George Shirinian, Director, Zoryan Institute
December 29, 2006
The Turkish version of the article shown below appeared in the December 26, 2006 issue of Radikal newspaper in
The article incorrectly states that Zoryan sponsored and financed the publication of the book. In fact, Metropolitan Books of New York, a division of Henry Holt Publishers, financed the English edition. This is a substantially revised version of Ak?am?s book, which was originally published in
The article incorrectly states that The New York Times ?promoted the book with a praiseworthy book review by Belinda Cooper.? In fact, the review in the December 17, 2006 issue of the New York Times Book Review was by distinguished author Gary Bass.
The article also incorrectly states that ?the book only reflects the Armenian position and defends the Armenian Genocide, mainly based on the memoirs of some eyewitnesses.? This is a major error. Actually, according to the author on page 5 of the Preface, ??what remains in the Ottoman archives and in court records is sufficient to show that the CUP Central Committee, and the Special Organization it set up to carry out its plan, did deliberately attempt to destroy the Armenian population.? Moreover, the author adds on page 6, ?The evidence in the Ottoman Archives is augmented by the documents found in
It is instructive that the Zoryan Institute, a ?propaganda centre? as claimed in the article, commenced its first colloquium in 1982 by asking a simple question, ?Was what happened in 1915 genocide.? If Zoryan and its scholars, some of whom are Armenian and descendants of survivors of the Genocide, with all their trauma and pain can approach this issue with such detachment, then one wonders why the Turkish military-bureaucratic elite, the media and the Government can not also approach this issue with a simple question similar to that raised by the author on page 4 of his Preface: ?Is there evidence of intent and central planning on the part of the Ottoman authorities for a total or partial destruction of the Armenian people??
There are strong voices that want to reclaim history as a legacy that needs to be recognized and are pressing the government to abolish all obstacles to this process. We at the Zoryan Institute do indeed see a ?big opportunity? at this particular juncture, to help provide information for this debate within
As Greg Sarkissian, President of the Zoryan Institute said in his speech at the Diaspora Conference in
We wish that books like A Shameful Act will be a ?big opportunity,? not only for the Zoryan Institute, but also for the Turkish and Armenian people, because, as Greg Sarkissian said, ?restoring accurate historical memory will benefit not only Turkish, but also Armenian society. Both will be emancipated from the straightjacket of the past. Such a Common Body of Knowledge will lead to an understanding of each other, act as a catalyst for dialogue, and serve as a precursor to the normalization of relations between our two societies.?
It is worth noting that in the book?s dedication, Taner Ak?am states, ?I would like to dedicate this book to the memory of Haji Halil, a devout Muslim Turk, who saved the members of an Armenian family from deportation and death by keeping them safely hidden for over half a year, risking his own life. His courageous act continues to point the way toward a different relationship between Turks and Armenians.?
Big
Radikal, December 26, 2006
The Zoryan Institute, known as the most powerful propaganda centre of the Armenians, is getting prepared to translate into Armenian and Hebrew the book written by Taner Ak?am, which accuses Turks of committing the Armenian genocide. Orhan Pamuk, who was awarded the Nobel Prize after stating that ?One million Armenians and 30,000 Kurds were killed in this country,? provides praise and support for this book.
The Zoryan Institute, which is active in
Pamuk Praises the Book
The book, which reflects Taner Ak?am's viewpoint on the Armenian Genocide, has its subject as 'The Secret That Cannot Be Hidden: The Armenian Genocide and the Problem of Turkish Responsibility'. In the introduction, Orhan Pamuk states that ?The book 'The Secret That Cannot Be Hidden,' is an indisputable proof of the wiping out of the Ottoman Armenians, written by a very worthy Turkish scientist who has dedicated his life to the research of these events.?
Hebrew and Armenian
According to the website of the Zoryan Institute, it is planned to have a very effective promotion of Taner Ak?am's book which holds
Direct Connection
Researcher-author Cezmi Yurtsever states that ?There is a direct connection between Orhan Pamuk's pro-Armenian opinions and the awarding of Nobel Literature Prize.? Previously, Orhan Pamuk had been severely criticized in
As the Nobel prize-winner Orhan Pamuk keeps making statements such as ?Author of Turkey and the Turkish Language,? researcher-author Yurtsever poses the following question to Pamuk: ?Would you carry out the duty and responsibility to reveal to the public the reasons why you support a book reflecting the personal opinions of Taner Ak?am accusing Turkey of committing genocide of the Armenians, a viewpoint defended by the Armenian Diaspora??
