The Armenian Initiative and the Hrant Dink murder case
Friday, October 16, 2009
CENGİZ AKTAR
The agenda is full again. Following the signature ceremony of the protocols, the hawks in Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey, as well as from the Armenian diaspora, have increased their criticism of the protocols to an obnoxious level, or at least to an ill-intended level.
On Monday, the 11th trial of the murderers of the Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink began. On Wednesday, we had a soccer game with Armenia. On the very same day, the European Commission released its 12th Progress Report on Turkey. Not all developments are noted in the report, as it is not easy to keep up with the crazy events in Turkey.
Regardless of the end result, the protocols are a harbinger of a brand-new period. New foundations are being laid down not only between Turkey and Armenia, but also in the larger Caucasus, including Azerbaijan, Georgia and even Iran and Russia. On the other side, this historic signing will most likely affect relations with the Armenian world and with the Armenian diaspora in particular. Owing to the protocols, differences have surfaced within the diaspora - clear evidence that it never was a monolithic entity. Within the diaspora, there are a limited number of people who are making a lot of noise. They do not care about the future of the Armenian Republic, make unrealistic demands and claim that it sold out the diaspora. They are not necessarily members of the historic Anatolian Armenian parties such as the Dashnaktsutyun, or Armenian Revolutionary Federation, the Hinchak, or the Sound of the Bell, and the Ramgavar, or the Democratic Liberal Party of Armenia. Some are unfortunately former Armenian state officials and politicians, such as former Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, who had supported dialog during his time in office. On the other hand, there is a silent majority that is calm and sober enough to grasp the importance of the protocols.
The best example of this silent majority is the Armenian General Benevolent Union, or AGBU, which has been in existence since 1906 and has branches around the world. On Sept. 14, 2009, the Central Board of Directors of the AGBU released a statement at www.agbu.org/pressoffice/article.asp?ID=626 in support of the protocols, but this went unnoticed. In the statement, the AGBU said "[The protocols] mark a significant moment in the history of relations between the Armenian and Turkish peoples. It presents major ramifications for both the government of the newly independent Republic of Armenia and the Armenian nation worldwide."
On this matter, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan should be better advised to note the nuances in the diaspora, as he has insistently presented the diaspora as a monolithic group.
Last holdout the Hrant Dink Case?
In addition to all these developments, "Hrant's friends" gathered in front of the Barbaros Monument in Beşiktaş on Monday, announcing the following in a statement to the press: "Today, we could have taken major steps toward justice. We could have shed a light on who directed, protected this flock of murderers and what was the motive of the state officials in question who helped them. We could have taken at least a bit of comfort. If we weren't able to, it's because we were prevented from achieving justice. Apparently, it is not the right time for a "Hrant Dink Opening."
They are right indeed! Despite the fact that the court has been more receptive to the demands of Hrant's lawyers in comparison to the previous ten sittings, we should acknowledge that the state has been reluctant and unfair during the Hrant Dink murder case. Especially now, when, irrespective of its consequences, the initiative toward Armenia looks to be taking an historic turn; especially now, when there has been progress on the issue of non-Muslim foundations, including those of the Armenians; when civilian initiatives are coming one after the other; when Turkey has started to recall its lost "Armenian memory;" and when we are at the point of no return. However, the last nationalist holdout still standing is the murder case of Hrant Dink, a person who contributed in one way or another to making all these positive developments happen.
