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December 03, 2008
AGBU Europe Hosts Groundbreaking Conference on Armenian Heritage in Turkey
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A view of the conference attendees, which included professional educators, journalists, representatives of the European Commission and Parliament. -
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Panelists discuss the Armenian heritage in Turkey.
Brussels, Belgium — On November 13, AGBU Europe organized a conference in the European Parliament, entitled "A Journey of Cultural Rediscovery: Armenian Heritage in Turkey." The event highlighted the efforts of individuals in Turkey who are currently trying to reclaim the memories of the 1915 Armenian Genocide and rescue its cultural heritage today in their country.
Many attendees were either of Armenian or Turkish backgrounds, professional educators or journalists, as well as representatives of the European Commission and Parliament, all of whom predominantly expressed unreserved support for the objectives of the conference.
Speakers throughout the day discussed years of research, documentation and results surrounding the striking highlights of worthy Armenian contributions to Turkey, which mostly remain unknown to a majority of people in their country. For example, the Armenian architect Sinan created a beautiful 16th-century mosque in Edirne and an Armenian school in Erzerum hosted Ataturk's Erzerum Congress.
Fethiye Cetin, a Turkish author, spoke about her own journey after discovering late in life that her grandmother was Armenian. She spoke about the moving and overwhelmingly sympathetic response to her book in Turkey, and stressed how personal emotions can lead the way to reconciliation and a fresh start for Armenian-Turkish relations.
Historian Ara Sarafian, returning from another prolonged stay in eastern Turkey, reported on two parallel yet competing currents and personal stands in the country: one seeks to continuously portray Armenians as alien and threatening, while the other is concerned with the rediscovery of positive Armenian-Turkish bonds.
Lastly, Professor Patrick Donabedian from France described in great detail some disheartening examples of Armenian architectural destruction, both intentional and through neglect, which is happening in present-day Turkey. On a more positive note, there are several initiatives in Turkey to protect the few remaining vestiges of Armenian heritage. Recently the minister of culture declared a museum would be built in honor of Armenian-American author William Saroyan in his parents' hometown of Bitlis. Donabedian is hopeful that one day the Turkish government may even give back several buildings that have been confiscated from the Armenian Church
The head representative in the European Commission's Turkey team presented a three-million-euro cultural heritage project launched in the Balkans to serve as inspiration for similar work with Turkey, stressing the importance of such issues in European Union policy.
A tone emphasizing the importance of preserving and rejuvenating the Armenian cultural heritage in Turkey was universal among the audience and presenters. There was also common consensus that with the help of European institutions, research, education, and shared personal experiences, steps can be taken to reach this goal and, with a revived Armenian culture in Turkey, important developments can then be made in Turkish society, positively affecting the Armenian diaspora.
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