If US wishes … Turkish historian on Genocide recognition

The countries which are powerful enough to end the political disputes over the Armenian Genocide have to first of all explain why they do not use the proper wording to address tragedy, says Taner Akcam, a Turkish historian and publicist.

In an article published in Taraf, Akcam particularly points out to three countries, the United States, Great Britain and Israel (as a country having a great influence on the US), comparing Turkey’s denialism with the South African regime.

“Such denialist and racist regimes will be possible to change if and only if we juxtapose two phenomena: external pressure and internal civilian opposition.

“If you are afraid of the denialist regime and look for a place to hide from its threats, then such regimes are never likely to face the need to change. They will feel the urge in case they are isolated and deprived of the opportunity to move on the international arena.

“But the United States and the West became the accomplice of the denialist regime, assisting in its efforts to maintain its existence. With that, became part and parcel of the problem instead of offering a solution.

“After the assassination of [Turkish-Armenian journalist] Hrant Dunk, Turkey saw the emergence of an opposition calling for a confrontation with history.

“To demonstrate its attitude to Turkey, the West must, of course, consider itd role in the region and make certain strategic calculations, but it has to pay attention to that civil opposition too.

“Confronting the history is serious affair. To do that, it is necessary to offer apologies, abandoning the logic of a common trader and leaving aside the denial policies pursued for years,” reads the article.