Poetic words become peace doves, go beyond limits
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Turkish Culture Minister Ertuğrul Günay pushes the button for Armenian expert Arthur Antranikyan’s translation project. Contemporary 20th century Turkish poetry will be published in Armenian for the first time thanks to Günay's support
Culture Minister Ertuğrul Günay pushes the button for the project.
Efforts to translate more than 20 Turkish poets, including pieces by the world-renowned Nazım Hikmet, into Armenian for the first time in history have received a pledge of support from the Turkish Minstry of Culture.
Culture Minister Ertuğrul Günay confirmed his support shortly after the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review first reported on the project a few weeks ago. “It is very important to realize such a project,” Günay said. “It is a great pleasure to see famous authors of Turkish literature translated into the various languages of the world. The ministry is ready to assist all kinds of projects relating to this issue.”
Dr. Arthur Antranikyan, who is a member of the Yerevan State University and the Armenian Writers’ Union Works, has initiated the project. A commission of specialists from the Turkology department at the Yerevan State University will work on the project, which will also include translations of Armenian literature into Turkish.
Antranikyan is planning to publish the poems and works for Armenian readers in the form of a 300-page special selection. The selection includes Orhan Veli Kanık, who played a leading role on modernizing Turkish poetry but died in a tragic accident in 1949 at the age 36.
Antranikyan, a poet and a fan of world literature, experienced Turkish writers for the first time during the Soviet Union. He has examined the interaction of contemporary Turkish and Armenian literature from Istanbul throughout the years and has carried out translations from Russian into Armenian through his own efforts.
“My prior goal was to present Turkish literature to Armenian readers by translating them from their original language,” Antranikyan said. “I was not pleased with a lot of translations because works were losing their originality. Turkish used to be translated into Russian and then from Russian into Armenian. I have shaped this project over the years and think now is the right time to get started.”
He said both peoples needed to get to know each other in order to eradicate their prejudices and rid themselves of historical traumas. Antranikyan said he is very happy with Günay’s interest in the project. “I want to thank him for replying to my call. It is a great pleasure for me to introduce the leading names of Turkish literature to Armenian readers.”
… … …
Due to increasing interest in Turkish literature among Armenians in recent years many books are being translated. Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk’s novel “Kar” (Snow) counts among the most recent ones. The effort to translate it was initiated by the Hamazgayin Education and Culture Institute in Yerevan. The majority of works translated up to this point have been penned by writers who are sympathetic to the Armenian issue.
27 Ağustos 2009 Perşembe
26 Ağustos 2009 Çarşamba
Sarkis' heart to beat in Istanbul
Sarkis' heart to beat in Istanbul
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
A master of installation art will bring examples from his 50-year professional career to Istanbul from the world's museums. Sarkis' exhibition 'Site,' which will open Sept. 11 at the Istanbul Modern Museum in the historical neighborhood of Karaköy, will be the most comprehensive exhibition of his work ever displayed
Sarkis' exhibition can be seen at Istanbul Modern from Sept. 11.
Wherever Sarkis may be, the rhythms of his heart will echo in Istanbul everyday for four months as the city hosts the most comprehensive exhibition of the conceptual artist’s work to date.
The Sarkis exhibit will open Sept. 11 at the Istanbul Modern Museum in the historic neighborhood of Karaköy and cover an area of 1,500 square meters.
A master of installation art, Sarkis, who lives in Paris, is showcasing the fruits of his 50-year professional career in the world’s leading contemporary art museums. Even though he has previously organized a few exhibitions in Istanbul in recent years, his new exhibit, “Site,” will be the first of its kind in many ways.
“Memory has turned into image for the first time in this exhibition. Images wanted to come together and called for each other. I have never made a combination using images thus far,” said the Turkish-born Armenian artist, who has come to Istanbul to prepare his exhibition.
The images that Sarkis mentions are the photographs – some 20,000 of them – that he has taken in his exhibitions for half a century. From his massive archive, the artist has chosen just 50 images for this exhibit.
Exhibition in 1/20-scale models
The photographs will be used like posters, to cover the walls of the exhibition space. “Walls seem miserable to me; they are temporary, and cannot be included in the space,” said Sarkis. “Characterless walls will become living creatures during this exhibit.”
For the first time in his career, Sarkis has created a mock-up of the Istanbul Modern exhibit, replicating the museum’s 1,500-square-meter exhibition area in 1/20-scale models to ensure that every detail is perfect for the show.
A piano’s sad story
An old piano, brought from the Surp Pırgiç Armenian Hospital in Istanbul’s Yedikule district, will be one of the most important parts of the exhibition. What makes the piano important is its interesting story.
In 1997, Sarkis’ mother died at the Surp Pırgiç hospital. When he heard the news, the artist came to the hospital. While en route to the room where his mother had died, he noticed an old piano tucked away under the stairs. After the funeral ceremony, he came to the hospital again and saw a person skillfully playing the piano. “The piano stuck in my mind like a geometric coffin and I have never forgotten it,” he said.
Sarkis will put the piano next to a statue in the exhibition area. If he can find the person who played the piano in the hospital that day, he will ask him to give a concert at the museum.
Rules of the Sarkis School
An art school that will open at the Istanbul Modern as part of the exhibition will give eight young artists the opportunity to meet with Sarkis. Each of them will spend five hours with the artist on different days.
“We will talk about their work in a room for five hours. I will take notes and try to find out their personalities. We will try to fit everything into this period of time, as if we have no time left. We will challenge time with this work,” said Sarkis, adding that he would not meet with the young people again after the first meeting. “We will see each other again in the exhibition area. These young artists will see how the world changes when passing from private to public.”
What he means by “private” is the five hours that he will spend alone with the artists. And by “public,” he means the exhibition area, where they will come into contact with the public.
The number 19.970 in neon
Viewers will have many surprises at “Site,” including the sounds of thunder and other metallic noises echoing through the exhibition area from time to time. The most attractive sound will be the rhythm of the artist’s heart. “Wherever I may be in the world, I will record the beats of my heart everyday and send them to the exhibition,” said Sarkis. “The beats of my heart will echo in the exhibition space.”
At the entrance to the exhibition space, the number 19.970, a reference to the date his mother died, will be illuminated in neon. “With the zero that will be added behind the number 1997, when my mother died, life and death will be reset,” Sarkis said. “I am an artist who pays attention to memory. Each coincidence will bring a new one.”
“Site” will be on view at the Istanbul Modern through Jan. 10, 2010, and will also have an online component at www.sarkis.fr. Concerts and screenings of world cinema masterpieces during the exhibition will further Sarkis’ goal of “merging Istanbul with the world in this exhibition.”
BOX
The art of installation
Installation art is a genre of often site-specific, three-dimensional works designed to transform the viewer’s perception of a space. The term is generally applied to works in interior spaces. Installation artworks have been constructed in standard exhibition spaces such as museums and galleries, as well as other public and private spaces. Practitioners of the genre incorporate a broad range of everyday and natural materials, often chosen for their evocative qualities, as well as new media such as video, sound, performance, immersive virtual reality and the Internet. Many installations are site-specific, in that they are designed only to exist in the space for which they were created.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
A master of installation art will bring examples from his 50-year professional career to Istanbul from the world's museums. Sarkis' exhibition 'Site,' which will open Sept. 11 at the Istanbul Modern Museum in the historical neighborhood of Karaköy, will be the most comprehensive exhibition of his work ever displayed
Sarkis' exhibition can be seen at Istanbul Modern from Sept. 11.
Wherever Sarkis may be, the rhythms of his heart will echo in Istanbul everyday for four months as the city hosts the most comprehensive exhibition of the conceptual artist’s work to date.
The Sarkis exhibit will open Sept. 11 at the Istanbul Modern Museum in the historic neighborhood of Karaköy and cover an area of 1,500 square meters.
A master of installation art, Sarkis, who lives in Paris, is showcasing the fruits of his 50-year professional career in the world’s leading contemporary art museums. Even though he has previously organized a few exhibitions in Istanbul in recent years, his new exhibit, “Site,” will be the first of its kind in many ways.
“Memory has turned into image for the first time in this exhibition. Images wanted to come together and called for each other. I have never made a combination using images thus far,” said the Turkish-born Armenian artist, who has come to Istanbul to prepare his exhibition.
The images that Sarkis mentions are the photographs – some 20,000 of them – that he has taken in his exhibitions for half a century. From his massive archive, the artist has chosen just 50 images for this exhibit.
Exhibition in 1/20-scale models
The photographs will be used like posters, to cover the walls of the exhibition space. “Walls seem miserable to me; they are temporary, and cannot be included in the space,” said Sarkis. “Characterless walls will become living creatures during this exhibit.”
For the first time in his career, Sarkis has created a mock-up of the Istanbul Modern exhibit, replicating the museum’s 1,500-square-meter exhibition area in 1/20-scale models to ensure that every detail is perfect for the show.
A piano’s sad story
An old piano, brought from the Surp Pırgiç Armenian Hospital in Istanbul’s Yedikule district, will be one of the most important parts of the exhibition. What makes the piano important is its interesting story.
In 1997, Sarkis’ mother died at the Surp Pırgiç hospital. When he heard the news, the artist came to the hospital. While en route to the room where his mother had died, he noticed an old piano tucked away under the stairs. After the funeral ceremony, he came to the hospital again and saw a person skillfully playing the piano. “The piano stuck in my mind like a geometric coffin and I have never forgotten it,” he said.
Sarkis will put the piano next to a statue in the exhibition area. If he can find the person who played the piano in the hospital that day, he will ask him to give a concert at the museum.
