The Tzitzernakaberd memorial dedicated to the victims of mass killings by Ottoman Turks in the Armenian capital Yerevan. Hakob Berberyan / AP
The Tzitzernakaberd memorial dedicated to the victims of mass killings by Ottoman Turks in the Armenian capital Yerevan. Hakob Berberyan / AP
The Tzitzernakaberd memorial dedicated to the victims of mass killings by Ottoman Turks in the Armenian capital Yerevan. Hakob Berberyan / AP
The Tzitzernakaberd memorial dedicated to the victims of mass killings by Ottoman Turks in the Armenian capital Yerevan. Hakob Berberyan / AP

Armenian genocide: Turkey must confront its past before it can face its future


  • English
  • Arabic

The philosopher, novelist and poet George Santayana famously wrote: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” This is even more true of those who choose to deny their history.

Last week, the US House of Representatives passed a resolution that recognised the First World War deportations and slaughter of Armenians by the Ottoman authorities as genocide.

During the early 20th century war, the Ottoman empire was fighting for its survival. The Sublime Porte – a synecdoche for the empire's governance – made a disastrous decision under the leadership of the Young Turks to enter the war on the side of the Central Powers, made up of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria. Istanbul, or Constantinople as it was then known, feared its Armenian subjects might join forces with its enemy Russia. Some Armenians had already done so. To prevent a potential uprising, millions of Armenian civilians were deported. They were forced to march hundreds of miles into the Anatolian deserts and as many as 1.5 million died, if not from starvation then by marauding bands of Ottoman soldiers.

The fate of the Armenians and other minority groups is just as much a part of Ottoman history as the stunning treasures of Topkapi Palace and the magnificent architecture of Mimar Sinan

The 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, defines genocide as the “intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group”. Raphael Lemkin, the principle figure who coined the term, did so while witnessing the Nazi murder of millions of his Jewish co-religionists. However, the lawyer and activist was also profoundly affected by the fate of the Ottoman Armenians.

Much of the controversy revolves around the question of intent; did the Ottoman authorities deliberately seek to destroy the Armenian people? Proving intent is not easy. Textual records only tell half the story.

However, the Ottoman authorities must have known that the mass deportations were tantamount to the destruction of the empire’s Armenian population. How on earth could a specifically singled-out community survive such an ordeal? Moreover, Armenians were Ottoman subjects. The authorities were therefore responsible for their protection, yet it was they who instigated their destruction.

Until now, Congress has resisted recognising the Armenian genocide in order to avoid rupturing ties with its Nato ally Turkey. However, this time not only was the motion was successful but the House also passed sanctions over Ankara's invasion of Syria several weeks ago, which was made possible by president Donald Trump's decision to pull out US troops. Some have argued that Congress is seeking to punish Turkey for its operation against the Kurds.

Ted Howze is a Republican candidate for the US house of representatives. AFP
Ted Howze is a Republican candidate for the US house of representatives. AFP

Turkey's foray into Kurdish-held territory in north-east Syria highlights Santayana's warning about the consequences of ignoring history. Ankara sought to create a so-called safe zone to settle millions of Arab Syrian refugees who are currently resident in Turkey. This would have been tantamount to ethnic cleansing as the majority of the Arab refugees are not from the area while hundreds of thousands of Kurds would be displaced.

Ankara sought to justify its policy by claiming that Kurdish forces had previously expelled Arabs from their homes, that Turkey’s hosting of millions of refugees was unsustainable, and that the Kurdish forces of the YPG, or People's Protection Units, constitute a terrorist threat as they are one and the same as the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), an internationally proscribed terrorist group who for decades have waged war against Turkey.

But what was lost on Ankara was that it matters little whether such claims are valid. Displacing Kurds and forcibly creating a safe zone to house millions of Arab refugees, thereby changing the demographic balance of the area, is still ethnic cleansing. The fact that Turkish ministers, including president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, openly propagated such a policy highlights how little has been learned from past mistakes.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would not recognise the non-binding US resolution. Burhan Ozbilici / AP
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would not recognise the non-binding US resolution. Burhan Ozbilici / AP

In recent decades, Turkey has sought to rediscover its Ottoman heritage. This is a good thing. Ottoman history is profoundly fascinating. Not only was it a vast empire that encompassed parts of Asia, Africa and Europe but the empire’s culture was rich in literature, poetry, music and art. For much of its history, the empire was also a beacon of religious and ethnic tolerance.

But the fate of the Armenians and other minority groups is just as much a part of Ottoman history as the stunning treasures of Topkapi Palace and the magnificent architecture of Mimar Sinan.

Responding to the US genocide resolution, Mr Erdogan said: “A country whose history is full of the stain of genocide and slavery neither has the right to say anything nor to lecture Turkey.”

This is precisely the point. The US is still coming to terms with the crimes of its forefathers, as are countries such as Britain and France, which are publicly discussing and reappraising their colonial legacies. In other countries such as Australia, there is an ongoing debate, known as the history wars, about the nature of the country’s colonialisation process and its damage to aboriginal communities. Such public discussions have not weakened these societies but made them stronger.

An open and public debate about the past is needed in Turkey without scholars having to fear for their careers or livelihoods. Surely, this would make Turkey stronger in the long run and less likely to repeat its historical misdeeds.

Simon Waldman is an associate fellow at the Henry Jackson Society and a visiting research fellow at King's College London

Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021

Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.

Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.

Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.

Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.

Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.

Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.

Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”

Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI. 

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Brief scoreline:

Manchester United 2

Rashford 28', Martial 72'

Watford 1

Doucoure 90'

THE DETAILS

Deadpool 2

Dir: David Leitch

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Justin Dennison, Zazie Beetz

Four stars

What is a black hole?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The Pope's itinerary

Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport


Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial


Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport

Sui Dhaaga: Made in India

Director: Sharat Katariya

Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav

3.5/5

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA