TARC PROBLEMATICS

TARC PROBLEMATICS


I have been trying to follow the activities of TARC ever
since its formation was made public, but there is not much to
follow. However, I did read the interview two members gave to
Groong on Aug 4, 2001 and I am disturbed by some of the statements
they made.

1) The word `reconcile' has two different meanings, and I wonder
which was meant when the esteemed members of this commission
decided on this term.

a) If it was meant `to restore to friendship', it is ill-chosen,
because friendship is based on trust. When the Turkish members of
the so-called commission announce publicly, unlike the Armenian
members, that there will be no recognition of the genocide, I
wonder how they can be trusted to restore a true friendship. b) If
it was meant `to submit to or accept something unpleasant', then it
has also not been chosen well. From what I read in the interview,
it seems to me that the only reconciliation that is on the TARC's
agenda is to accept the `unpleasant' idea that the Turks will never
admit to committing a horrible crime. It is very clear from the
statements some of the Turk members on the Commission have made
that they will never reconcile with their `unpleasant' past, so I
wonder what the whole purpose of this commission is except that it
serves non-Armenian interests.

2) A commission, whatever its mission, cannot be formed simply on
the basis that the members `have known each other since 1991'.
Knowing each other does not qualify them to decide on the minimum
criteria that they themselves have delineated for those who would
join this so-called Commission. Regardless, I am sure there are
many other Armenians who have significant international and
national political experiences, are fluent in English and willing
to work as part of a team. In fact, it is an insult to my
intelligence when they declare they can decide on who is qualified
and who is not. What is more insulting is that they consider
themselves working as part of a team. What team is that when the
Armenian members have alienated themselves from many Armenians? If
they meant the ill-fated Commission , I still don't consider them
working as a team. From the interview, all I can infer is that they
are not working `as' a team, but `for' a team, which unfortunately
is pro-Turkish. I am not concerned about numbers being 4 to
6. Sometimes one person can have a much better impact than 10.

3) Another point made during the interview is that this `commission
is not focused on determining whether or not there was a genocide.'
The Armenian members take it as a `non-negotiable fact,' but what
about the six Turkish members of TARC? How can the members of this
commission have a constructive discussion if each side is basing
these negotiations on different issues? Perhaps the meetings are
being held in Babylon where each speaks his own language and gets
no where.

4) It was also stated that the members did not play any role in the
selection of the Turkish members and vice versa. The four Armenian
members elected themselves to be on this commission and probably so
did the six Turkish members. But this does not give them the right
to speak for the majority of Armenians, and certainly it does not
give the six Turks the right to speak for the majority of
Turks. The Armenians in general were not consulted. Therefore, what
they decide on or discuss during these meetings will not concern
the majority of Armenians. Whatever `reconciliation' they will have
with this Commission will be theirs, and only their decision. And
only they will be held accountable for their actions.

5) What disturbed me most in the interview was the following
statement: `Armenian-Americans are already divided.' This is
unacceptable from a self-announced expert who is willing to work as
a team. And what makes this statement worse - actually very
childish -- is the attack on the ARF and their unwillingness to
participate in this commission, and that the members of TARC `are
not presently aware of anyone within the ARF/ANCA ranks who can
meet the criteria for membership.' Did they even try to set up
some sort of a `reconciliation commission' with the ARF'? Or do
they consider reconciling with Turks more important than
reconciling with fellow Armenians? Isn't it better to start
cleaning our own house before we even think about our neighbors?
If the ARF knew about the formation of this commission, but refused
to join, did anyone of the commission members try to set up a
`reconciliation' committee with the ARF to agree to some sort of
common ground? In the interview, one member also states that `this
effort ought not be held captive to partisan politics', yet all the
two members do is act as a partisan by attacking the ARF. I have
never been a member of any of the three Armenian Parties, which for
me have become very stagnant by keeping their outdated aims and
objectives. None of the Parties is God-sent, and they all have
their good sides and bad. If I may add here, my father was a
founding member in Jordan of one party, and it was not the ARF. But
he taught me tolerance towards all Armenians, to extend a hand no
matter what. I was also an active member of the AGBU in Lebanon for
more than 20 years.


Living in Lebanon among Arabs and Moslems, all I hear is great
regard towards Armenians -- how nationalistic, loyal and united we
are, and how much they need to learn from us. I know well that we
are forever divided, but I never correct them; I always affirm that
we are united.

Instead of trying to unite the ranks, the actions of this
commission unfortunately have further divided the
Armenian-Americans. In the past year, I grew more and more proud of
the Armenian-Americans who got stronger through the Armenian
lobby. However, this ill-fated Commission has destroyed what the
Armenian community had built for many years despite the many
disagreements amongst themselves.

I do hope this commission will not cause any more destruction of
the Armenian Diaspora who have survived many years in spite of many
misfortunes.


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Katia M. Peltekian is an author and lecturer of English and
Technical English as well as Teacher-trainer at the American
University of Beirut, Lebanon. She has recently published a book
`Heralding of the Armenian Genocide - Reports in the Halifax Herald
1894-1922' which is a compilation of newspaper articles in that
Canadian newspaper.


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