Rules of the Sarkis School
An art school that will open at the Istanbul Modern as part of the exhibition will give eight young artists the opportunity to meet with Sarkis. Each of them will spend five hours with the artist on different days.
“We will talk about their work in a room for five hours. I will take notes and try to find out their personalities. We will try to fit everything into this period of time, as if we have no time left. We will challenge time with this work,” said Sarkis, adding that he would not meet with the young people again after the first meeting. “We will see each other again in the exhibition area. These young artists will see how the world changes when passing from private to public.”
What he means by “private” is the five hours that he will spend alone with the artists. And by “public,” he means the exhibition area, where they will come into contact with the public.
The number 19.970 in neon
Viewers will have many surprises at “Site,” including the sounds of thunder and other metallic noises echoing through the exhibition area from time to time. The most attractive sound will be the rhythm of the artist’s heart. “Wherever I may be in the world, I will record the beats of my heart everyday and send them to the exhibition,” said Sarkis. “The beats of my heart will echo in the exhibition space.”
At the entrance to the exhibition space, the number 19.970, a reference to the date his mother died, will be illuminated in neon. “With the zero that will be added behind the number 1997, when my mother died, life and death will be reset,” Sarkis said. “I am an artist who pays attention to memory. Each coincidence will bring a new one.”
“Site” will be on view at the Istanbul Modern through Jan. 10, 2010, and will also have an online component at www.sarkis.fr. Concerts and screenings of world cinema masterpieces during the exhibition will further Sarkis’ goal of “merging Istanbul with the world in this exhibition.”
BOX
The art of installation
Installation art is a genre of often site-specific, three-dimensional works designed to transform the viewer’s perception of a space. The term is generally applied to works in interior spaces. Installation artworks have been constructed in standard exhibition spaces such as museums and galleries, as well as other public and private spaces. Practitioners of the genre incorporate a broad range of everyday and natural materials, often chosen for their evocative qualities, as well as new media such as video, sound, performance, immersive virtual reality and the Internet. Many installations are site-specific, in that they are designed only to exist in the space for which they were created.
18 Ağustos 2009 Salı
Call for peace by Armenian artist
Call for peace by Armenian artist
by Vercihan Ziflioğlu
8 Mayıs 2009
YEREVAN - Djivan Gasparyan, a world-renown duduk virtuoso, has a peace message for the Turkish and Armenian people: 'No matter that you are Muslims and we are Christians. The holy thing we worship, and all the paths to him, are the same'
World-renowned Armenian duduk virtuoso Djivan Gasparyan has said it is "the right time" for all Turkish and Armenian people to raise their glasses "arm-in-arm for peace and brotherhood."
"Come, let's share our pains," said the musician, 81, known for his skill on the duduk, an ancient, nine-holed wind instrument with a double reed that is traditionally made of apricot wood. "No matter that you are Muslims and we are Christians. The holy thing we worship, and all the paths to him, are the same."
Gasparyan's family owes its life to a Turkish family, he said, explaining: "The roots of my family date back to the Anatolian city of Muş. My grandfather had six children. In 1915, our Turkish neighbor saved the life of these children by hiding them under the fodder in the barn."
His grandfather spoke about this Turkish family with love and respect until the end of his life, Gasparyan said, adding, "The biggest wish of my grandfather was to see this family before his death and give them his blessings, but his wish did not come true."
Performing for President Gül in Yerevan
"My biggest wish is for the border gates between Turkey and Armenia to open as soon as possible," Gasparyan told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review at his home in the Armenian capital of Yerevan before he embarked on a world tour. This would accelerate the dialogue process between both countries, he said, adding, "I want to see our peoples make peace before I die."
Gasparyan performed a special concert in the Armenian Presidency Palace for President Abdullah Gül when the Turkish leader went to Armenia to view a football match between the two countries on Sept. 6. "I performed many songs," he said. "Gül thanked and a presented a plaque to me. It was a historic moment."
If anyone is a citizen of the world, Gasparyan is. He is a citizen of both the United States and Armenia, and has houses in many countries. Despite his advanced age, he still goes on world tours too. "I have finally come to Armenia, which is my homeland," he said. "I feel at peace in this country. But my heart is in Muş, where my grandfathers were born. I want to come to Turkey and visit Muş as soon as possible."
Taking the stage with many world-renown names, Gasparyan said it was a significant step to perform with Turkish artists. "Maybe we cannot speak a common language, but we can create a global one with notes and music," he said.
From time to time, Gasparyan said, the ownership of songs is debated in Armenia, just as it is in Turkey. "There are big similarities between some Turkish, Armenian and Iranian songs," he said. "For example, 'Sarı Gelin' (Yellow Bride) is always the focus of discussions. But it doesn't make sense to politicize songs. It is nonsense to debate the ownership of anonymous music."
Public artist of Armenia
Djivan Gasparyan became Armenia's first and only "Public Artist" in 1973 and has been awarded four gold medals by UNESCO for his contributions to world culture. He has produced music for 39 films all over the globe, including in Hollywood, and has become well known for his collaborations with Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, Lionel Ritchie, Michael Brook and Hans Zimmer, among others. For his contributions to international music, Gasparyan was presented in 2002 with the WOMEX, one of the most prestigious awards in the world of music.
by Vercihan Ziflioğlu
8 Mayıs 2009
YEREVAN - Djivan Gasparyan, a world-renown duduk virtuoso, has a peace message for the Turkish and Armenian people: 'No matter that you are Muslims and we are Christians. The holy thing we worship, and all the paths to him, are the same'
World-renowned Armenian duduk virtuoso Djivan Gasparyan has said it is "the right time" for all Turkish and Armenian people to raise their glasses "arm-in-arm for peace and brotherhood."
"Come, let's share our pains," said the musician, 81, known for his skill on the duduk, an ancient, nine-holed wind instrument with a double reed that is traditionally made of apricot wood. "No matter that you are Muslims and we are Christians. The holy thing we worship, and all the paths to him, are the same."
Gasparyan's family owes its life to a Turkish family, he said, explaining: "The roots of my family date back to the Anatolian city of Muş. My grandfather had six children. In 1915, our Turkish neighbor saved the life of these children by hiding them under the fodder in the barn."
His grandfather spoke about this Turkish family with love and respect until the end of his life, Gasparyan said, adding, "The biggest wish of my grandfather was to see this family before his death and give them his blessings, but his wish did not come true."
Performing for President Gül in Yerevan
"My biggest wish is for the border gates between Turkey and Armenia to open as soon as possible," Gasparyan told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review at his home in the Armenian capital of Yerevan before he embarked on a world tour. This would accelerate the dialogue process between both countries, he said, adding, "I want to see our peoples make peace before I die."
Gasparyan performed a special concert in the Armenian Presidency Palace for President Abdullah Gül when the Turkish leader went to Armenia to view a football match between the two countries on Sept. 6. "I performed many songs," he said. "Gül thanked and a presented a plaque to me. It was a historic moment."
If anyone is a citizen of the world, Gasparyan is. He is a citizen of both the United States and Armenia, and has houses in many countries. Despite his advanced age, he still goes on world tours too. "I have finally come to Armenia, which is my homeland," he said. "I feel at peace in this country. But my heart is in Muş, where my grandfathers were born. I want to come to Turkey and visit Muş as soon as possible."
Taking the stage with many world-renown names, Gasparyan said it was a significant step to perform with Turkish artists. "Maybe we cannot speak a common language, but we can create a global one with notes and music," he said.
From time to time, Gasparyan said, the ownership of songs is debated in Armenia, just as it is in Turkey. "There are big similarities between some Turkish, Armenian and Iranian songs," he said. "For example, 'Sarı Gelin' (Yellow Bride) is always the focus of discussions. But it doesn't make sense to politicize songs. It is nonsense to debate the ownership of anonymous music."
Public artist of Armenia
Djivan Gasparyan became Armenia's first and only "Public Artist" in 1973 and has been awarded four gold medals by UNESCO for his contributions to world culture. He has produced music for 39 films all over the globe, including in Hollywood, and has become well known for his collaborations with Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, Lionel Ritchie, Michael Brook and Hans Zimmer, among others. For his contributions to international music, Gasparyan was presented in 2002 with the WOMEX, one of the most prestigious awards in the world of music.
A common enemy that is called hate
A common enemy that is called hate
26.04.2008
Hurriyet Daily News
Neither Turks nor Armenians are interested in free-thinking researchers, says historian Ara Sarafian, arguing that both Armenian and Turkish nationalists seek to prolong the animosity between the two peoples
Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Turkey and Armenia must together create the opportunity to secure a peaceful future and the current tactics of the Armenian diaspora are not helpful in the view of the director one of that same diaspora's leading think tanks. That iconoclastic view was shared by Ara Sarafian, who heads the London-based Gomidas Institute on the sidelines of a conference this week held by Bilgi University on the day often associated with allegations of an Armenian genocide at the hands of Ottoman Turks that is said to have begun on April 24, 1915. Indeed the date is important Sarafian told the Turkish Daily News, as on that day, " 220 Armenian intellectuals in Istanbul were arrested and were never heard of again." But, he said, the ongoing campaign by the Armenian lobby to generate declarations by parliaments around the world, a campaign bitterly opposed by Turkey, has hardly produced the desired results. It is time for a new approach, he said. This was the message Sarafian shared at the conference, organized by the Human Rights Association (İHD) Istanbul branch and held at Bilgi. And it was a theme Sarafian returned to in a conversation with the TDN. He said nationalists among both Armenians and Turks are fed by hatred and animosity. The researcher agreed that Armenian lobbies and committees are certainly organizing anti-Turkish activities, but argued it is wrong to categorize the entire Armenian diaspora as a single camp. Turkey's stance toward Armenians has only helped the efforts of these Armenian lobbies and committees, he said. Armenians, meanwhile, make comical claims for land that only serve to reinforce Turkish reluctance to engage in dialogue. "Problems will not be solved by people talking from their comfortable chairs in Los Angeles," he said.
