An unlikely battle
SMU caught in crossfire over Turkish-Armenian dialogue
Caitlin Booker, Contributing Writer, cebooker@smu.edu
Issue date: 4/18/07 Section: News
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At the request of the Archbishop Barsamian, Chief Bishop of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, SMU pulled its sponsorship from the arguably Turkish-favoring "International Conference on Turkish-Armenian Dialogue."
"We understand SMU's concern. We are not sad about their withdrawal and we share in their concern," said Abdullah Kumas of the Turkish Student Association.
Last Saturday the TSA held the event in the Umphrey Lee Ballroom despite academic disapproval of the event's scope and organization.
Kumas thought the panel was informative and unbiased.
"The conference did not confirm or deny whether or not genocide took place," said Kumas. "Many Armenians left their phone numbers and wanted dialogue with the Raindrop Foundation. They expressed much gratitude for the event."
However, Archbishop Barsamian and other scholars viewed the event as a sounding board for Turkish scholars and religious leaders to deny the Armenian genocide. Archbishop Barsamian called it a "historically unjustified and morally objectionable effort to call into question the alleged Armenian Genocide and derail efforts by the U.S. government to recognize this crime against humanity."
Many scholars believe that Turkish organizations organized the dialogue in response to the Dallas community's recognition of the "Armenian Genocide." In 2005, Dallas Mayor Laura Miller made a proclamation recognizing the 90th anniversary of the genocide.
According to Barsamian, "I have been repeatedly reminded of how the timing of the event, and the rush to have it held so quickly with it being finalized only a week before it was held."
"This coincides significantly with the United States Congress' step towards considering a new, non-binding resolution concerning the Armenian Genocide and other resolutions condeming the assassination of Hrant Dink and Turkey's oppression of journalist freedom."
Kumas thinks Armenian scholars misunderstood the event as a dialogue on genocide when the event sought to start dialogue between Turkish and Armenian scholars.
"We understand SMU's concern. We are not sad about their withdrawal and we share in their concern," said Abdullah Kumas of the Turkish Student Association.
Last Saturday the TSA held the event in the Umphrey Lee Ballroom despite academic disapproval of the event's scope and organization.
Kumas thought the panel was informative and unbiased.
"The conference did not confirm or deny whether or not genocide took place," said Kumas. "Many Armenians left their phone numbers and wanted dialogue with the Raindrop Foundation. They expressed much gratitude for the event."
However, Archbishop Barsamian and other scholars viewed the event as a sounding board for Turkish scholars and religious leaders to deny the Armenian genocide. Archbishop Barsamian called it a "historically unjustified and morally objectionable effort to call into question the alleged Armenian Genocide and derail efforts by the U.S. government to recognize this crime against humanity."
Many scholars believe that Turkish organizations organized the dialogue in response to the Dallas community's recognition of the "Armenian Genocide." In 2005, Dallas Mayor Laura Miller made a proclamation recognizing the 90th anniversary of the genocide.
According to Barsamian, "I have been repeatedly reminded of how the timing of the event, and the rush to have it held so quickly with it being finalized only a week before it was held."
"This coincides significantly with the United States Congress' step towards considering a new, non-binding resolution concerning the Armenian Genocide and other resolutions condeming the assassination of Hrant Dink and Turkey's oppression of journalist freedom."
Kumas thinks Armenian scholars misunderstood the event as a dialogue on genocide when the event sought to start dialogue between Turkish and Armenian scholars.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 11
Binali Kaya
posted 4/20/07 @ 2:30 AM CST
I have attended the conference. It neither acknowledged nor denied the genocide. I have observed that it was balanced. Believe it or not, some speakers made statements close to Armenian allegations. (Continued…)
Chris Papanyan
posted 4/20/07 @ 11:37 PM CST
"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
John 8:32
No Armenian, and no human being in general is going to be open to any dialogue that has as a pre-condition the denial of the truth. (Continued…)
Osman Akin
posted 4/21/07 @ 5:18 AM CST
I did not attend the conference, but I wish I did. I worked with and talked to Armenians. Some constructed their identity upon my hate, they don`t even want to talk to me just because what I am. (Continued…)
Mehmet Buyukozer
posted 4/21/07 @ 5:59 AM CST
I'm very saddened to hear SMU pulled its support from this very eye opening, unbiased and realistic event. As a Turk living in USA, I'm unhappy not to be able to explain our side of story or at least to talk on this issue. (Continued…)
Kakajan Komurov
posted 4/21/07 @ 10:02 AM CST
I attended the conference. I think it was an honest attempt for a dialogue between turkish and armenian scholars, although it may not have been very successful as non of the invited armenian scholars showed up. (Continued…)
Robert Minderton
posted 4/21/07 @ 11:26 AM CST
I am an Armenian and spent some time in Istanbul, Turkey.I have many Turkish friends and they are really friendly and helped me always. I think conference was success and this kind of events must continue tobuild up dialoque between big Armenian and Turkish people. (Continued…)
Murat Kaya
posted 4/21/07 @ 12:19 PM CST
I have attended the conference and find the organizers very sincere about opening dialogue channels between two societies. There were some Armenian activists there and objected that there should be more Armenian scholars. (Continued…)
Murat Cakar
posted 4/21/07 @ 1:07 PM CST
Once again, I realized the consequences of not having a proper dialog between these nations. In this sense, I am so grateful to organizers for this opportunity to overcome this communication and tolerance problem. (Continued…)
G. Groups
posted 4/21/07 @ 2:55 PM CST
I was there too and I dont agree with Archbishop Barsamian thougts about conference. I saw some Armenians in the audience was standing up and speaking freely. (Continued…)
Zara
posted 4/22/07 @ 4:02 PM CST
I am from Armenia. I haven't any idea of that meeting, but I just want to say, that truth is only one, and even after 92 or 1000 years it will be the same! TURKISH MADE GENOCIDE!!!! And it is the fact which can't be ignored or even approoved. (Continued…)
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