As we had informed, the previous day, the Mayor of Gyumri, Samvel Balasanyan, did not allow the young Turkish people to dance with Armenians in the center of the city, in Vardanants Square. The mayor explained that he does not find it appropriate to conduct such a cultural event ahead to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. And the event, which was entitled “Let’s live and dance together”, was organized by the “TOG” Turkish youth organization to provide live contact between the youth of the two countries and to establish grounds for dialogue. President of the “Youth Initiative Center” NGO, coordinator of organizing the event in Gyumri, Artur Najaryan, in the conversation with Aravot.am, referring to Samvel Balasanyan’s written rejection, said, “We are also trying to understand the mayor, although we were more waiting for the mayor to display other approaches, and approach the issue more diplomatically, especially when these were the youth who recognized the Armenian genocide, and they are ready to combat this denial policy within their society. And thanks to this very Turkish youth that the Taksim Square, year by year, is becoming crowded during the protests organized on the day of Hrant Dink’s murder, who do not miss the opportunity condemning the slaughter of 1500000 Armenians deceased in 1915. However, this was not understood by the municipality, and we were also short of time, otherwise we would have met personally with the mayor, who, after learning more details about the program, would have supported in reaching our message to Turkish participants.” As said by Artur Najaryan, similar program was not the first one organized by “TOG” youth organization, including the “Hrant Dink” fund. Many other different programs on establishing of a dialogue and creating opportunities to contact with each other have been organized between Armenian and Turkish youth, during which the Armenian and Turkish youth are touching upon such painful topics as the Armenian genocide for us, which Turkish citizens avoid confronting this question due to the lack of information and the denial policy formed in Turkey. Whereas this opportunity ahead to the 100th anniversary could be used diplomatically. “We should not miss the opportunity, on the contrary, we should inform the Turkish youth as much as possible about the Armenian Genocide, in order to have alternative information, which they are deprived in their country and learn totally misinformation from their textbooks. Many times, being in contact with the Turks during our activities, we have seen what lack of information they have, since Turkey does not save means to close up or distort the information. At our meeting with Turks under various international projects in different countries, I was amazed seeing their utter ignorance of the fact that almost all of the great powers are using their country based on their interests. Well, it’s clear, their country is conducting a denying policy. The ordinary citizens and students do not know anything. There is no information in the books about the genocide. They give information about the deportation of Armenians during the First World War and several murders. Now I, as a citizen of Armenia, naturally, understand all of that very well, I also understand Samvel Balasanyan’s sentiment, but I think that they should have be more diplomatic, like they did in Mush, Van, Diyarbakir, Ani…hosting the Armenian delegation. We are creating an opportunity for the Turkish youth to visit Armenia to see the reality. Such projects enable Turkish young people to sit next to the Armenian youth, listen to opinions, and become familiar with the facts. When you say some facts to them, a lot is changed in them, only the fact that they leave Armenian with the suspects of the policy dictated by their country at the state level and learning other information, it is already a move for us. Thus, the Turkish society is splitting, other viewpoints begin to display on this issue, and we, naturally, should not fold our hands resting. Since we do not have diplomatic ties, but we have willpower and readiness to talk to Turkish youth, in more informal and relaxed conditions, about painful issues for us with the help of similar projects. And this is already a dialogue, and this is already lobbying. In what other form can the Armenian youth talk to the Turkish youth about these issues? I would be very happy if our community leader has accepted this group, has said his criticism, sent his message to the youth coming from Turkey, and left a great impression. The Turkish youth, coming to Armenia, witnessed such arguments that the myths that are invented in Turkey about Armenia, vanish before these arguments, no matter how painful it is for them to admit.” As informed by Artur Najaryan, almost every year, their organization is implementing Armenian-Turkish projects with “Hrant Dink” Fund. According to him, recently completed “Beyond the borders” multimedia project was one of the success projects, which has received a large and positive response in Armenia and Turkey. As presented by our interlocutor, this program will be wrapped up in the “Park of Lovers”, after which the Turkish young people along with the Armenian youth will visit the genocide memorial.
Nune AREVSHATYAN
