Ali Berzeg, (in the first photo), Consultant of the Circassians Cultural Institute (New Jersey, USA), Head of the Circassians Department of Geopolitical Club (Los Angeles, CA, USA) and one of the famous representatives of the Circassians Community (USA), gave an exclusive interview with “Aravot” and shared his assessments about the importance of the German Bundestag resolution on the Armenian Genocide, as well as told about the cooperation between the US Armenian and Circassians organizations.
– Mr. Berzeg, on 2 June, the German Bundestag adopted a resolution on recognizing the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire. The move by the German lawmakers, as well as the Turkish response in the breaking global news. What is your assessment, how do you see the further development of the events? What is your organization’s position on this issue?
– It is hard to underestimate this move by the leading country of the European Union, which in addition is historically an ally of Turkey, a country that hosts the world’s biggest and multi-million Turkish community. The circumstances and the momentum of what happened when Russia annexed a part of the European country, has unleashed “hybrid” wars in the Donbas and in Artsakh, while NATO mobilizes its multinational troops to prevent Putin’s further expansion and conducts military drills on the eastern borders of the alliance, show that this will definitely have a continuation. The Bundestag lawmaker Cem Özdemir (second photo) who was carrying out lobby in the direction of the adoption of the resolution, quite clearly expressed himself saying that “other genocides are waiting for their turn.” Perhaps, it is about the genocide of Crimean Tatars as well as the Circassians.
– We all know what an important role Cem Özdemir, a Bundestag lawmaker, Turkish by roots and a Circassians by origin, also Chairman of the German “Greens” Party, had in the elaboration of the resolution and during the disputes thereof. One year ago, he had arrived in Yerevan and visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex, repeatedly and openly expressing his position about the Armenian Genocide. What do you think, what is the reason for Mr. Özdemir’s principled stance?
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– To understand the prehistory of the resolution adopted in the 21st century, the reasons, motives and the role that Cem Özdemir (the Turkish Circassians, the descendent of a Circassians displaced from Cherkassy by Russia) had in this process, it is necessary to refer to another, an earlier adopted document “Regulation on Inhabiting pre-mountainous regions of the western part of the Caucasus Mountain chain with Kuban Cossacks and other settlers from Russia.” It is signed by the Emperor on May 10, 1862. The document was adopted when the whole North-West Caucasus was densely populated by Circassians. In fact, it was a state plan aimed at the destruction of an entire nation, as well as an entire country. The essence of this 1862 Document as well as to what its implementation lead to has one definition in the global practice – a “genocide.” This document became the preamble of the Armenian tragedy.
There is evidence, which shows that an agreement was signed between the Empires on the exchange of the population. And in confirmation of this, more and more evidence pops-up, Armenian and Circassians researchers only so much time later have come to the perception that there was a conspiracy which is embodied in the fact that the majority of the Circassians appeared in the Ottoman Empire, and fifty years later, Hamshen Armenians appeared the then already actually devastated Circassia. The consequences of this cynicism so far directly affect the fate of Armenians and Circassians. Being a shrewd man, Cem Özdemir perhaps was guided by this very considerations.
– The Armenian press has already issued messages that the US Armenian and Circassians organizations have begun developing cooperation. A number of demonstrations and events have taken place on the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day, on April 24, and the Circassians genocide on 21 May. What is your vision, in your opinion, which of the directions of cooperation are important, particularly, with regard to our future, given the realities that are formed in the Caucasus: both in the South and North?
– Yes, the cooperation between the US Circassians and Armenian communities, in New Jersey and California respectively, have begun three years ago. Mutual exchange of visits of delegations has taken place: cultural programs, exchange of minds, development of the joint strategy. In 2014, the Armenian representative delegation from Los Angeles attended the events dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the Genocide of Circassians, articles were published on the Armenian websites containing empathy to the genocide of Circassians, as well as also Russian policy forging the history was convicted.
Closed (being cautious of early outflows and provocations) round tables discussions were held, future development models and problems of the Armenian and Circassians were discussed, which were a burden on Armenians, i.e. stirring an anti-Armenian hysteria in Western Circassia (in the so-called Krasnodar area), in Pyatigorsk Kabarda (in the south of the so-called Stavropol), the role of Circassians means reminding Russians considering themselves the “native masters” in their region that they have equal rights with Armenians in Circassia. In particular, associated with the incidents in Pyatigorsk with intimidating by the Armenian pogroms in February 2015, a number of successful measures were taken. We can also mention the recently recorded success when the celebration of the opening of the Armenian cultural center in Adler was canceled/postponed. The opening was scheduled on May 21 by someone, I think not without malicious intention, on the day of the Circassians Genocide commemoration. Consultations are constantly underway for the future effective cooperation of Armenians in Circassia and the Circassians.
The one and a half century dream of Circassians is to restore their independence. In the event of formed realities, the Armenian factor cannot be ignored and a great attention is paid to it.
The Geopolitical Club in Los Angeles, which inter alia includes also the Circassians Department, which is chaired by me, is closely watching the situation going on in Armenia and Artsakh. These countries being actually in the state of hostage cannot be beneficial to Armenians and the Circassians. Caucasian countries such as Circassia, Ichkeria, Dagestan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Artsakh and possibly others, we imagine as sovereign states but at the same time, united under our common Caucasian civilization … These things are not yet elaborated but we see the snapshot just on this ground.
It is highly symbolic that the official representative of the EU key state, an ethnic Circassians, the descendent of the genocide victims, initiated and successfully managed the adoption of the resolution on the recognition of the tragedy of Armenians as Genocide.
