.: They showed no adverse reaction. On the contrary, they did discuss the matters openly. They indicated the fact that there are issues between Armenia and Turkey but that these issues are not insurmountable if Armenia shows some kind of a political response.

M.S.: What do they mean by a political response?

Fr. A.: I will not go into the details at this time, but I want to emphasize that dialogue between both governments is central, if both countries desire to be good neighbors with each other. The reality is that they both need each other in that region. Today, the New World Order is the prevailing political philosophy. Furthermore, political and economic isolation in the life of a country or a nation has never been beneficial. The post-Soviet era changed the world political stage and the current geopolitical centers are being re-evaluated.

M.S.: Currently, the Turkish side has many conditions in relation to Armenia. How is it possible to have a dialogue with these conditions?

Fr. A.: I strongly believe that all the conditions that Turkey is presenting do not have the same degree of importance for them, even though, by appearance, they all seem to be of utmost importance to us, Armenians. The attitude is definitely changing in Turkey. What I just iterated emphasizes the fact that the conditions that Turkey is submitting are negotiable. The most effective way to resolve a problem or make the other party withdraw or change its conditions is to sit down and talk. Neither side should have reservations regarding having dialogues, and dialogues should be continuous. Mr. Yusuf Kanli, who is the editor in chief of the Turkish Daily News and who has a very deep knowledge of Turkish politics, stated the following for the Turkish and Armenian sides: “Both sides are stubborn about their stands regarding the issues. And they have woven that characteristic into their national character.” Despite recent history, during previous centuries Armenians and Turks lived, worked and produced together. Armenians prospered in the Ottoman Empire and the Ottoman Empire prospered from the Armenians. The era of amiras in the Ottoman Empire attests to that. Do not forget, we are one of the oldest nations in the world. With that age also comes centuries-old deposited wisdom; thus, dialogue should not be a concern to us.

M.S.: What do you propose?

Fr. A.: We, Armenians, must become one in our plans and policies that involve national interests. If we really desire to achieve any success, personal and institutional egos must be put aside for higher, nobler national ends. And only then can we engage in politics. Politics is negotiation. Politics is steering the ship on a stormy sea and getting it safely back to the harbor, to its destination. Armenians have ample brainpower. We have the best experts all over the world in all areas of knowledge, disciplines or esteemed professions. What we should do is to converge these outreaching and prudent minds together in a room to discuss and plan for the future. Perhaps forming a think tank will be a starting point on our path of unified policies.

M.S.: Hayr Soorp, you were also interviewed by NTV in Turkey. What was the core of your message?

Fr. A.: What I personally want to reiterate and what I always said in Turkey is that the Republic of Armenia should be the ultimate entity to negotiate any outcome and decide any issue with Turkey. It appears that the Turkish government is receptive to opening a dialogue with the Armenians.

M.S.: Should the Armenian Diaspora be involved?

Fr. A.: Yes. We should bear in mind that there are more Armenians living outside of the Republic of Armenia than inside. The totality of the Armenians in the world constitutes the Armenian Nation.

M.S.: Is there anything more you would like to add?

Fr. A: Yes, I would also like to thank — TABDC — Turkish Armenian Business Development Council, an organization that is co-established in Yerevan and Istanbul by Armenian and Turkish businessmen in 1997, for introducing me to the above-mentioned people, and arranging the meetings.

The above interview, given by Fr. Anoushian on 10/20/05, was in the interest of informing the community about the aforementioned events.

© 2005 Armenian Reporter Int`l