Lutem Praises TARC for AAA

The Armenian Weekly On-Line: AWOL
October 20-26, 2001

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Lutem Praises TARC for AAA

By Hasmik Dombalagian

In early September, I was looking for information about the Turkish
Armenian Reconciliation Commission on the Internet. I came across a
list of "Reactions and Commendations" on the Web site of the Armenian
Assembly of America. In the list of favorable comments from the Turkish
establishment, the Armenian Assembly included a quote from Omer Lutem.

Omer Lutem is a retired ambassador and the head of the newly founded
"Institute for Armenian Research" in Ankara. The Armenian Assembly
quotes Lutem as saying that he believes the benefit of these kinds of
attempts [TARC] may be the softening of the strained atmosphere between
the two states and nations. He is also quoted on the Web site as
telling the Turkish Daily news, "There is no doubt that this attempt
will be useful in lessening the strain, especially when there is a lack
of diplomatic relations between the two states. But I am not sure how
far this attempt will go." I am familiar with the name of Omer Lutem
because his "Institute for Armenian Research" recently published the
first issue of its journal, "Armenian Studies." In that journal, Lutem
presents the revisionist, anti-Armenian writings of so-called
historians including Justin McCarthy and Sukru Elekdag.

If this is the type of work Lutem is publishing, then what kind of
credibility does his opinion hold? If this is the type of person who
thinks initiatives like TARC will "benefit the strained atmosphere,"
then should Armenians or others be more skeptical of TARC? Does the
Armenian Assembly consider people like Lutem friends, and do they
expect the Armenian community to embrace their endorsements? Even if
Lutem spoke out against TARC, is he considered a reliable source of
information and opinion? After reading Dr. Murat Acemoglu's recent
article about the Omer Lutem and the "Institute for Armenian Research,"
titled "The Turkish Mentality Hasn't Changed Since the Formation of
TARC," I went back to the Armenian Assembly Web site at the end of
September. I noticed that Lutem's name was removed from the Web site.
Perhaps a member of the Armenian Assembly warned them of the views of
their new friend, but that does not change the fact that it is the
Turkish establishment and their friends who are embracing TARC.

Throughout this entire process, I have found it curious that while TARC
is being promoted as an individual endeavor, the Armenian Assembly is
actively promoting its success. I am wondering whether if TARC fails,
it will also mean the failure of the Armenian Assembly. I am wondering
if the Armenian-American community will allow an organization which
promotes Turkish interests to continue operating in our community.


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