Militarization is To Divide and Rule, Civilization is To Integrate and Support

By Zafer Urey

It is important to remember that in November 1914 Britain, France and Russia declared war on the Ottoman Empire, and by April 1915 Gallipoli campaign was underway:

"The Gallipoli campaign resonated profoundly among all nations involved. In Turkey, the battle is perceived as a defining moment in the history of the Turkish people—a final surge in the defence of the motherland as the centuries-old Ottoman Empire was crumbling."

From the first Annual Message (2nd term): , dated December 4th, 1893, of the President Glover Cleveland of the United States we understand that "divide and rule" policies of the then imperial powers were in effect in the Ottoman Empire "Turkey complains that her Armenian subjects obtain citizenship in this country not to identify themselves in good faith with our people, but with the intention of returning to the land of their birth and there engaging in sedition. This complaint is not wholly without foundation. A journal published in this country in the Armenian language openly counsels its readers to arm, organize, and participate in movements for the subversion of Turkish authority in the Asiatic provinces."

After much destruction and huge loss of human life caused by conflicts, wars and massacres at the time the issues between Armenia and Turkey continue to dominate in many international and national platforms either between the two countries or between the diaspora of Armenians and Turks around the world.

In 2002, the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) addressed members of the Turkish Armenian Reconciliation Commission (TARC)on questions of reconciliation and transitional justice. Thereafter the TARC officially requested that the ICTJ should facilitate the drafting of a legal memorandum on the applicability of the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide to events which occurred during the early twentieth century. The memorandum was drafted by independent legal counsel and not by the ICTJ. The memorandum is a legal, not a factual or historical, analysis. Exerpts from the Memorandum includes the following among others: "In deriving the conclusions contained in this memorandum we have attempted to state explicitly whether our conclusion relies on any factual assumptions. Although we have reviewed various accounts of the relevant facts, we have not undertaken any independent factual investigation."

"We acknowledge disagreement as to the magnitude and scope of these events, their context and intended effect, and the identities and affiliations of their perpetrators."

"International law generally prohibits the retroactive application of treaties
unless a different intention appears from the treaty or is otherwise established. The
Genocide Convention contains no provision mandating its retroactive application. To the contrary, the text of the Convention strongly suggests that it was intended to impose prospective obligations only on the States party to it. Therefore, no legal, financial or territorial claim arising out of the Events could successfully be made against any individual or state under the Convention."

"The crucial issue of genocidal intent is contested, and this legal memorandum is not intended to definitively resolve particular factual disputes. Nonetheless, we believe that the most reasonable conclusion to draw from the various accounts referred to above of the Events is that, notwithstanding the efforts of large numbers of "righteous Turks" who intervened on behalf of the Armenians, at least some of the perpetrators of the Events knew that the consequence of their actions would be the destruction, in whole or in part, of the Armenians of eastern Anatolia, as such, or acted purposively towards this goal, and, therefore, possessed the requisite genocidal intent. Because the other three elements identified above have been definitively established, the Events, viewed collectively, can thus be said to include all of the elements of the crime of genocide as defined in the Convention, and legal scholars as well as historians, politicians, journalists and other people would be justified in continuing to so describe them."

"We emphasize further that this memorandum addresses solely the applicability of the Genocide Convention to the Events. It does not purport to address the applicability to the Events of, or the rights or responsibilities of concerned individuals or entities under, any other rubric of international law or the laws of any nation."

"While it is not seriously disputed that massacres, deportations and other crimes were committed against Armenian citizens of the Ottoman Empire in the early twentieth century, there is disagreement on certain facts, including the number of people affected and, crucially, the identity and intent of the perpetrators."

On April 14, 2009The ICG(International Crisis Group) published a report which is titled Turkey and Armenia: Opening Minds and Opening Borders" . This report also includes an examination of the various aspects of the subject. More importantly, however,the report puts forward a number of recommendations to each sides (Armenia, Turkey and other countries) to move forward towards a resolution of this issue. Some exerpts from The ICG report are below:

"On 27 May 1915, the Ottoman Empire decided to forcibly transfer the bulk of Armenians in central and eastern Anatolia to new locations."

