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Armenian and Turkish Panelists Come Together in Ground Breaking Dialogue on Genocide at Fordham University
PRESS RELEASE
Armenian American Society for Studies on Stress and Genocide
139 Cedar Street
Cliffside Park, NJ 07010
Contact: Dr. Anie Kalayjian
Tel: 201-941-2266
Fax: 201-941-5110
E-mail: kalayjiana@aol.com
A potentially perfect world was created, if only for a few hours, at Fordham University on Thursday, April 5, 2001 at 7 p.m. between Armenians and Turkish citizens. Approximately 140 people, primarily of Armenian and Turkish descent, gathered to participate in A Psychospiritual and Educational Dialogue Between People of Armenian and Turkish Descent, sponsored by the Armenian American Society for Studies on Stress and Genocide (AASSSG) and co-sponsored by the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) NY Chapter, The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) and Fordham University. This open dialogue was held in commemoration of the 86th Anniversary of the Ottoman Turkish Genocide of the Armenians and was met with overwhelming success. Rational and intellectual dialogue was presented and exchanged between the panelists and audience members, resulting in a positive step toward reconciliation between Turkish citizens and Armenians. This entire program was put within a larger context of dialogues recently held in Germany, Turkey, Armenia and Harvard University. AASSSG has sponsored conferences worldwide in countries such as Finland, Israel, the Dominican Republic, Armenia and France.
The facilitators of this marvelous program were Dr. Anie Kalayjian, a Psychology Professor at Fordham University in New York City, who is also the president of AASSSG & ISTSS and Dr. Murat Paker, a Clinical Psychologist practicing in New York City. The panelists participating in this historic event were Christopher Atamian, Chief Creative and Marketing Officer of BKL Media in New York City; Koray Caliskan, Doctoral Candidate in Political Science in New York City; Robert Kandarjian, DC, Energy Body Therapist in New York City; Myrna Karamanoukian, MA candidate in Political Science, Montreal, Canada; Dilek Kurban, MA in International Relations; Yunus Tuncel, Ph.D. in Philosophy, New York City; M. Lena Takvorian, Ph.D. Candidate in Armenian Studies & Comparative Literature in New York City. Bulent Peker, a human rights activist from Ankara, Turkey, had also accepted the invitation to participate as a panelist; however, a human rights situation in Ankara did not allow him to attend. In his place, Dr. Kalayjian read the brief paper that he had planned on presenting that night.
Dr. Kalayjian opened the evening with remarks on what the goals of the evening were: 1) To bring together young adults from both nations to engage in a dialogue. 2) To encourage a larger dialogue amongst the audience from both nations. 3) To discuss the opportunities and challenges in the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation from a psycho-spiritual perspective. 4) To create the groundwork for future dialogues. 5) To develop a deeper understanding and compassion for one another. 6) To disseminate this paradigm shift. She stated, "If the past century is referred to as the century of genocide, I am challenging us all to make this century a century of constructive partnerships and meaningful dialogue. … We can no longer continue the anger, rage and retaliation. We need to sit and look into each other's eyes and express our feelings and have the maturity to listen."
The winners of the sixth annual Krieger essay were also announced. Dr. Edmund Gergerian, who contributes to the award in memory of his uncle, Father Krikor Gergerian, sponsors this yearly competition. The recipients were Stanislav Virokur and Katavzyna Lenadowski.