‘Those who accused Dink of being a Turkish agent made him a hero' On Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink, who was murdered by a teenage Turkish nationalist on Jan. 19, 2007, Sarafian noted a particular irony. For years, many in the Armenian diaspora accused Dink of being a Turkish agent for his views that development of empathy between the two communities was not served by genocide polemics. Now that he is dead, those same critics of Dink when he was alive have turned him into a hero. "Dink created an opportunity for Turkish-Armenian rapprochement but that is now lost," he said. If the genocide issue was solved all these lobbies and groups would face serious hardship because they would have nothing to do, he said. "We have lived like enemies until now. From now on, we must work for peace," said Sarafian, adding that the only thing separating Turks from Armenians was religion.
Neither side is interested in free-thinking researchers: Sarafian said neither Turkish nor Armenian nationalists wanted free-thinking researchers, accusing some professors of Armenian origins in the United States of creating obstacles for German researcher Hilmar Kaiser and noted that some invitations for meetings were canceled at the last minute. "Even this interview will make me a target of some groups," he said. Being a historian is mutually exclusive from being Armenian, he said, adding that most of his own family was lost during the incidents in 1915. "As a historian, my duty is to objectively seek the truth. In the 1990s, I conducted research in Turkey," he said. However, he and Kaiser had encountered serious obstacles during his studies in the Prime Ministry archives, claiming that they were eventually barred from entering it. The Turkish press was manipulating the exchanges with Turkish History Foundation Chairman Yusuf Halaçoğlu, he said. "Upon Halaçoğlu's invitation to work together, I proposed to center our studies in Elazığ. I asked for a list of Armenians deported from the province. If these people were exiled to somewhere and then continued their lives, there must be records. After this request, Halaçoğlu invited me to Ankara and also told a reporter on CNN-Türk, ‘Sarafian knows well that such incidents never took place under the Ottomans.' After this statement, I decided to put a stop to the decision to work together. Halaçoğlu, with that statement, showed his stance. As a historian, it is impossible to conduct an objective study."
Armenians accuse Ottomans of committing organized massacres of Armenians in 1915 that was tantamount to genocide. This week Armenia's new president announced the campaign to secure international recognition of such claims will continue. Turkey dismisses the allegations and argues that there were huge numbers of casualties on both sides and most were caused by inter-communal fighting and wartime conditions. To date, parliaments in some 20 countries have passed resolutions supporting the Armenian position. The United States and the United Kingdom have remained notable exceptions and refrain from use of the word "genocide"
26.04.2008
Hurriyet Daily News
Neither Turks nor Armenians are interested in free-thinking researchers, says historian Ara Sarafian, arguing that both Armenian and Turkish nationalists seek to prolong the animosity between the two peoples
Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Turkey and Armenia must together create the opportunity to secure a peaceful future and the current tactics of the Armenian diaspora are not helpful in the view of the director one of that same diaspora's leading think tanks. That iconoclastic view was shared by Ara Sarafian, who heads the London-based Gomidas Institute on the sidelines of a conference this week held by Bilgi University on the day often associated with allegations of an Armenian genocide at the hands of Ottoman Turks that is said to have begun on April 24, 1915. Indeed the date is important Sarafian told the Turkish Daily News, as on that day, " 220 Armenian intellectuals in Istanbul were arrested and were never heard of again." But, he said, the ongoing campaign by the Armenian lobby to generate declarations by parliaments around the world, a campaign bitterly opposed by Turkey, has hardly produced the desired results. It is time for a new approach, he said. This was the message Sarafian shared at the conference, organized by the Human Rights Association (İHD) Istanbul branch and held at Bilgi. And it was a theme Sarafian returned to in a conversation with the TDN. He said nationalists among both Armenians and Turks are fed by hatred and animosity. The researcher agreed that Armenian lobbies and committees are certainly organizing anti-Turkish activities, but argued it is wrong to categorize the entire Armenian diaspora as a single camp. Turkey's stance toward Armenians has only helped the efforts of these Armenian lobbies and committees, he said. Armenians, meanwhile, make comical claims for land that only serve to reinforce Turkish reluctance to engage in dialogue. "Problems will not be solved by people talking from their comfortable chairs in Los Angeles," he said.
‘Those who accused Dink of being a Turkish agent made him a hero' On Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink, who was murdered by a teenage Turkish nationalist on Jan. 19, 2007, Sarafian noted a particular irony. For years, many in the Armenian diaspora accused Dink of being a Turkish agent for his views that development of empathy between the two communities was not served by genocide polemics. Now that he is dead, those same critics of Dink when he was alive have turned him into a hero. "Dink created an opportunity for Turkish-Armenian rapprochement but that is now lost," he said. If the genocide issue was solved all these lobbies and groups would face serious hardship because they would have nothing to do, he said. "We have lived like enemies until now. From now on, we must work for peace," said Sarafian, adding that the only thing separating Turks from Armenians was religion.
Neither side is interested in free-thinking researchers: Sarafian said neither Turkish nor Armenian nationalists wanted free-thinking researchers, accusing some professors of Armenian origins in the United States of creating obstacles for German researcher Hilmar Kaiser and noted that some invitations for meetings were canceled at the last minute. "Even this interview will make me a target of some groups," he said. Being a historian is mutually exclusive from being Armenian, he said, adding that most of his own family was lost during the incidents in 1915. "As a historian, my duty is to objectively seek the truth. In the 1990s, I conducted research in Turkey," he said. However, he and Kaiser had encountered serious obstacles during his studies in the Prime Ministry archives, claiming that they were eventually barred from entering it. The Turkish press was manipulating the exchanges with Turkish History Foundation Chairman Yusuf Halaçoğlu, he said. "Upon Halaçoğlu's invitation to work together, I proposed to center our studies in Elazığ. I asked for a list of Armenians deported from the province. If these people were exiled to somewhere and then continued their lives, there must be records. After this request, Halaçoğlu invited me to Ankara and also told a reporter on CNN-Türk, ‘Sarafian knows well that such incidents never took place under the Ottomans.' After this statement, I decided to put a stop to the decision to work together. Halaçoğlu, with that statement, showed his stance. As a historian, it is impossible to conduct an objective study."
Armenians accuse Ottomans of committing organized massacres of Armenians in 1915 that was tantamount to genocide. This week Armenia's new president announced the campaign to secure international recognition of such claims will continue. Turkey dismisses the allegations and argues that there were huge numbers of casualties on both sides and most were caused by inter-communal fighting and wartime conditions. To date, parliaments in some 20 countries have passed resolutions supporting the Armenian position. The United States and the United Kingdom have remained notable exceptions and refrain from use of the word "genocide"
Sarafian: Focus on the diaspora
Sarafian: Focus on the diaspora
By Vercihan Ziflioğlu
24.11.2008
ISTANBUL - Multilateral efforts to improve relations between Armenia and Turkey is the wrong way to resolve the Armenian issue, says respected historian Ara Sarafian, arguing that the solution lies in the huge and influential diaspora.
Sarafian, the head of the London-based Gomidas Institute, said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s offer to Armenia to establish a commission of historians to resolve the Armenian issue was positive, but Armenia was the wrong address.
Armenians argue that the death of hundreds of thousands of Armenians in 1915 constituted genocide while Turkey says many Turks also died in the wartime circumstances and denies there was a state-enforced policy to kill Armenians.
Sarafian was invited to Turkey by the Boğaziçi, Bilkent and Sabancı Universities and the Hrant Dink Foundation to attend a history conference in the Mediterranean province of Adana.
Sarafian said there were two problems that would arise out of any effort to improve relations with Armenians through closer ties with Armenia. "Freedom of expression for historians in Armenia is limited and the genocide issue has become a political tool," he said.
He said Turkey should continue with its plan to form a commission of historians who would discuss the matter, but suggested Turkish historians to meet with moderate Armenian historians in the diaspora rather than Armenia. "The solution should start from the diaspora," he said.
"The members of the diaspora who still have Anatolia in their hearts should not be ignored," he said, adding that the diaspora was not part of Armenia but part of Anatolia. He also said Turkey needed to fund the commission of independent historians. "I believe Turkey is not how it used to be. It has a modern perception and wants solutions to the problems," said Sarafian.
Armenian archives
Prime Minister Erdoğan’s suggestion to form a commission also involves the opening of the state archives of both Armenia and Turkey. Sarafian said the archives in Armenia were inadequate. "The real documents on the genocide are in the Zoryan archives in Boston and the Armenian Patriarchy archives in Jerusalem," he said.
He said the most important question was whether Armenians wanted to overcome this chronic problem. He asked, "Will we be able to free ourselves from this instinct of revenge and share our grief?" Armenians should stop seeing themselves as the victims, said the historian.
"We cannot compare the Armenian genocide with the Holocaust. Those who were banished from their land suffered a lot but survived," he said.
He also said Turkish society could not be blamed for what happened in the past. "No one can deny the genocide but the entire Turkish nation cannot be held responsible. Moreover, many Turks rescued Armenians from death," he said.
