“The Armenian Genocide: Breaking the Silence”. Mark Mustyan. The Armenian Genocide through the eyes of 17-year-old Turkish gendarme

On the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide Aysor.am presents a special project within which we shall consider cultural, scientific and social projects implementing these days.

Today we talked to an Armenian - American writer, lawyer Mark Mustyan who is the author of "Gendarme" book (about the Armenian Genocide) and the translator of Armenian version "The Gendarme" Maro Madoyan-Alajajian. He was in Yerevan within the "Literary Ark. April" annual international festival.

The main character of the book is an old Turk, who has been a gendarme at the age of 17 and has taken part in the killings and genocide of Armenians. The Author has tried to present Armenian genocide of this point of view.

-Mr.  Mustyan, as far as I know, your ancestors were not the bearer of the direct consequences of the genocide. How did it come about studies?

- Yes, they have moved earlier before the genocide. You know, in my whole life, people has seen my surname and asked if I'm an Armenian. I said yes, but I found it more difficult to tell about. The same issue was for genocide: I knew it had happened, but did not know the details. I remember "Black Dog of Fate" book by Peter Balakian changed a lot. I decided to study the genocide after reading it.

-How did the idea of "The Gendarme" come?

- The book was written based on researches. Sometimes I think if my grandmother had survived the genocide, maybe it would be more difficult for me to write.

- Why did you write it from the perspective of a gendarme.

- During my studies I often met stories told by Armenians, in particular, I was reading the stories of survivors.

A question constantly was arose: well, what were Turks thinking about at that time. Likewise, the idea came to write about this aspect of genocide.

- You are a lawyer. It is often stated that there is much work to be done in legal terms for the Armenian Genocide. What do you think about?

-As a lawyer, I must say that there is much work to be done and the important point is the issue of compensation. The stolen property and money should be returned to people. I think the Turkey's denial is mostly based on the desire to avoid compensation.

- Concerning the "The Gendarme": It is published in the USA 5 years ago, what responses have you received?

- The book has been published in 9 languages, including Armenian. The responses are very different. 5 years after publication it is still being talked about, which means it’s good (smiling).

-Were there responses by the Turkish readers?

- I have never got a lot of responses from the Turks. Telling the truth now I'm trying to publish "The Gendarme" also in Turkey. My agent has some connections.  We have already managed to send it to Turkey several times, but we have always got the following answer: "We can’t do it." However, I do not lose my hope. Interestingly, I have used several Turkish words in the book and for the right form of its meaning I have communicated to the Turks. They have come to my office, we have spoken about different issues, but they have returned the next day and have said, "Sorry, we can’t help you." But I must mention that there is a change. In fact the process is not easy, not easy to realize that your grandparents have killed...

- You also mentioned about some limitations that exist in Turkey. Not as an Armenian, but just as a writer, what do you think is it right policy to limit the writer, publisher, journalist in some issue?

- Yes, there are still a lot of books in Turkey that can lead you to be imprisoned. The brightest example is Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk's case. I know one thing, time is running out and you just can not keep closed a lot of cases. People are talking more and new realities are opened. But, I repeat, this is a slow process. Now I can say that Turkey's truth-teller writers are brave people, we must congratulate and thank them.
 

- You participated in the presentation of the Armenian version of your book. What expectations did you have of it?

- I am very pleased that the "The Gendarme" has been published in Armenia. I always wanted it. Thank you very much Maro Madoyan-Alajajian, for the translation, the local Ministry of Culture, for support. I hope that we will get responses from this publication. I hope, we will be able to get a good movie based on the book, which also should have a big impact on people.

- And Mrs. Alajajyan, what you can say about the book: as a translator for the Armenian version.

- First I want to tell if I didn’t like the book as a work of art, I would not do the translation. In fact, this topic is too overwhelming for me and I think we have to talk about it in different ways. Marc found that new perspective.

No one has tried to look at the issue from the perspective of a gendarme. Gendarme is actually a very complex character. He goes on a journey that you will never wish at the age of 17.

I have done psychological studies simultaneously to understand the psychology of 17-year-old boy who must do all the orders from above.

Understanding the change of his psychology, when your are assured that this step is the criterion of your patriotism, if you do it then you love your fatherland. There are considerable evidences to prove that almost any man, no matter how good and balanced he is, can be put in such situation and do the orders.