Dr. Murat Paker then took the podium to offer his opening remarks. Along with Dr. Kalayjian, he thanked all the panelists of Turkish descent "who acted bravely against all odds and came here" to the discussion. He reminded the audience that no one on the panel was a noted historian or established scholar on the issue in question; rather they were all "concerned individuals" seeking reconciliation, friendship, solidarity and reparation for what happened in 1915 and afterward. Dr. Paker noted in his presentation that although many peoples from different ethnic backgrounds suffered during World War I, the quantity and quality of the suffering for Armenians was exceptional. He stated, "What makes the mass act of destruction qualitatively different from other massacres committed during the same period is this: Unlike other massacres, this was pre-designed, whole scale destruction campaign, determined by a government and carried out either directly by the state forces or by some local groups under the supervision of or through the ignorance of state forces. Either way, Ottoman government was first-degree responsible of this deliberate mass destruction of its Armenian citizens. On all accounts, this act of destruction is totally indefensible and inexcusable. And it should be recognized as such." Dr. Paker said that Armenian and Turkish people were neighbors and friends for centuries prior to the mass destruction and wanted to establish a "reconnection through dialogue." He also believed it was time to reconstruct the bridges between the two nationalities and stated, "It is the strong presence of the absent that brought us together [tonight]."
After Dr. Paker's brief speech, each panelist took a turn at the podium offering their remarks on what their first experience was with the Armenian Genocide. The first speaker was Christopher Atamian, for whom the genocide "was crystallized and explained to [him]" while attending summer camp at Saint Gregory Camp in Massachusetts during the summer of 1974 when a first hand account was retold to him by a survivor. His comment, "People have free will and their own voice, in even the most repressive situations/societies," spoke volumes of his desire for more Turkish people to come forward in their acceptance of the Armenian Genocide.
Koray Caliskan then eloquently discussed his own educational history and how there was no mention of the massacres in his elementary and secondary teachings. It was only during his university years that he discovered "curious tensions about what happened in our historical past." Despite Turkey's constant denial of such a horrific event ever taking place, he believed that "the unbearable silence is produced in such a noisy milieu" and that breaking this silence should be of utmost importance for those who truly want to say that they are Turkish.
M. Lena Takvorian presented her comments on growing up with the genocide as a backdrop. To her the genocide "feels like a familiar pain that [she] cannot sublimate or get rid of." She also said that Armenians carry around this stigma and that it is handed down transgenerationally. She suggested that because the genocide has not been officially accepted by its perpetrators and their descendants, Armenians see themselves as perpetual victims and hate themselves and each other.
Yunus Tuncel then spoke about his philosophical ideas connecting Turkish nationalism with the massacres and their denial. While searching for the reasons behind the massacres in the rising ideology of nationalism, he also presented his ideas on historicism, how we can look at the past and its injustices in an impartial way and try to overcome them. He noted in the beginning of his statement as a sort of pretext that "the fact that I don't know anything about the massacres of the Armenians is a sign that no one [in Turkey] talks about it."
The next panelist was Robert Kandarjian who said that his father was a survivor of the genocide, but never discussed it with his family and repressed all of his emotions instead. This led Kandarjian to believe that Armenians need to start processing what has happened to them individually and as a people to eliminate the psycho-somatic disorders that he believed most Armenians to have as a result of the emotional turmoil suffered by survivors and their families.
Following Kandarjian was Dilek Kurban, who asked the audience, "Shouldn't all Turkish citizens wonder why the Armenian Question keeps coming up on the international political arena?" She stressed that although the mass destruction of the Armenians was planned by the Ottoman Turkish government, it was carried out via "popular participation of the very neighbors of Armenians." For this reason she believes that every Turkish citizen should be involved in reconciliation efforts. She stated that "without knowing the complete truth and taking responsibility for it, peace, democracy and reconciliation will never be achieved fully and meaningfully."
The last panelist to speak was Myrna Karamanoukian. She stated that she was "born with the heritage of genocide" prevalent in her family. She went on to say that her readings of Turkish historians' publications further prove to her their responsibility, along with the Turkish government, for continuing denial of the genocide.
After the panelists made their statements, Dr. Kalayjian read Bulent Peker's transcript, which he had submitted via email. He had noted that what happened to the Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Turkish government was "one of the most brutal assaults on humankind."