The lobbies had turned the issue into a political tool, said Sarafian. "They want to control everything and fear historians opening a brand new page," he said. He said a language of peace should be created between Turks and Armenians.
He still had to be careful when he undertook research in Turkey and added, "I, as a historian, try not to display a wrong stance and create tension. I know I need to be objective. Additionally, Turkey is being constructive and it would be wrong to miss this chance."
He said the restoration of the Armenian Akdamar Church in the recent past could have created an environment of dialogue but had become a missed chance. "Armenians did not want to take that chance because it did not suit their interests," he said.
The Armenian response, both from the diaspora and Armenia, to Turkish calls to work together was complete silence, he said. "The diaspora boycotted any cooperation with Turkey because it only wants to blame and lay accusations against Turkey. Unfortunately, radical groups within the diaspora have turned a sensitive issue, like genocide, into a political tool.
He said it was important for future generations to free themselves from the victim psychology, concluding his remarks by saying, "We need to ensure our children live in peace. The revenge instinct will do no one any good."
By Vercihan Ziflioğlu
24.11.2008
ISTANBUL - Multilateral efforts to improve relations between Armenia and Turkey is the wrong way to resolve the Armenian issue, says respected historian Ara Sarafian, arguing that the solution lies in the huge and influential diaspora.
Sarafian, the head of the London-based Gomidas Institute, said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s offer to Armenia to establish a commission of historians to resolve the Armenian issue was positive, but Armenia was the wrong address.
Armenians argue that the death of hundreds of thousands of Armenians in 1915 constituted genocide while Turkey says many Turks also died in the wartime circumstances and denies there was a state-enforced policy to kill Armenians.
Sarafian was invited to Turkey by the Boğaziçi, Bilkent and Sabancı Universities and the Hrant Dink Foundation to attend a history conference in the Mediterranean province of Adana.
Sarafian said there were two problems that would arise out of any effort to improve relations with Armenians through closer ties with Armenia. "Freedom of expression for historians in Armenia is limited and the genocide issue has become a political tool," he said.
He said Turkey should continue with its plan to form a commission of historians who would discuss the matter, but suggested Turkish historians to meet with moderate Armenian historians in the diaspora rather than Armenia. "The solution should start from the diaspora," he said.
"The members of the diaspora who still have Anatolia in their hearts should not be ignored," he said, adding that the diaspora was not part of Armenia but part of Anatolia. He also said Turkey needed to fund the commission of independent historians. "I believe Turkey is not how it used to be. It has a modern perception and wants solutions to the problems," said Sarafian.
Armenian archives
Prime Minister Erdoğan’s suggestion to form a commission also involves the opening of the state archives of both Armenia and Turkey. Sarafian said the archives in Armenia were inadequate. "The real documents on the genocide are in the Zoryan archives in Boston and the Armenian Patriarchy archives in Jerusalem," he said.
He said the most important question was whether Armenians wanted to overcome this chronic problem. He asked, "Will we be able to free ourselves from this instinct of revenge and share our grief?" Armenians should stop seeing themselves as the victims, said the historian.
"We cannot compare the Armenian genocide with the Holocaust. Those who were banished from their land suffered a lot but survived," he said.
He also said Turkish society could not be blamed for what happened in the past. "No one can deny the genocide but the entire Turkish nation cannot be held responsible. Moreover, many Turks rescued Armenians from death," he said.
The lobbies had turned the issue into a political tool, said Sarafian. "They want to control everything and fear historians opening a brand new page," he said. He said a language of peace should be created between Turks and Armenians.
He still had to be careful when he undertook research in Turkey and added, "I, as a historian, try not to display a wrong stance and create tension. I know I need to be objective. Additionally, Turkey is being constructive and it would be wrong to miss this chance."
He said the restoration of the Armenian Akdamar Church in the recent past could have created an environment of dialogue but had become a missed chance. "Armenians did not want to take that chance because it did not suit their interests," he said.
The Armenian response, both from the diaspora and Armenia, to Turkish calls to work together was complete silence, he said. "The diaspora boycotted any cooperation with Turkey because it only wants to blame and lay accusations against Turkey. Unfortunately, radical groups within the diaspora have turned a sensitive issue, like genocide, into a political tool.
He said it was important for future generations to free themselves from the victim psychology, concluding his remarks by saying, "We need to ensure our children live in peace. The revenge instinct will do no one any good."
Why should UK lie about 1915, asks local Blue Book’s
Why should UK lie about 1915, asks local Blue Book’s
Monday, June 29, 2009
Vercihan Ziflioğlu
ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News
As the United Kingdom does not officially recognize Armenian genocide claims, historian Ara Sarafian has questioned why the London-based institute he heads would lie in a recent edition of a book that appears to back those claims.
As the United Kingdom does not officially recognize Armenian genocide claims, historian Ara Sarafian has questioned why the London-based institute he heads would lie in a recent edition of a book that appears to back those claims.
The Gomidas Institute has recently edited a new version of a book first published in 1916 that deals with the 1915 killing of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey refutes claims that Armenians were victims of a genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire in 1915, arguing that there were deaths among all communities in war-time Anatolia during that period. Turkey argues that the Blue Book is propaganda containing mainly false assertions published by Great Britain against the Ottoman Empire, which was allied to Germany in World War I. Before the Gomidas version, the book was published in 2005 by Pencere Publishing, a Turkish company.
Speaking after the new edition’s launch in Ankara on June 26, Sarafian said: “England is one the countries that defend the Turkish thesis. A policy in favor of Turkey is being followed and the Armenian genocide is not recognized by the British government. Why would Britain want to play a trick like this? Why would it make false claims? What is in it for England?”
He said the reason the book’s launch was held in Ankara was the fact they had invited all parliamentary deputies to the launch and wanted to make it easier for them to attend the release.
Sarafian said the Blue Book had become a diplomatic problem between Turkey and Britain, adding that was the reason they wanted to share copies of the new edition with them first. “This is the uncensored version,” he said, adding that the Turkish version published by Pencere had included many mistakes linked to translation and missing information.
He argued that the missing information was the main reason the book caused a controversy in Turkey. “In the 1916 printing of the book, some parts were censored knowingly and Pencere Publishing preferred to print the book in that format,” said Sarafian.
“Let us not forget, in those years, the witnesses of the events were still alive and their names were kept secret in order not to endanger their safety. Otherwise, they would become targets. But we do not have to hide that information anymore because they are no longer alive,” he said.
A total 550 copies of the book were sent to Parliament before the launch, said Ragıp Zarakolu, the owner of the Belge Publishing, but the Parliament Speaker’s Office, which oversees the distribution of incoming documents for deputies, preferred not to distribute it to representatives.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Vercihan Ziflioğlu
ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News
As the United Kingdom does not officially recognize Armenian genocide claims, historian Ara Sarafian has questioned why the London-based institute he heads would lie in a recent edition of a book that appears to back those claims.
As the United Kingdom does not officially recognize Armenian genocide claims, historian Ara Sarafian has questioned why the London-based institute he heads would lie in a recent edition of a book that appears to back those claims.
The Gomidas Institute has recently edited a new version of a book first published in 1916 that deals with the 1915 killing of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey refutes claims that Armenians were victims of a genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire in 1915, arguing that there were deaths among all communities in war-time Anatolia during that period. Turkey argues that the Blue Book is propaganda containing mainly false assertions published by Great Britain against the Ottoman Empire, which was allied to Germany in World War I. Before the Gomidas version, the book was published in 2005 by Pencere Publishing, a Turkish company.
Speaking after the new edition’s launch in Ankara on June 26, Sarafian said: “England is one the countries that defend the Turkish thesis. A policy in favor of Turkey is being followed and the Armenian genocide is not recognized by the British government. Why would Britain want to play a trick like this? Why would it make false claims? What is in it for England?”
He said the reason the book’s launch was held in Ankara was the fact they had invited all parliamentary deputies to the launch and wanted to make it easier for them to attend the release.
Sarafian said the Blue Book had become a diplomatic problem between Turkey and Britain, adding that was the reason they wanted to share copies of the new edition with them first. “This is the uncensored version,” he said, adding that the Turkish version published by Pencere had included many mistakes linked to translation and missing information.
He argued that the missing information was the main reason the book caused a controversy in Turkey. “In the 1916 printing of the book, some parts were censored knowingly and Pencere Publishing preferred to print the book in that format,” said Sarafian.
“Let us not forget, in those years, the witnesses of the events were still alive and their names were kept secret in order not to endanger their safety. Otherwise, they would become targets. But we do not have to hide that information anymore because they are no longer alive,” he said.
A total 550 copies of the book were sent to Parliament before the launch, said Ragıp Zarakolu, the owner of the Belge Publishing, but the Parliament Speaker’s Office, which oversees the distribution of incoming documents for deputies, preferred not to distribute it to representatives.
Caucasus talks won't resolve issues, says Armenian official
Caucasus talks won't resolve issues, says Armenian official
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Vercihan Ziflioğlu
YEREVAN – Hürriyet Daily News
As the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan prepare for another round of peace talks Friday, a former deputy to the Armenian ambassador in Moscow has said negotiations will fail to resolve the long-standing Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.
Dr. Stepan Grigorian, who has also been an adviser to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review that Russia, which is hosting the Caucasus peace talks, does not want reconciliation in the Karabakh dispute. He also said he thought attempts by Matt Bryza, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, for a solution were superficial and inadequate.
