Armenians should form a united front before any negotiations with Turkey
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By Harut Sassounian, Publisher, The
My latest column on Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s efforts to initiate a dialog with the Diaspora generated numerous reactions from both Armenians and Turks.
Turkish newspapers, TV stations, and websites gave extensive coverage to Davutoglu’s reported overtures to Armenians. The Turkish media linked the Foreign Minister’s initiative to Armenian plans for the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Genocide in 2015.
Armenians posted dozens of comments on websites and facebook in response to my column which was circulated worldwide in English, Armenian, Turkish, French, and Russian. The Armenian reaction was understandably skeptical and cautious. Armenian government officials quietly followed the reports on Davutoglu’s meetings without making any public comment, while the Armenian press in
Armenian readers raised two key issues: Who would represent the Diaspora if and when Armenians start negotiating with
These are highly complex issues deserving serious consideration by Armenians worldwide. Ideally, Diaspora representatives should be selected through elections in various countries, as proposed in my earlier columns. Those elected would have the right to represent Diaspora Armenians in any negotiations.
These representatives would have to coordinate their decisions and actions with the Armenian government, particularly on the critical issue of negotiating with
In the absence of an elected Diasporan structure, representatives of the three main Armenian political parties, jointly with the Armenian government, could take the lead in forming a single negotiating team. To make the delegation more inclusive, several major community organizations and prominent individuals could be asked to join, including representatives of Armenians in
Another critical issue is framing the agenda of negotiations with Turkish officials. What are the Armenians’ concrete demands from
It would be instructive for Armenians to review how
Additional lessons could be learned from examples of financial settlements resulting from mass torts, asbestos exposure and product liability, and claims arising from destruction of the
There is, however, a significant difference between the Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide. While the Jewish people were exterminated in European countries under Nazi rule, Armenians were massacred and forcefully driven from their ancestral homeland. Therefore, no amount of monetary payment will fully compensate Armenians for the loss of their historic lands. Armenians should seek not only compensation for their personal losses, but also the return of Western Armenia as arbitrated by Pres. Woodrow Wilson — a claim
Should serious negotiations materialize, the joint Armenian delegation could ask
— Compensate all Genocide victims;
— Rebuild and return all religious sites to the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul;
— Return all confiscated private and community properties to their Armenian owners;
— Provide the
— Give Armenians visa-free entry to Ararat, Ani, and other Armenian historical sites in
— Lift the blockade of
— End
— Refrain from all hostile policies directed against
These measures, if agreed upon, would represent significant progress in the pursuit of Armenian claims from