"Turks’ and Armenians’ once uncompromising, bipolar views of history are significantly converging, showing that the deep traumas can be healed. Most importantly, the advance in bilateral relations demonstrates that a desire for reconciliation can overcome old enmities and closed borders. Given the heritage and culture shared by Armenians and Turks, there is every reason to hope that norrmalisation of relations between the two countries can be achieved and sustained."

"A key difference in the two narratives is where to assign blame for the horrors. Many Turks accuse Armenians of being a kind of fifth column, supporting and being supported by Russia, Britain and France and intent on creating their own state in the heart of Anatolia. Most Armenians consider that the victims were loyal citizens, relocated or killed to make room for Muslim refugees from other parts of the disintegrating empire and make possible the creation of an ethnically pure Turkic state."

"There are many strong platforms in Turkey and Armenia for the current reconciliation process: the engagement of intellectuals in finding new common ground, the willingness of officials to discuss new ideas and the positive approach of public opinion. New trends are apparent in the Armenian diaspora, and the process has the support of outside powers like the U.S., EU and Russia. The next steps – diplomatic relations and open borders – can immediately create new constituencies invested in a peaceful future for Turks and Armenians and more prosperity in both countries."

"For Turkey, reconciliation would increase the credibility of arguments that it does not need external pressure to address historical disputes with its neighbours, a position that could help stop international qualification of the 1915 events as genocide. It would aid its EU membership bid, which is especially important this
year, when Brussels will expect Ankara to live up to commitments to normalise relations with Greek Cypriots– something that will be difficult unless there is
substantial progress on Cyprus conflict settlement. A breakthrough with Armenia would give stronger arguments to those supportive EU policy makers who argue that Turkey is a responsible beacon of European values in the Caucasus and Middle East."

"The Armenian government insists it does not contest the border as set out by the 1921 Treaty of Kars. According to a senior Yerevan official, Armenia “has no de jure claims on Turkish territory…. Armenia continues to uphold the previous international commitments”. Armenia views its status as one of the successor states to the Soviet Union and its accession to international bodies like the UN as implicit recognition of existing borders. In the Armenian view, it is Turkey’s closure of the border in April 1993 that violates Kars. According to a senior Armenian official, the sides intend to put remaining Turkish concerns to rest by including an article recognising existing borders when they sign the protocols on the establishment of diplomatic relations."


"In June 2008, President Sarkisian signaled readiness to accept the Turkish proposal for a joint commission with a specific mandate to study the past events."

The ICG report is published at a time when, in Turkey, the Chairman of the General Staff of the Armed Forces expressed his views on inter-cultural issues during a lecture at the Turkish Military Academy. He stated that "a terrorist is also a human being" and he then went on to emphasize that it is the duty of 'leadership' who hold positions of power to understand and resolve the issues so that citizens or groups will not be encouraged to take up arms and use military means to solve problems.

Taken together all of the above there is hope that so many decades after the events of revolts, massacres, terrorism, accusations and demands inter-cultural problems of the past can be overcome by means of open borders and by a genuine process of healing. Building joint memorials in historically significant areas, with the same sprit and cooperation achieved when building all the memorials in Gallipoli, may be a great way to start the healing process. It would then be the duty of the citizens and tourists to learn and never forget the 'lessons learned' by visiting those memorials.

For all who are faithful, it may also help to remember the following:
"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