Presidents Serge Sarkisian of Armenia and Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan met in November for talks near Moscow, as Russia cast itself as peacemaker after its August war with Georgia. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Armenia and Azerbaijan had made progress toward a resolution. Mediators from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, who have been monitoring peacemaking efforts, had also reported in early May that they saw signs of progress.
Nagorno-Karabakh is an enclave in Azerbaijan that has been occupied by Armenian forces since the end of a six-year conflict that killed about 30,000 people and displaced 1 million before a truce was reached in 1994. Its unilateral independence is not recognized by the international community. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan in the conflict.
Past policies:
Despite the promising signals from the peace negotiations, Grigorian said he believed Friday’s meeting between Sarkisian and Aliyev would not provide a breakthrough in the Karabakh problem, which he said had become more complicated due to the flawed policies of Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharian.
“Since Kocharian himself was from Karabakh, he wanted to rule Armenia and the disputed region together. He advocated Karabakh independence. But this perception made the situation more difficult,” he said.
Evaluating the Russian mediation of the talks, Grigorian said he did not believe Moscow was honest about a clear solution to the dispute, adding: “Russia just pursues its own interest in the negotiations. Therefore, a solution will not be possible unless the interests of Russia, along with the U.S., have been met.”
According to Grigorian, Russia wants to be the only power in the Caucasus region and a possible deal between Yerevan and Baku means waning Russian influence in both former Soviet countries. Recalling Russia’s recognition of the Georgian rebel regions of South Ossetia and Abhkazia, Grigorian said that like the international community Russia had never recognized the independence of Karabakh.
“Armenia thinks Russia will always be the protector country, but this is a big mistake. Russia’s stance on Karabakh’s independence should be an important lesson for Armenia,” he said.
Criticism of optimism:
Grigorian said he thought attempts by Bryza for a solution were left wanting. “It is hard to understand the optimism of Bryza on the Karabakh issue. Optimistic statements raise expectations and that is extremely wrong. Bryza does not know the area well enough and this is a great danger.”
He also suggested that rushing the process might pose grave risks to the region and could even lead to another war, which would cause instability not only in the Caucasus but also in the Middle East.
Grigorian said among all EU nations, only the policies of France were similar to the Russian stance “because of the French hostility toward Turkey.”
“France does not want Turkish-Armenian relations improved,” he said, adding: “Ankara is seeking a deal with the Armenians that will open the EU’s doors to Turkey. However, France does not want to see Turkey among the EU family.”
As a result the key to a solution is in the hands of the Armenian and Azerbaijani people, Gregorian said, adding that they should be further informed because both societies were not ready for the solution process yet.
Gregorian said he also believed Turkey might play an active role in the process by establishing dialogue with Armenia. But warned: “Like Cyprus, the Karabakh problem is not one that can be solved quickly.”
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Vercihan Ziflioğlu
YEREVAN – Hürriyet Daily News
As the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan prepare for another round of peace talks Friday, a former deputy to the Armenian ambassador in Moscow has said negotiations will fail to resolve the long-standing Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.
Dr. Stepan Grigorian, who has also been an adviser to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review that Russia, which is hosting the Caucasus peace talks, does not want reconciliation in the Karabakh dispute. He also said he thought attempts by Matt Bryza, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, for a solution were superficial and inadequate.
Presidents Serge Sarkisian of Armenia and Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan met in November for talks near Moscow, as Russia cast itself as peacemaker after its August war with Georgia. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Armenia and Azerbaijan had made progress toward a resolution. Mediators from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, who have been monitoring peacemaking efforts, had also reported in early May that they saw signs of progress.
Nagorno-Karabakh is an enclave in Azerbaijan that has been occupied by Armenian forces since the end of a six-year conflict that killed about 30,000 people and displaced 1 million before a truce was reached in 1994. Its unilateral independence is not recognized by the international community. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan in the conflict.
Past policies:
Despite the promising signals from the peace negotiations, Grigorian said he believed Friday’s meeting between Sarkisian and Aliyev would not provide a breakthrough in the Karabakh problem, which he said had become more complicated due to the flawed policies of Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharian.
“Since Kocharian himself was from Karabakh, he wanted to rule Armenia and the disputed region together. He advocated Karabakh independence. But this perception made the situation more difficult,” he said.
Evaluating the Russian mediation of the talks, Grigorian said he did not believe Moscow was honest about a clear solution to the dispute, adding: “Russia just pursues its own interest in the negotiations. Therefore, a solution will not be possible unless the interests of Russia, along with the U.S., have been met.”
According to Grigorian, Russia wants to be the only power in the Caucasus region and a possible deal between Yerevan and Baku means waning Russian influence in both former Soviet countries. Recalling Russia’s recognition of the Georgian rebel regions of South Ossetia and Abhkazia, Grigorian said that like the international community Russia had never recognized the independence of Karabakh.
“Armenia thinks Russia will always be the protector country, but this is a big mistake. Russia’s stance on Karabakh’s independence should be an important lesson for Armenia,” he said.
Criticism of optimism:
Grigorian said he thought attempts by Bryza for a solution were left wanting. “It is hard to understand the optimism of Bryza on the Karabakh issue. Optimistic statements raise expectations and that is extremely wrong. Bryza does not know the area well enough and this is a great danger.”
He also suggested that rushing the process might pose grave risks to the region and could even lead to another war, which would cause instability not only in the Caucasus but also in the Middle East.
Grigorian said among all EU nations, only the policies of France were similar to the Russian stance “because of the French hostility toward Turkey.”
“France does not want Turkish-Armenian relations improved,” he said, adding: “Ankara is seeking a deal with the Armenians that will open the EU’s doors to Turkey. However, France does not want to see Turkey among the EU family.”
As a result the key to a solution is in the hands of the Armenian and Azerbaijani people, Gregorian said, adding that they should be further informed because both societies were not ready for the solution process yet.
Gregorian said he also believed Turkey might play an active role in the process by establishing dialogue with Armenia. But warned: “Like Cyprus, the Karabakh problem is not one that can be solved quickly.”
Turkey's culture minister calls for cooperation with Armenia
Turkey's culture minister calls for cooperation with Armenia
by Vercihan Ziflioğlu
ISTANBUL - Turkey's culture minister calls on Armenia to cooperate in restoring the Ani ruins on the Turkish side of the border, but says that the Nagorno-Karabakh issue must be resolved first.
Turkey and Armenia should cooperate to restore the ancient town of Ani, said Culture Minister Ertugrul Gunay, adding that any such effort would require a resolution of the problems between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The ministry's plans for cooperation between the two countries are not limited to restoration work, Gunay told the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review. He said he hoped to undertake many joint cultural projects with both Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The ancient town of Ani was the capital of the Kingdom of Armenia between 961 and 1045. Its ruins are situated in the Arpacay region of the northeastern province of Kars, on the Turkish side of the border between the two countries.
According to Gunay, cultural efforts to establish peace in the Caucasus region cannot be maintained if they ignore Azerbaijan. “We cannot treat the people of Azerbaijan as if they don't exist while trying to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia,” he said. “We should never forget that the province of Nagorno-Karabakh is still under Armenian occupation.”
Gunay said world-renowned Turkish piano virtuoso Idil Biret would hold a concert in Armenia in the next few months as part of her Caucasus tour. “We have certain sensitivities, but we also are aware that cultural activities can play a key role in resolving political issues,” he said. “This [the concert] is a first step.”
A stone quarry on the Armenian side of the border across from Ani has caused conflict in recent years, with Turkey blaming the explosions at the quarry for accelerating the destruction of the ancient town. Turkey's complaint at the International Council on Monuments and Sites, or ICOMOC, a sub-department of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, resulted in Armenia halting blasting activities.
The Turkish government's practice of calling the town “Anı,” rather than Ani, in order to give it a more Turkish character has also been a source of controversy. When asked about the matter, Gunay implied that it would soon be resolved. “I find changing the original names of historical sites meaningless,” he said. “Such names harm no one.”
The culture minister said the current restoration efforts in Ani would soon turn their focus to the town's cathedral and that Armenian experts had recently attended a meeting on the project. The World Monuments Fund would support the restoration of the cathedral, he said.
‘Ready to help' with Diyarbakir church
Gunay added that the ministry was also ready to contribute to the Turkish-Armenian community in Istanbul's efforts to find the funds to restore the 500-year-old Surp Giragos Church in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir.
But the community fears any application for help would result in the church being restored as a museum rather than a place of worship that would serve the community, as happened with the Surp Church on the island of Akdamar in the eastern province of Van.
Gunay said if the community filed a request, his ministry would be glad to be of assistance, adding, “We have the utmost respect for all beliefs.”
by Vercihan Ziflioğlu
ISTANBUL - Turkey's culture minister calls on Armenia to cooperate in restoring the Ani ruins on the Turkish side of the border, but says that the Nagorno-Karabakh issue must be resolved first.
Turkey and Armenia should cooperate to restore the ancient town of Ani, said Culture Minister Ertugrul Gunay, adding that any such effort would require a resolution of the problems between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The ministry's plans for cooperation between the two countries are not limited to restoration work, Gunay told the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review. He said he hoped to undertake many joint cultural projects with both Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The ancient town of Ani was the capital of the Kingdom of Armenia between 961 and 1045. Its ruins are situated in the Arpacay region of the northeastern province of Kars, on the Turkish side of the border between the two countries.
According to Gunay, cultural efforts to establish peace in the Caucasus region cannot be maintained if they ignore Azerbaijan. “We cannot treat the people of Azerbaijan as if they don't exist while trying to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia,” he said. “We should never forget that the province of Nagorno-Karabakh is still under Armenian occupation.”
