Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
Staff Report
Photo: ASP Archive
Armenian Studies Program Coordinator Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian participated in the 7th Annual “Genocide Awareness Week: Not on Our Watch,” organized by Scottsdale Community College, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Der Mugrdechian spoke on the topic of “The Genocide in the 21st Century: Turkey and Armenia,” on Monday, April 15, to students, faculty, and community members.
Dr. Taner Akçam, Kalousdian and Mugar Professor of Armenian Genocide Studies at Clark University joined Der Mugrdechian as a speaker at the conference with his presentation on “The Killing Orders of Talat Pasha.”
In 2018, Ambassador John Evans was the keynote speaker at the “Genocide Awareness Week,” which has grown to become the largest such week devoted to the topic of genocide in the United States.
Der Mugrdechian’s lecture examined the current and historical relations between Turkey and Armenia, in the context of the Armenian Genocide. His talk was divided into three sections: Turkey and the Armenian Genocide; Armenia and the Armenian Genocide; Genocide as a continuing issue in the international arena.
The consequences of the Genocide and its denial by modern Turkey have become factors today in both the internal and external policies of both Turkey and Armenia.
Although Armenia was established as a new country on September 21, 1991, Turkey has refused to officially have any diplomatic ties to Armenia. The Genocide recognition campaign is a big factor in this decision by Turkey.
Prof. Der Mugrdechian gave examples of relations between Turkey and Italy as an example of how the Genocide issue still is a factor. In Armenia, it is more domestic policies that are affected by the Genocide issue. Armenia’s leaders have been criticized for relegating Genocide recognition to a secondary role, and thus the issue has affected the perceptions of how the people view Armenia’s leaders.
Dr. Akçam’s presentation focused on the question of denial, and how denial was an intrinsic part of the fabric of the new Republic of Turkey in 1923. He gave examples of how the Turkish government is still attempting to stifle Genocide recognition by manipulating documents and information. They do this in order to build the argument for denialism.
Dr. Akçam explained how official Ottoman Turkish telegrams were coded and by doing so he again directly addressed the question of authenticity of documentation. Dr. Akçam explained how he was able to read the coded documents and to use this information to combat the denialism.
Organized by Prof. John Liffiton, Scottsdale Community College’s “Genocide Awareness Week” featured speakers on American Indians, on the Holocaust, on the Assyrian Genocide (Seyfo), and on the topic of comparative Genocide.
The St. Apkar Armenian Church of Scottsdale has been a generous supporter of the “Genocide Awareness Week” activities and annually sponsors speakers on the Armenian Genocide.
Fr. Zacharia Saribekyan, pastor of St. Apkar, has played a key role in the continuing inclusion of the Armenian Genocide in the “Genocide Awareness Week.”