Invitation to Armenian Genocide event is headache for Erdogan

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, ARMENPRESS: The professor of the Kentucky University, historian and genocide expert Armen Masrupyan reads lectures for the American students not only about the Armenian Genocide, but also about the genocides of Holocaust, Darfur and Rwanda, based on the ideology that the young generation should know about the gaps of the history and learn lessons from the mistakes.

“The main aim of the lecture is to present and raise responsibility among the people on preventing genocides. It is quite important how we remember the past, as if we forget it, we might repeat it”, - told Armen Masrupyan to Armenpress, adding that besides the lectures, he has started a series of exhibitions devoted to the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, which have been launched this year in several Turkish cities.

- Could you please tell what exhibitions do you organize in Turkey?

- A part of my work is being carried out in Turkey, as first the Turkish society must understand the century-old crime and account for that. I have a huge collection of photos about Turkey, presenting the country of the years 1918-1923. The photos have already been exhibited in Istanbul, Marzvan and Izmir. Next year an exhibition will be held in Ankara as well. The attitude of the Turkish people is mainly positive. They are impressed by the photos.

- Next year we will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. What could we expect from Turkey?

- I do not think that the Government of Turkey will recognize the Armenian Genocide. I am certain that they will spread some statement, expressing their condolences and will present the Armenian Genocide in the context of the World War I. They will say that they share our pain or that Turks also died along with Armenians. You cannot expect for more from Erdogan. Though there are a lot of courageous Turks, who will commemorate the Genocide both in Ankara and Istanbul.

- The President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan sent an invitation to the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend the commemoration event of the Armenian Genocide on April 24 2015. How do you evaluate that step?

- That was the right diplomatic step, which was properly estimated. That step is a real headache both for Erdogan and the Turkish Government. They are confused and do not know what to do and cannot find a solution to that. And that is very good. It is like a situation, when somebody is invited to some event and at the same time is told that he carries responsibility and he does not know what to do and how to come out of this situation. You know, I am nearly certain that Erdogan will not come. Maybe Davutoglu will come instead of him. Let us wait and see what happens. (THE FULL VERSION OF THE INTERVIEW IS AVAILABLE IN ARMENIAN)

Interview by Hasmik Harutyunyan