Gunay said world-renowned Turkish piano virtuoso Idil Biret would hold a concert in Armenia in the next few months as part of her Caucasus tour. “We have certain sensitivities, but we also are aware that cultural activities can play a key role in resolving political issues,” he said. “This [the concert] is a first step.”
A stone quarry on the Armenian side of the border across from Ani has caused conflict in recent years, with Turkey blaming the explosions at the quarry for accelerating the destruction of the ancient town. Turkey's complaint at the International Council on Monuments and Sites, or ICOMOC, a sub-department of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, resulted in Armenia halting blasting activities.
The Turkish government's practice of calling the town “Anı,” rather than Ani, in order to give it a more Turkish character has also been a source of controversy. When asked about the matter, Gunay implied that it would soon be resolved. “I find changing the original names of historical sites meaningless,” he said. “Such names harm no one.”
The culture minister said the current restoration efforts in Ani would soon turn their focus to the town's cathedral and that Armenian experts had recently attended a meeting on the project. The World Monuments Fund would support the restoration of the cathedral, he said.
‘Ready to help' with Diyarbakir church
Gunay added that the ministry was also ready to contribute to the Turkish-Armenian community in Istanbul's efforts to find the funds to restore the 500-year-old Surp Giragos Church in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir.
But the community fears any application for help would result in the church being restored as a museum rather than a place of worship that would serve the community, as happened with the Surp Church on the island of Akdamar in the eastern province of Van.
Gunay said if the community filed a request, his ministry would be glad to be of assistance, adding, “We have the utmost respect for all beliefs.”
14 Ağustos 2009 Cuma
Historic fountains no longer quench Istanbul's thirst
Historic fountains no longer quench Istanbul's thirst
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Vercihan Ziflioğlu
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
The last street fountain in Istanbul's Boyacıköy neighborhood is waiting to be repaired and reopened for public use – if the Culture Ministry grants permission
Nazaret Özsahakyan, president of the ruling board of the Boyacıköy Armenian Church, saıd there were five fountains in the neighborhood during his childhood.
The last street fountain in Istanbul’s Boyacıköy neighborhood, a remnant of one of the city’s oldest traditions, is waiting to be saved.
The land for the fountain was given to Misak Amira Misakyan, the royal banker, by order of Sultan Abdulaziz. (“Amira” was the title given to government officials of Armenian origin who served in high positions within the state.) As soon as he took over the land, Amira Misakyan built the Boyacıköy Armenian Church in 1826, which stands to this day, and a fountain across from the church for people to quench their thirst.
Fountain culture is among the oldest traditions in Istanbul. Research shows that more than 800 fountains of various types were built near water sources inside the city’s borders during Byzantine and Ottoman times. But in the 1950s, the cabinet passed a bylaw on water that reverted authority over fountains from the Board of Monuments to the municipalities, which have neglected their care.
Hundreds of fountains, including ones built in the names of sultans, have since been destroyed; their water sources have been illegally connected to buildings and their historic epigraphs looted.
Remaining fountains in poor condition
Nazaret Özsahakyan, president of the ruling board of the Boyacıköy Armenian Church, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review that during his childhood, there were five fountains in the neighborhood. Today, only two of them remain and both are in poor condition.
The two remaining fountains are the one built by Amira Misakyan and the fountain of Sultan Mahmut II, which is on the street behind the church. “There is nothing left of the Mahmut II fountain,” Özsahakyan said. “First, they broke the fountain, then one day at midnight, they dismantled the epigraph with the sultan’s signature on and ran away with it.”
Özsahakyan, who calls himself a history lover, says he is struggling to protect Amira Misakyan’s fountain because “it was built by our church’s founder and is the first and last fountain located in a public area inside the provincial borders of Istanbul with a epigraph in Armenian.”
Water source siphoned away
Another important quality of the fountain is that it has its own Byzantine reservoir; the public used to be able to access the water pooling in the reservoir through the fountain. Now, Özsahakyan said, the water in the reservoir has been illegally connected to an apartment block in the neighborhood by pipes, which he showed to the Daily News.
“They not only stole the fountain’s water, they tried to dismantle the historic epigraph with hammers and run away,” he said. “They could not succeed, but inflicted considerable damage. We applied to the municipality and experts came to see it. We said we wanted to take it under our protection, but we were told that it is public property. Later, the municipality decided to sell it to us, but the Board of Monuments intervened. We made another application and are waiting for approval from the Ministry of Culture.”
Waiting for ministry approval
If the application is approved, Özsahakyan said, the drawings are ready and repairs would begin immediately. If the necessary permissions are granted, expert teams will start investigations to determine whether or not the water in the reservoir is hazardous to human health before redirecting it to the fountain for public use once again.
- - - -
Mail in the historic reservoir
Özsahakyan told an interesting anecdote about the historic reservoir: “I caught the postman several times while throwing mail into the water from the window-like part of the reservoir,” he said. “When I asked why he was throwing mail into the water, his answer made me laugh so hard. He said no one is interested in letters anymore and he is tired of wasting his time for nothing.”
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Vercihan Ziflioğlu
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
The last street fountain in Istanbul's Boyacıköy neighborhood is waiting to be repaired and reopened for public use – if the Culture Ministry grants permission
Nazaret Özsahakyan, president of the ruling board of the Boyacıköy Armenian Church, saıd there were five fountains in the neighborhood during his childhood.
The last street fountain in Istanbul’s Boyacıköy neighborhood, a remnant of one of the city’s oldest traditions, is waiting to be saved.
The land for the fountain was given to Misak Amira Misakyan, the royal banker, by order of Sultan Abdulaziz. (“Amira” was the title given to government officials of Armenian origin who served in high positions within the state.) As soon as he took over the land, Amira Misakyan built the Boyacıköy Armenian Church in 1826, which stands to this day, and a fountain across from the church for people to quench their thirst.
Fountain culture is among the oldest traditions in Istanbul. Research shows that more than 800 fountains of various types were built near water sources inside the city’s borders during Byzantine and Ottoman times. But in the 1950s, the cabinet passed a bylaw on water that reverted authority over fountains from the Board of Monuments to the municipalities, which have neglected their care.
Hundreds of fountains, including ones built in the names of sultans, have since been destroyed; their water sources have been illegally connected to buildings and their historic epigraphs looted.
Remaining fountains in poor condition
Nazaret Özsahakyan, president of the ruling board of the Boyacıköy Armenian Church, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review that during his childhood, there were five fountains in the neighborhood. Today, only two of them remain and both are in poor condition.
The two remaining fountains are the one built by Amira Misakyan and the fountain of Sultan Mahmut II, which is on the street behind the church. “There is nothing left of the Mahmut II fountain,” Özsahakyan said. “First, they broke the fountain, then one day at midnight, they dismantled the epigraph with the sultan’s signature on and ran away with it.”
Özsahakyan, who calls himself a history lover, says he is struggling to protect Amira Misakyan’s fountain because “it was built by our church’s founder and is the first and last fountain located in a public area inside the provincial borders of Istanbul with a epigraph in Armenian.”
Water source siphoned away
Another important quality of the fountain is that it has its own Byzantine reservoir; the public used to be able to access the water pooling in the reservoir through the fountain. Now, Özsahakyan said, the water in the reservoir has been illegally connected to an apartment block in the neighborhood by pipes, which he showed to the Daily News.
“They not only stole the fountain’s water, they tried to dismantle the historic epigraph with hammers and run away,” he said. “They could not succeed, but inflicted considerable damage. We applied to the municipality and experts came to see it. We said we wanted to take it under our protection, but we were told that it is public property. Later, the municipality decided to sell it to us, but the Board of Monuments intervened. We made another application and are waiting for approval from the Ministry of Culture.”
Waiting for ministry approval
If the application is approved, Özsahakyan said, the drawings are ready and repairs would begin immediately. If the necessary permissions are granted, expert teams will start investigations to determine whether or not the water in the reservoir is hazardous to human health before redirecting it to the fountain for public use once again.
- - - -
Mail in the historic reservoir
Özsahakyan told an interesting anecdote about the historic reservoir: “I caught the postman several times while throwing mail into the water from the window-like part of the reservoir,” he said. “When I asked why he was throwing mail into the water, his answer made me laugh so hard. He said no one is interested in letters anymore and he is tired of wasting his time for nothing.”
9 Ağustos 2009 Pazar
Caucasus talks won't resolve issues, says Armenian official
Caucasus talks won't resolve issues, says Armenian official
Vercihan Ziflioğlu
YEREVAN – Hürriyet Daily News
As the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan prepare for another round of peace talks Friday, a former deputy to the Armenian ambassador in Moscow has said negotiations will fail to resolve the long-standing Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.
Dr. Stepan Grigorian, who has also been an adviser to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review that Russia, which is hosting the Caucasus peace talks, does not want reconciliation in the Karabakh dispute. He also said he thought attempts by Matt Bryza, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, for a solution were superficial and inadequate.
Presidents Serge Sarkisian of Armenia and Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan met in November for talks near Moscow, as Russia cast itself as peacemaker after its August war with Georgia. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Armenia and Azerbaijan had made progress toward a resolution. Mediators from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, who have been monitoring peacemaking efforts, had also reported in early May that they saw signs of progress.
Nagorno-Karabakh is an enclave in Azerbaijan that has been occupied by Armenian forces since the end of a six-year conflict that killed about 30,000 people and displaced 1 million before a truce was reached in 1994. Its unilateral independence is not recognized by the international community. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan in the conflict.
