Pan-Turkism and the Armenian Genocide(s)

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey (right) holding a Pan-Turkish map

BY GARO R. MADENLIAN

The Armenian Genocide of 1915 is recognized throughout the civilized world, despite perpetrator Turkey’s and its allies’ continuing campaigns of denial and erasure.

Garo R. Madenlian

The recent genocide and ethnic cleansing of Armenians of Artsakh by Azerbaijan with Turkey’s support was broadcast live on social media just a few years ago. The same “civilized” world who recognized the Genocide of 1915 and vowed repeatedly to never let this happen again idly stood by and watched as Artsakh was emptied of its indigenous Armenian population.

Once yet again, the “civilized” world’s economic interests, trade routes and oil pipelines, far outweighed their concern for human rights, indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination and the right to live freely on its own ancestral land.

This recent Genocide is not new but rather a continuation of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and for the same reasons: Pan-Turkish aspirations to create a new Turkish empire stretching across the south Caucasus to Central Asia fueled by the same hateful rhetoric and utilizing religion as a tool to activate extremists against their one remaining roadblock: Armenia.

Pan-Turkism originated in the late 19^th century in the Ottoman empire as a political movement to unify Turkic peoples from the Caucasus, Volga-Ural, Western and Central Asia to create a greater Turkish empire. It significantly influenced Turkish nationalism and its national consciousness and remains alive in Turkey.

Thus, the Armenian Genocide never stopped, it merely took on various forms throughout the years from mass murder and ethnic cleansing to denial and erasure in Western Armenia throughout the 20^th century; and mass murder and ethnic cleansing to denial and erasure in Artsakh during the first quarter of the 21^st century.

A map of Armenia

Similarly, the pan-Turkish agenda never stopped and continues today serving as the main reason why Turks committed the Genocide(s) of Armenians, to clear their path east to central Asia. It is why the genocide continues today.

Turkey and Azerbaijan, the perpetrators of Genocide against Armenians in the 20^th and 21^st centuries are the two main culprits, refusing to accept their criminal responsibility while spearheading campaigns of hate, denial and erasure.

There are also those who are complicit, sometimes appearing as sheep in wolves clothing and taking on various forms attempting to minimize the atrocities and their impact. They encourage Armenians to forget the past, to move on and focus on the present, and to not demand justice, reparations and return of occupied Armenian territories as delineated by US President Woodrow Wilson.

Many of those are various international and regional powers, governments, corporations, organizations, those with economic interests, political alliances or financial partnerships with the culprits and those with economic interests, or simply receiving a personal benefit themselves, be it monetary, power or notoriety.

A Pan-Turkism map

Thus, those who deny the Armenian Genocide and those complicit are all directly or indirectly advancing the pan-Turkish agenda, continuing the genocide to the detriment of Armenia and the Armenian nation.

Unfortunately, the current government of Armenia is also complicit with its position opposing Artsakh, policies of appeasing Turkey and Azerbaijan, and acquiescing to their demands. They actively and aggressively promote the pan-Turkish/Azeri and “civilized” world’s agenda in Transcaucasia either erroneously believing it to benefit the Republic of Armenia or more likely for their own self-interests. Their rationale and explanations are irrelevant justifications for their transgressions as the end result will be the same: advancement of pan-Turkism and the continuation of the Genocide to the detriment of Armenia and Armenians.

Fortunately, the Armenian diaspora is united and unwavering on theses issue. Justice for the Armenian Genocide including reparations and the liberation of occupied Armenian territories in Western Armenia. Justice for the people of Artsakh including the right to safely return to their indigenous homeland and their right to self-determination. Justice for the Armenian POWs and political prisoners illegally held captive in Baku including their release and restitution.

What remains is for Armenia and the Diaspora to unite and work towards this pan-Armenian national agenda; to join forces in this common cause to safeguard Armenia and the Armenian nation; and to continue our collective struggle for justice together.

After all, we are not merely descendants of genocide survivors. We are the descendants of Serop Aghpiur and Kevork Chavoush, Aram Manougian and General Dro, Armen Karo and Aaron Sachaklian, Tatoul Grbeyan and Shahen Meghrian, Bedo and Pegor, and countless other Armenian heroes….

Garo R. Madenlian is the chair of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western U.S, Central Committee.