University is Diversity, Diversity is Multi-Culturalism

By Zafer Urey


In May 2000 all of the world's science academies created IAC(InterAcademy Council). The IAC mission is stated as "to mobilize the best scientists and engineers worldwide to provide high quality advice to international bodies - such as the United Nations and the World Bank - as well as to other institutions. In a world where science and technology are fundamental to many critical issues - ranging from climate change and genetically modified organisms to the crucial challenge of achieving sustainability -making wise policy decisions has become increasingly dependent on good scientific advice."
This author believes that the mission of the IAC should be extented to include advice in other critical areas such as the elimination of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and of militarization in general.
Recently, InterAcademy Panel (IAP) on International Relations (IAP) issued a statement on teaching of evolution which was signed by 68 National and International Academices of Sciences (including Iran and Israel). The following exerpt is from this statement: "Scientific knowledge derives from a mode of inquiry into the nature of the universe that has been successful and of great consequence. Science focuses on (i) observing the natural world and (ii)formulating testable and refutable hypotheses to derive deeper explanations for observable phenomena. When evidence is sufficiently compelling, scientific theories are developed that account for and explain that evidence, and predict the likely structure or process of still unobserved phenomena. Human understanding of value and purpose are outside of natural science’s scope. However, a number of components – scientific, social, philosophical, religious, cultural and political – contribute to it. These different fields owe each other mutual consideration, while being fully aware of their own areas of action and their limitations. While acknowledging current limitations, science is open ended, and subject to correction and expansion as new theoretical and empirical understanding emerges."
Above statement clearly acknowledges that the needs of all of humanity can best be served by a universal understanding of 'value and purpose'. Such universal understanding requires the inclusion of other components such as social, philosophical, religious, cultural and political as well as scientific.

If the following definition of culture is assumed "excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities, an integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning, the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group", then multi-culturalism can nurture diversity by promoting the integration of the values and purposes of multiple cultures. A good example of multi-cultural integration can be found in the following exerpt, which is from an article published by the AAAS (American Association by The Advancement of Science): "in summary, the "hypothesis" of God, taken in consort with (and not as an alternative to) evolutionary theory, can help account for the complexity and consciousness that evolution has brought about. God may be thought of as the transcendent source not only of the order in the universe but also of the novelty and turbulence that evolution has brought with it. God creates by inviting (not forcing) the cosmos to express itself in increasingly more diverse ways. As novelty comes into the evolving world, the present order has to give way. And what we confusedly refer to as "chance" and "chaos" may be the result of the breakdown of present arrangements of order in the wake of novelty's coming into the world."

Multi-culturalism is the foundation of 'integrated civilizations' which leads to justice, peace and prosperity

By Zafer Urey

Iraq is located at the centre of a geography widely known as Middle-East today just as the same geography was at the center of the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia. Given that we live in an interconnected and somewhat integrated world in this century this author believes that nations, regional alliances or unions which assign a high value to the diversity among their populations, a high value to the diversity in their region, and a high value to the diversity in their union will be able to successfully integrate civilizations of various cultures and communities. Such integration will lead to multi-culturalism and will ultimately bring justice, peace and prosperity (in that order) to their nation, to their region, or to their union.

The Guiding Light for this philosophy of "diversity is the perfect unity" is the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights. No part of this declaration is against any religion and therefore it can be considered as a document which integrates the most important values from all holy scriptures. It is therefore the duty of all leaders and governments to apply the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights no matter what the government structure is in their nation, or in their union.

The following exerpt is from the remarks of the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran , Mr. Ahmedinejad, at UN on Sep. 23rd, 2008:
"The world will ultimately disappear, but God has created humankind for eternity and has made it a manifestation of Himself. Creativity, mercifulness, kindness, knowledge, wisdom, zeal, compassion, splendor, justice, bounteousness, generosity, greatness, love, glory, dignity, forgiveness, insight, kingship and all other goodness and beauty are attributes of God. God did not create humans for aggression, bloodshed, rancour, selfishness and destruction. He made humans His vicegerents on Earth and has asked them, on the one hand, to make Earth prosper by using their God-given potentials, to prepare the ground for the growth of divine attributes in all humans and to provide all with a life full of beauty, amity, freedom, justice and goodness; and, on the other hand, in pursuance of that path, to prepare for a prosperous, everlasting life endowed by God's mercy. God has obligated humans to live divinely and socially, for it is only through social life and interactions with others that divine attributes can emerge."