Past policies:
Despite the promising signals from the peace negotiations, Grigorian said he believed Friday’s meeting between Sarkisian and Aliyev would not provide a breakthrough in the Karabakh problem, which he said had become more complicated due to the flawed policies of Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharian.
“Since Kocharian himself was from Karabakh, he wanted to rule Armenia and the disputed region together. He advocated Karabakh independence. But this perception made the situation more difficult,” he said.
Evaluating the Russian mediation of the talks, Grigorian said he did not believe Moscow was honest about a clear solution to the dispute, adding: “Russia just pursues its own interest in the negotiations. Therefore, a solution will not be possible unless the interests of Russia, along with the U.S., have been met.”
According to Grigorian, Russia wants to be the only power in the Caucasus region and a possible deal between Yerevan and Baku means waning Russian influence in both former Soviet countries. Recalling Russia’s recognition of the Georgian rebel regions of South Ossetia and Abhkazia, Grigorian said that like the international community Russia had never recognized the independence of Karabakh.
“Armenia thinks Russia will always be the protector country, but this is a big mistake. Russia’s stance on Karabakh’s independence should be an important lesson for Armenia,” he said.
Criticism of optimism:
Grigorian said he thought attempts by Bryza for a solution were left wanting. “It is hard to understand the optimism of Bryza on the Karabakh issue. Optimistic statements raise expectations and that is extremely wrong. Bryza does not know the area well enough and this is a great danger.”
He also suggested that rushing the process might pose grave risks to the region and could even lead to another war, which would cause instability not only in the Caucasus but also in the Middle East.
Grigorian said among all EU nations, only the policies of France were similar to the Russian stance “because of the French hostility toward Turkey.”
“France does not want Turkish-Armenian relations improved,” he said, adding: “Ankara is seeking a deal with the Armenians that will open the EU’s doors to Turkey. However, France does not want to see Turkey among the EU family.”
As a result the key to a solution is in the hands of the Armenian and Azerbaijani people, Gregorian said, adding that they should be further informed because both societies were not ready for the solution process yet.
Gregorian said he also believed Turkey might play an active role in the process by establishing dialogue with Armenia. But warned: “Like Cyprus, the Karabakh problem is not one that can be solved quickly.”
Vercihan Ziflioğlu
YEREVAN – Hürriyet Daily News
As the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan prepare for another round of peace talks Friday, a former deputy to the Armenian ambassador in Moscow has said negotiations will fail to resolve the long-standing Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.
Dr. Stepan Grigorian, who has also been an adviser to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review that Russia, which is hosting the Caucasus peace talks, does not want reconciliation in the Karabakh dispute. He also said he thought attempts by Matt Bryza, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, for a solution were superficial and inadequate.
Presidents Serge Sarkisian of Armenia and Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan met in November for talks near Moscow, as Russia cast itself as peacemaker after its August war with Georgia. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Armenia and Azerbaijan had made progress toward a resolution. Mediators from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, who have been monitoring peacemaking efforts, had also reported in early May that they saw signs of progress.
Nagorno-Karabakh is an enclave in Azerbaijan that has been occupied by Armenian forces since the end of a six-year conflict that killed about 30,000 people and displaced 1 million before a truce was reached in 1994. Its unilateral independence is not recognized by the international community. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan in the conflict.
Past policies:
Despite the promising signals from the peace negotiations, Grigorian said he believed Friday’s meeting between Sarkisian and Aliyev would not provide a breakthrough in the Karabakh problem, which he said had become more complicated due to the flawed policies of Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharian.
“Since Kocharian himself was from Karabakh, he wanted to rule Armenia and the disputed region together. He advocated Karabakh independence. But this perception made the situation more difficult,” he said.
Evaluating the Russian mediation of the talks, Grigorian said he did not believe Moscow was honest about a clear solution to the dispute, adding: “Russia just pursues its own interest in the negotiations. Therefore, a solution will not be possible unless the interests of Russia, along with the U.S., have been met.”
According to Grigorian, Russia wants to be the only power in the Caucasus region and a possible deal between Yerevan and Baku means waning Russian influence in both former Soviet countries. Recalling Russia’s recognition of the Georgian rebel regions of South Ossetia and Abhkazia, Grigorian said that like the international community Russia had never recognized the independence of Karabakh.
“Armenia thinks Russia will always be the protector country, but this is a big mistake. Russia’s stance on Karabakh’s independence should be an important lesson for Armenia,” he said.
Criticism of optimism:
Grigorian said he thought attempts by Bryza for a solution were left wanting. “It is hard to understand the optimism of Bryza on the Karabakh issue. Optimistic statements raise expectations and that is extremely wrong. Bryza does not know the area well enough and this is a great danger.”
He also suggested that rushing the process might pose grave risks to the region and could even lead to another war, which would cause instability not only in the Caucasus but also in the Middle East.
Grigorian said among all EU nations, only the policies of France were similar to the Russian stance “because of the French hostility toward Turkey.”
“France does not want Turkish-Armenian relations improved,” he said, adding: “Ankara is seeking a deal with the Armenians that will open the EU’s doors to Turkey. However, France does not want to see Turkey among the EU family.”
As a result the key to a solution is in the hands of the Armenian and Azerbaijani people, Gregorian said, adding that they should be further informed because both societies were not ready for the solution process yet.
Gregorian said he also believed Turkey might play an active role in the process by establishing dialogue with Armenia. But warned: “Like Cyprus, the Karabakh problem is not one that can be solved quickly.”
Peace Passage’ over Aras River
Peace Passage’ over Aras River
Armenia is calling on Turkey to help build a 'peace passage' over the Aras River. Former deputy culture minister of Armenia, Gagik Gürcüyan, talks about the history of the restoration process for the Surp Haç (Saint Cross) Church on Akdamar island in the eastern city of Van.
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
YEREVAN - Hürriyet Daily News
Armenia has called on Turkey to help build a “peace passage” between the two countries.
The president of the Armenia International Council of Monuments and Sites, and former deputy culture minister of Armenia, Gagik Gürcüyan, has proposed restoring the millennia-old bridge at the Ani ruins. Located on both sides of the Aras River, with one end in Turkey and the other in Armenia, his idea was to reopen the bridge as a peace passage between the two countries.
Gürcüyan, who served as deputy minister from 2004 to 2009, explained the details of the restoration process for the historic Surp Haç Church on Akdamar Island in Lake Van in the eastern district of Gevaş.
First official contact with Armenia
“Everyone thinks the dialogue process between Turkey and Armenia started last year during the national football game. This is a big mistake,” Gürcüyan told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review. He said the first official contact between the two countries started during the restoration process of the Surp Haç Church by former culture minister Atilla Koç.
“Right after the general elections in Turkey in 2007, Koç was left out of the new Cabinet. If he remained in the Cabinet, he would have started the first official contact with his Armenian counterparts for the restoration of the Ani ruins. It was bad luck,” he said.
Controversial cross at the Patriarchate
Gürcüyan, who is also an architect, has closely followed the restoration process of the church. He said the restoration was flawless, but that the cross was not put on top of the historic church because the media in both countries had politicized the issue. “The manner of media made the process tense. The issue was brought into the political arena. Otherwise the cross would have been put in its former place.”
Gürcüyan said the cross that was delivered to the Turkish Armenian Patriarch Mesrop Mutafyan was a true copy of the original. He said he believed the cross would be put in its original place in the near future.
Armenian draft in world congresses
The joint restoration work to be carried out for the Ani Ruins could make great contributions to Turkish–Armenian relations, Gürcüyan said. “First of all we can restore the ruined bridge over the Aras River. We can connect the two countries thanks to this bridge and call it a peace passage,” he said.
He said UNESCO had come up with the same idea 10 years ago but was not able to fulfill it. “As the ministry, we sent a letter to Turkey via the Moscow Embassy saying that we were ready to realize this project. It was the beginning of the 2000s and the Armenian draft was highlighted in world congresses. This is why the project was stopped.”
Yerevan and St. Petersburg documents
Russians carried out the most comprehensive work on the Ani Ruins from 1896 to 1918, according to Gürcüyan. He said an Armenian scientist Toros Toramanyan joined the research and the resulting documents were collected at the St. Petersburg Royal Academy and in the Armenian National Archives.
There were hundreds of drawings, documents and information in the archived documents, Gürcüyan said. “We are ready to share all types of documents for the restoration of the Ani Ruins to be finished in the shortest time and in the best way. We want to be a part of the restoration process,” he said.
Armenia is calling on Turkey to help build a 'peace passage' over the Aras River. Former deputy culture minister of Armenia, Gagik Gürcüyan, talks about the history of the restoration process for the Surp Haç (Saint Cross) Church on Akdamar island in the eastern city of Van.
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
YEREVAN - Hürriyet Daily News
Armenia has called on Turkey to help build a “peace passage” between the two countries.
The president of the Armenia International Council of Monuments and Sites, and former deputy culture minister of Armenia, Gagik Gürcüyan, has proposed restoring the millennia-old bridge at the Ani ruins. Located on both sides of the Aras River, with one end in Turkey and the other in Armenia, his idea was to reopen the bridge as a peace passage between the two countries.
Gürcüyan, who served as deputy minister from 2004 to 2009, explained the details of the restoration process for the historic Surp Haç Church on Akdamar Island in Lake Van in the eastern district of Gevaş.
First official contact with Armenia
“Everyone thinks the dialogue process between Turkey and Armenia started last year during the national football game. This is a big mistake,” Gürcüyan told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review. He said the first official contact between the two countries started during the restoration process of the Surp Haç Church by former culture minister Atilla Koç.
“Right after the general elections in Turkey in 2007, Koç was left out of the new Cabinet. If he remained in the Cabinet, he would have started the first official contact with his Armenian counterparts for the restoration of the Ani ruins. It was bad luck,” he said.
Controversial cross at the Patriarchate
Gürcüyan, who is also an architect, has closely followed the restoration process of the church. He said the restoration was flawless, but that the cross was not put on top of the historic church because the media in both countries had politicized the issue. “The manner of media made the process tense. The issue was brought into the political arena. Otherwise the cross would have been put in its former place.”
Gürcüyan said the cross that was delivered to the Turkish Armenian Patriarch Mesrop Mutafyan was a true copy of the original. He said he believed the cross would be put in its original place in the near future.
Armenian draft in world congresses
The joint restoration work to be carried out for the Ani Ruins could make great contributions to Turkish–Armenian relations, Gürcüyan said. “First of all we can restore the ruined bridge over the Aras River. We can connect the two countries thanks to this bridge and call it a peace passage,” he said.
He said UNESCO had come up with the same idea 10 years ago but was not able to fulfill it. “As the ministry, we sent a letter to Turkey via the Moscow Embassy saying that we were ready to realize this project. It was the beginning of the 2000s and the Armenian draft was highlighted in world congresses. This is why the project was stopped.”
Yerevan and St. Petersburg documents
Russians carried out the most comprehensive work on the Ani Ruins from 1896 to 1918, according to Gürcüyan. He said an Armenian scientist Toros Toramanyan joined the research and the resulting documents were collected at the St. Petersburg Royal Academy and in the Armenian National Archives.
There were hundreds of drawings, documents and information in the archived documents, Gürcüyan said. “We are ready to share all types of documents for the restoration of the Ani Ruins to be finished in the shortest time and in the best way. We want to be a part of the restoration process,” he said.
Armenian translations to take Turkish lit across borders
Armenian translations to take Turkish lit across borders
Works by leading poets of contemporary Turkish literature will be translated for the first time into Armenian. The project will be backed the Turkish Culture Ministry's Translation Subvention Project
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU YEREVAN - Hürriyet Daily News
Armenia is taking a radical step: From now on, not only the works of authors who sympathize with the Armenian problem but also the leading names in Turkish literature will be translated into Armenian.
As part of a project coordinated by Yerevan State University and Armenian Authors’ Union member, poet, critic and interpreter Professor Arthur Antranikyan, more than 20 poets who have left their mark on Turkish literature will be translated into Armenian by a commission of specialists.
Armenian readers will have access to works by well-known Turkish poet Orhan Veli Kanık, who played a leading role in modernizing Turkish poetry, in the form of a 300-page special selection.
Turkish support via TEDA project
“Let’s realize this project together. We can’t overcome our problems unless we know each other. We need to jointly contribute to this project. I am waiting for support from you,” said Antranikyan, calling on the Turkish Culture Ministry and Turkish artists.
The Turkish Culture Ministry Translation Subvention Project, or TEDA, coordinator and Publications Deputy General Manager Ümit Yaşar Gözüm said they were ready to support the project. “This project is important in helping the two publics become closer,” he said. “We are ready to make things easier for Armenia for copyright matters. We can start working once we receive the applications.”
Turkish literature through Russian
The people of Armenia experienced Turkish literature for the first time during the period of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. They read Turkish works in Russian. It did not change after the union dissolved because the Russian language is still significant in all of the republics, which acquired their independence in the beginning of the 1990s.
In recent years, interest in their mother tongue has increased in the young republics of the Caucasus, which started to turn their face to the Western world. Although the old generations did not abandon their tradition and attempted to keep Russian culture alive, the new generation has already given signals of change.
‘I wish Pamuk was shown interest in my country due to his literary value’
Interest in Turkish literature has increased in Armenia in recent years; many books have been translated into Armenian. The most recent one was Nobel laureate author Orhan Pamuk’s “Kar” (Snow). The book was translated with the initiation of the Hamazgayin Education and Culture Institute in Yerevan. But the most important detail here is that almost all authors whose books are translated into Armenian are those who sympathize with the Armenian problem.
Antranikyan criticized the special interest in Pamuk: “Pamuk is a master, and the Nobel Prize is the biggest evidence to that. The reason Armenia shows a special interest in Armenia is evident. I wish Pamuk was shown interest in my country for his literary value.”
Pamuk’s statements such as, “One million Armenians and 30,000 Kurds have been murdered on this land,” before he won the Nobel Prize were applauded by Armenia and diaspora.
Antranikyan calls for common sense
Because of threats that he received after his statements, Pamuk did not talk about the issue again, causing confusion among the Armenian community. Although he doesn’t mention names, Antranikyan defends the idea that some Turkish authors take advantage of the Armenian problem for their own benefit in order to make their names heard internationally.
He said this manner made the already troubled Turkish-Armenian relations more complicated. “It cannot be denied that people have suffered too much. But we must think of our own people more than our personal interests and act with common sense,” he said.
Turkish, Armenian interaction
Antranikyan made some Turkish literature translations from Russian to Armenian in the 1980s. He said the project on which he worked had been shaped in those years, adding that as part of his project, he also searched for the effects of contemporary Turkish literature on Armenian literature in Istanbul. Based on his research, Antranikyan said common themes like “otherness” and “alienage” existed both in Turkish and Armenian literature, and they had a strong interaction with each other.
“Orhan Veli Kanık’s effects on Istanbul Armenian poems especially cannot be denied,” he said.
He said he attached great significance to translating Turkish literature into Armenian. “This project will be realized by any means,” he said. “Another step of this project will be translating Armenian literature into Turkish. I will form a commission and work with members of the Turcology department from Yerevan State University.”
Works by leading poets of contemporary Turkish literature will be translated for the first time into Armenian. The project will be backed the Turkish Culture Ministry's Translation Subvention Project
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU YEREVAN - Hürriyet Daily News
Armenia is taking a radical step: From now on, not only the works of authors who sympathize with the Armenian problem but also the leading names in Turkish literature will be translated into Armenian.
As part of a project coordinated by Yerevan State University and Armenian Authors’ Union member, poet, critic and interpreter Professor Arthur Antranikyan, more than 20 poets who have left their mark on Turkish literature will be translated into Armenian by a commission of specialists.
Armenian readers will have access to works by well-known Turkish poet Orhan Veli Kanık, who played a leading role in modernizing Turkish poetry, in the form of a 300-page special selection.
Turkish support via TEDA project
“Let’s realize this project together. We can’t overcome our problems unless we know each other. We need to jointly contribute to this project. I am waiting for support from you,” said Antranikyan, calling on the Turkish Culture Ministry and Turkish artists.
The Turkish Culture Ministry Translation Subvention Project, or TEDA, coordinator and Publications Deputy General Manager Ümit Yaşar Gözüm said they were ready to support the project. “This project is important in helping the two publics become closer,” he said. “We are ready to make things easier for Armenia for copyright matters. We can start working once we receive the applications.”
Turkish literature through Russian
The people of Armenia experienced Turkish literature for the first time during the period of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. They read Turkish works in Russian. It did not change after the union dissolved because the Russian language is still significant in all of the republics, which acquired their independence in the beginning of the 1990s.
In recent years, interest in their mother tongue has increased in the young republics of the Caucasus, which started to turn their face to the Western world. Although the old generations did not abandon their tradition and attempted to keep Russian culture alive, the new generation has already given signals of change.
‘I wish Pamuk was shown interest in my country due to his literary value’
Interest in Turkish literature has increased in Armenia in recent years; many books have been translated into Armenian. The most recent one was Nobel laureate author Orhan Pamuk’s “Kar” (Snow). The book was translated with the initiation of the Hamazgayin Education and Culture Institute in Yerevan. But the most important detail here is that almost all authors whose books are translated into Armenian are those who sympathize with the Armenian problem.
Antranikyan criticized the special interest in Pamuk: “Pamuk is a master, and the Nobel Prize is the biggest evidence to that. The reason Armenia shows a special interest in Armenia is evident. I wish Pamuk was shown interest in my country for his literary value.”
Pamuk’s statements such as, “One million Armenians and 30,000 Kurds have been murdered on this land,” before he won the Nobel Prize were applauded by Armenia and diaspora.
Antranikyan calls for common sense
Because of threats that he received after his statements, Pamuk did not talk about the issue again, causing confusion among the Armenian community. Although he doesn’t mention names, Antranikyan defends the idea that some Turkish authors take advantage of the Armenian problem for their own benefit in order to make their names heard internationally.
He said this manner made the already troubled Turkish-Armenian relations more complicated. “It cannot be denied that people have suffered too much. But we must think of our own people more than our personal interests and act with common sense,” he said.
Turkish, Armenian interaction
Antranikyan made some Turkish literature translations from Russian to Armenian in the 1980s. He said the project on which he worked had been shaped in those years, adding that as part of his project, he also searched for the effects of contemporary Turkish literature on Armenian literature in Istanbul. Based on his research, Antranikyan said common themes like “otherness” and “alienage” existed both in Turkish and Armenian literature, and they had a strong interaction with each other.
“Orhan Veli Kanık’s effects on Istanbul Armenian poems especially cannot be denied,” he said.
He said he attached great significance to translating Turkish literature into Armenian. “This project will be realized by any means,” he said. “Another step of this project will be translating Armenian literature into Turkish. I will form a commission and work with members of the Turcology department from Yerevan State University.”
Kaydol:
Kayıtlar (Atom)
