Armenia v. Turkey

In 1915, the ruling political party of Turkey, the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) made the decision to carry out a genocide on the Armenian people. For three years, the Armenians were subject to deportation, torture, massacre and starvation. Women and children were abducted and horribly abused. After a brief respite from these horrors at the end of World War I, the Armenians were hit again with massacre and expulsions until 1923. There were about 2 million Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire at the time, and it is estimated that 1.5 million perished in the Armenian genocide. The events that took place from 1915 to 1923 were condemned by the international community as crimes against humanity. Countries like France, Argentina, Greece and Russia, where the survivors and their descendants now reside, have officially recognized the Armenian genocide. The present day Republic of Turkey, however, adamantly denies that a genocide was committed. The Turkish government dismisses evidence as mere allegations and frequently obstructs knowledge of evidence, and therefore, the affirmation of the truth has become a matter of international significance.


Recently Armenia and Turkey have "buried the hatchet" or their governments have, anyway. Both countries have signed a landmark agreement to establish diplomatic relations and open their border after sixteen years of discord. Of course the big problem in all of this: the proud Republic of Turkey can't own up to their embarrassing past. For years the Armenian people simply wanted recognition that the brutal murders of 1.5 million people in the final days of the Ottoman Empire amounted to genocide. A quick, sincere, simple statement. An agreement to rectify the conflicts of the past, and move forward to better relations. But Turkey stubbornly refused until poor landlocked Armenia was pressured "into accepting these humiliating, one-sided protocols [proving] sadly, that genocide pays," as Ken Hachikian, chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America so boldly describes it. 


Many countries were eager to see an end to this rivalry, including the US, and the not so newly appointed President, Barack Obama. In one article pertaining to the signing of the agreement, it is stressed that Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton had flown all the way to Switzerland as a simple witness to the signing and not to help close the deal.  As it turns she found the time to help work out a few "last-minute snags" in the Armenian and Turkish Agreement. 


The agreement between Armenia and Turkey calls for a panel to discuss "the historical dimension" of the killings of Armenians during the First World War. 


So who is going to be on this panel? I can see it now, like a scene straight out of the movie Runaway Jury. Chances are not a single one of them will be from the countries actually involved. Maybe that's best, but why is it that countries aren't even allowed to make their own decisions anymore? Yes the rest of the world should have an opinion in what goes on, but when other countries meddle, there is sure to be some group, extremist or otherwise, that believe people should mind their own country's affairs.  And the very proof of this fact is hiding somewhere along the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan. 


So Armenians are upset by this new agreement with an old enemy, and Turkey might never man up and admit that even they make mistakes. But at least their governments can sign a paper and open their border again. Now money can flow through the countries once more, keeping the world turning as only money can. 


And that's the view from the north.


For further info on the Armenian Genocide:
Visit the Armenian National Institute website