New Developments in Turkish-Armenian Relations

On November 7, 2013, Turkey’s the Greens and the Left Party of the Future, organized a meeting entitled “Confronting History” in Istanbul, with the participation of various organizations and individuals who have acknowledged the Armenian Genocide. The Social Democrat Hunchakian Party received an invitation to participate in the meeting.

In response to the invitation, the foreign relations board of the S.D.H.P. Central Committee conveyed the following letter to the participants of the meeting:
“Esteemed Friends,
We learned that a meeting entitled “Confronting History” will take place in Istanbul organized by the Greens and the Left Party of the Future.

On this occasion, our viewpoint is that being unmindful to historical events or denying and falsifying facets of history is wrong. History must be looked at with open eyes.

Throughout our history, the greatest pain has been caused by the calamity of the Armenian Genocide, which is on the brink of its centennial. Condemning and acknowledging historical wrongdoings and expressing it as such within a community, is pertinent only from highly civilized individuals.

From these foundations, the meeting entitled “Confronting History,” and its decisions and affirmations, is an opening towards not repeating the mistakes of the past with the goals of establishing friendship between peoples along with justice and peace within the region. We extended our hand to you and welcome you and your spearheaded endeavors in a collaborative desire.”

At the end of the meeting, it was decided to increase the participation of various left-wing parties including the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and convene a larger conference to work toward developing a greater degree of production. Furthermore, it was decided to participate in Genocide commemorations within Armenia, and collaborate with Germany’s Turkish population towards recognition and commemorations of the Armenian Genocide. The Greens and the Left Party of the Future have also invited the S.D.H.P. to participate in its party congress in Ankara on November 30th.

As a reminder, the Greens and the Left Party of the Future took part in the unprecedented commemorative events that took place in Istanbul, Turkey on June 13 and 15 of this year commemorating the 98th anniversary of the martyrdom of the “Twenty Gallows.”