LDP leader Toker: Let’s commemorate common tragedy and anguish in 2015

Noting that such an endeavor would make a great contribution to the achievement of peace if it is pioneered by the state, Toker said, “We can eliminate this iceberg made of prejudices.”

Speaking with Sunday's Zaman about his impressions from his trip to Armenia, Toker further said: “Both sides suffered from great pain a century ago. We can initiate such a process to share our common and mutual anguish without blaming each other and referencing the notion of genocide. I hope that the 2015 Year for the Commemoration of our Common Tragedy will make a contribution to the peace process at a time when protocols have been signed for the normalization of diplomatic relations and the opening of border gates.”

Recalling that he delivered a message calling for all parties to look forward at the events he attended, Toker underlined that there is still time to do this despite a past full of grief and pain. Stressing that stories are still told to remember the friendships of the past between the two nations in addition to the references to the pain, Toker said: “People's stories of family tragedies are often followed by remarks of gratitude; they say, for instance: ‘Our Turkish neighbors gave us food; they protected us. They saved our lives; they told us they could look after our babies for us, implying that we would come back anyway.' These stories point to the humane part of the whole story. This is a great potential to look forward.”

Toker, who notes that Turkey occupies a central place in daily discussions in Armenia, adds that there is no single day where Turkey is not a subject of discussion. Toker further recalls that the depicting the eastern part of Turkey as West Armenia are found everywhere in this country.

Toker notes that the focus on the creation of an Armenia inclusive of “Western Armenia” is a hope only held by the extreme nationalists and also said: “If you want to survive politically there, you have to be against Turkey; this is the dominant belief in the country. Turkey is the only issue that people talk about when they get together. It does not matter whether they hold positive views or not on Turkey. Any development relating to Turkey is a potential subject for daily talks. I had a firsthand experience of this during my stay in Armenia. I have been to local coffee houses and convenience stores. I observed this myself. Every single day, Turkey was a source of news in the papers, on the radio and TVs.”

Recalling that some Armenians are still afraid of traveling to Turkey, Toker stresses that the people have negative sentiments vis-à-vis Turkey. Toker says he was asked on TV shows whether he felt he was in a hostile country, adding that people believe that Turks are strongly opposed to the Armenian identity and people. Noting that he had firsthand observations that extreme nationalists are exploiting the 1915 tragedy to promote their agenda and goals as well as causing trauma among people, Toker further said: “I am telling you based on my experiences and observations I got from the streets, face-to-face talks and the TV programs I attended. Armenians believe that when they get together, Turks talk about how to slaughter Armenians and invade their country. Sadly, I observed ungrounded accusations and allegations.”

Expression of love and grief for Dink shocked people

The LDP leader said special efforts were made to make sure that positive developments are forgotten, noting that people are surprised when he tell them 50,000 Armenians work in İstanbul without feeling that they live in a hostile country, Toker further stresses that the expression of love and grief by the Turkish people for slain Armenian journalist Hrant Dink created a shocking impact for Armenians.

Noting that extreme Armenian nationalists attempted to prevent the emergence of positive sentiments vis-à-vis Turkey because of this development, Toker also said: “Turkish people's reaction to the Dink murder shocked the Armenian people. Eager to prevent the emergence of positive feelings on Turkey, nationalists strove to present this as an organization of the state; however, this propaganda was not very influential. People have changed their views on Turkey because of the slogans chanted at the funeral ‘We all are Hrant; we all are Armenians'.”

‘I observed prejudices broken down’

Is our 600-year-old common culture ignored?

It is affected by the prejudices. I was positive in my speeches, talks, discussions and responses. I put emphasis on our common culture and history. I stressed that we are inseparable, by referencing their contribution to our commerce, finances, architecture and music. I asked them to set the past tragedy aside and look forward toward a common future.

What reactions did you receive?

They are open to positive approaches. I received a few more invitations after my statement. I had meetings and talks with people from different backgrounds including political institutions, the business world and the media. I have observed that the prejudices held against Turkey are being broken down. The whole thing will become a lot easier as personal relations become more intensive. Ordinary people also started changing their views on the diaspora. They now criticize diaspora actors, noting that it is easy to make recommendations from remote parts of the world.

Do the protocols mean that the Armenians are giving up on claims over “West Armenia”?

They are trying to. It is not easy to let these ambitions go; it may take a long time. It can be compared to our affinity with Selanik as a Turkish city where Atatürk was born and grew up. They remember Kars as their city, which used to host a large Armenian population. There are two kinds of people: The moderates say, “Well, I am ready to erase the map in my mind; but it will stay alive in my heart.” The same also applies to 1915. They say, “I will take the genocide out of my brain; but I will keep the anguish alive in my heart.” The others, however, say: “I will never forget this map; it will always remain alive in my brain and heart. I will never erase the genocide and the Armenian cities. These are what make me an Armenian.”

How will your offer affect this process?

I think if the state decides to commemorate 2015 as the centennial of the common tragedy, it will have positive impacts and contribute to the achievement of friendship and peace. During this process, we have to emphasize the development problem of both countries. I have tried to do this in every opportunity. I stressed that Turkey and Armenia are in a bad situation in terms of human development as evidenced by the UN reports. I asked them to make this situation better via cooperation.

How do you view the reaction of the Azeri people to the rapprochement?

I have difficulty understanding why the Azeri people show such an excessive reaction to the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations. It is really interesting to observe that they are so critical of the moves Turkey has taken to address thorny issues including Nagorno-Karabakh, the recognition of borders and the genocide allegations while remaining silent towards Iran's eagerness to keep its borders with Armenia open. I do not say Iran should close its gates; quite the contrary, why did we close while Iran did not? They do not object to Iran, but they criticize Turkey because we seek a resolution. This is not acceptable. They should be more concerned about Iran's moves towards Armenia considering that this country hosts a large Azeri population. Do they hold that this would not contribute to the resolution process if they ask Iran to take more aggressive steps? Iran increases its trade volume with Armenia whereas they react to Turkey, which requires an end to the occupation in Nagorno-Karabakh for the opening of the border gates.