Following these introductory statements, Dr. Kalayjian read several thought-provoking and intelligent questions that the audience had submitted anonymously for the panelists, all of whom answered quite rationally and with the utmost compassion. The first question was why such a dialogue needed to take place, for which Koray Caliskan had an immediate response: There are no international institutions to prevent the mass destruction of any ethnic group from taking place in the future. According to him, who was to say that such an atrocity would never occur again? These dialogues were needed to avoid such tragedies from repeating themselves. M. Lena Takvorian also answered this question by saying that if there was no such dialogue, then there would only be silence, which would lead to repression, thus leaving humans incapable of handling traumas in the present.
For the interesting question that asked what Armenians expect from the citizens of Turkey, Myrna Karamanoukian had a fair answer: She stated that she would ask all Turkish scholars to publish books with the correct and truthful historical accounts of what really happened during the Armenian Genocide and to help educate all Turkish citizens in order to make them aware of these truths. Another question read by Dr. Kalayjian asked the Turkish panelists what they thought their role was in helping Armenians to achieve closure on this matter. Yunus Tuncel explained that they must show compassion and understanding to the past suffering of the Armenians. Koray Caliskan remarked that they must not leave Armenians alone and help them with the healing process. He went on further to say that Turkish people have been an important part of constructing the Armenian identity both positively and negatively given their close relations over the centuries. His comments were in accordance to Dr. Paker's in that they both believe in "reconnecting" relations between Turkish citizens and Armenians. Dr. Paker noted that a very large gap exists between historical and psychological truths in the Turkish perspective. He hoped that these dialogues would help to close that gap.
The final portion of the evening's dialogue involved Robert Kandarjian giving recommendations on how to start the healing process for Armenians. Although he noted that recognition of the Armenian Genocide on behalf of the Turkish government was key to begin the healing, it was not the answer. Rather, recognition would start the healing and bring it to a new level. He went on to explain that there were four levels of healing to address: physical, spiritual, psychological and cultural.
For the physical healing level, Kandarjian noted that "recognition must be made by Armenians that the absorbed and unprocessed pain of the genocide lives in the bodies of the later generations as well as the survivors." On the psychological healing level, Armenians must work with the "guidance of skilled psychologists, body workers and spiritualists [to develop] a safe and nurturing haven, where different generations and age groups can process in retreat and workshop settings, the psychic imbalances directly related to the Armenian Genocide." He hoped that one day such retreats could expand and invite Turkish inclusion for further processing and healing.
Kandarjian then recommended that healing on a cultural level could be achieved by welcoming and making public "the sympathetic efforts made by Turkish artists from all mediums of art who defend the Armenian position." He further noted, "The language of art can be as powerful as academic discourse." To achieve healing spiritually, Kandarjian proposed and invited "my fellow Armenians and Turkish colleagues to form a grassroots spiritual community, [which] will focus on our soul connection as spiritual beings and children of God and attempt to transcend the respective religious limitations and conventions."
The program ended on a high note. Panelists and audience members were eager
to continue discussions individually over refreshments, even though the
event had been going on for well over two hours. In fact, several impressed
audience members approached Dr. Kalayjian after the program and asked her to
follow up this dialogue with many more in the near future. They noted that
the moderation and comments by the panel were "diplomatic, intelligent,
sharp, smooth and gently put the nationalists from both sides in their
place." In fact, Viken Baboghlian commented to Dr. Kalayjian that her
"intelligent coordination [ensured] the continuation and blossoming of
similar dialogue in the new century. I was highly impressed with the Turkish
speakers [and they showed] tremendous character and courage, firstly by
speaking at an event whose audience was mostly Armenian; and secondly, by
braving any potential repercussions for themselves back in Turkey. It
reveals to me yet again the paradox that is Turkey: the people are as
endearing as the government is distasteful." Although this event had only a
capacity for 150 people, Dr. Kalayjian and AASSSG, along with the event's
co-sponsors, should be encouraged to host similar dialogues in the near
future on a much larger scale and internationally to reach out to even more
Turkish and Armenian people and, as Dr. Paker said, "reconnect through
dialogue."
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