“Insensitive,” – Zoryan Institute rebukes Turkish lawmaker’s proposal of naming Armenia border checkpoint after genocide architect
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A Turkish nationalist MP has proposed to rename the Alican land border crossing point with Armenia, which is currently closed, after Talaat Pasha, Ottoman leader and the architect of the Armenian Genocide.
The proposal has been submitted to the Turkish parliament by Müsavat Dervişoğlu, the leader of the Good Party (İYİ Parti). It has been signed by 28 lawmakers.
The Zoryan Institute reacted to the move, expressing “regret and disappointment.”
In a press release, the Zoryan Institute reminded that Talaat Pasha is responsible for the genocide of over 1,5 million Armenians, the destruction of more than 2,000 churches and the forced displacement of millions of Armenians.
It said that naming the border – which is a symbol of the chance of reconciliation and cooperation – after the architect of the Armenian Genocide would be deeply insensitive toward human dignity, historical truth and moral responsibility.
“Such a step would jeopardize justice by legitimizing the crimes of the past and deepening the open wounds. Instead, we call upon Turkish leaders and society to chose an alternative based on hope, truth and universal humanitarianism.”
The Zoryan Institute continued, “Why not name the border in honor of someone who was the voice of consciousness, such as Hrant Dink, the ethnic Armenian Turkish citizen, who dedicated his life to mutual understanding and peace between nations. He embodied the idea of unity of Armenians, Turks, Kurds, Christians, Muslims and all Anatolian peoples.”
Dink was the editor-in-chief of the Istanbul-based Agos newspaper who was shot dead in 2007.
“We call on Turkish scholars, politicians and academicians to remember that progress comes not from forgetting history but its courageous acknowledgement. Germany recognized the Holocaust, Canada recognized the crimes against indigenous peoples. It is time for Turkey to accept responsibility for the genocide against Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians and other Christian minorities, which resulted in over 4,5 million people being murdered or deported. Truthful national power stems from honest attitude toward history, not denial. We hope that this proposal will be revised based on mutual respect, dignity and universal values,” the institute said.