And, the following exerpt is from the remarks of the president of Israel , Mr. Peres, at UN on Nov. 12th, 2008:
"This meeting of religious leaders can produce a movement of profound significance, one that will bear great responsibility. If we call on believers to serve peace in every nation for all nations, for every person and for all peoples, the bridges we build will render the barriers useless. Let us free the world from the perception that an irrevocable curse of darkness hangs in the skies of the Middle East. Our shared history has known golden ages during which we -- Arabs, Jews and Christians --lived as friends and brothers. Interfaith dialogue will elevate our spirits, bring a breath of fresh air to our peoples today and live on in posterity. Let us renew our faith in one God, in a God of values and respect for human life. That is the duty and responsibility of all States and religious leaders. Let us not recoil from difficulty. We must not hesitate when faced with risks. Working for peace will justify our prayers and bring a new sense of purpose to our lives. It will demonstrate our values to our children, all values to all children. Peace is not just a goal. It was a promise made to us at the dawn of time and at the pinnacle of the holiest mountains. Let us climb together to those mountains and breathe fresh air in a new landscape."

This author would like to call the leaders of the two countries with nuclear capabilities, namely Iran and Israel, to lead the way to leave aside hostilities and mistrust between their nations, and serve for the cause of peace in the region. By putting the philosopy of "diversity is the perfect unity" at the centre of their thinking and, by mutually agreeing to eliminate their destructive capabilities they will set a great example for other countries in the region and the rest of the world to follow. Achieving peace, afterall, is the expressed views of the leaders of both countries as quoted above, and as clearly stated in

"Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." (Psalms 34:14)



On 10 December 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights . Following this historic act, the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."

PREAMBLE
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.


Article 1.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4.
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6.
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7.
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8.
Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10.
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Article 11.
(1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
(2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Article 12.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
(2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

Article 14.
(1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
(2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15.
(1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.
(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Article 16.
(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 17.
(1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Article 18.
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21.
(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
(2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22.
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23.
(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Article 24.
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25.
(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26.
(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 27.
(1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
(2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

Article 28.
Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29.
(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
(2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
(3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30.
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

Integrated Civilizations Of The World

By Zafer Urey

A hopeful new vision is emerging for the world as 'fear of others' is increasingly replaced by 'respect for others' among leaders and nations.

(The new vision of the United States ) is presented as a vision of the world free of nuclear weapons as explained by the president Obama in Prague:

"Just as we stood for freedom in the 20th century, we must stand together for the right of people everywhere to live free from fear in the 21st. And as a nuclear power - as the only nuclear power to have used a nuclear weapon - the United States has a moral responsibility to act. We cannot succeed in this endeavor alone, but we can lead it. So today, I state clearly and with conviction America's commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons"; "The basic bargain is sound: countries with nuclear weapons will move toward disarmament, countries without nuclear weapons will not acquire them; and all countries can access peaceful nuclear energy.""I know that there are some who will question whether we can act on such a broad agenda. There are those who doubt whether true international cooperation is possible, given the inevitable differences among nations. And there are those who hear talk of a world without nuclear weapons and doubt whether it is worth setting a goal that seems impossible to achieve.
But make no mistake: we know where that road leads. When nations and peoples allow themselves to be defined by their differences, the gulf between them widens. When we fail to pursue peace, then it stays forever beyond our grasp. To denounce or shrug off a call for cooperation is an easy and cowardly thing. That is how wars begin. That is where human progress ends.
There is violence and injustice in our world that must be confronted. We must confront it not by splitting apart, but by standing together as free nations, as free people."

"Let us bridge our divisions, build upon our hopes, and accept our responsibility to leave this world more prosperous and more peaceful than we found it."
During a gathering of the UN's ( Alliance of Civilizations ) Ex-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr Khatami, presented his positive vision as:

"Without a doubt marginalization in the field of culture, inequality and poverty in the field of economy and the domination of neo-colonial relations and the crisis-prone centers in the field of politics as well as humiliation, pressure and interference in international relations can all be cited as the sources feeding extremism, and factors contributing to the emergence and expansion of hatred, violance and terrorism. The solution lies in finding a new method to approach politics, economics and international relations from a cultural, economics and spritual standpoint. The freedom of politics from force, economics from inequality, and the separation of international relations from the notion of "center-peripheral", will establish a new order in which there is little room for extremism. In this midst, the principle actors will be thoughtful, prudent and cultured and their tools will be logic, ideas and dialogue, and they will transform the structure and function of organizations which have been established to preserve human dignity and create peace and security for the human race."


The US president Obama's remarks during a special session of the Turkish Parliament included additional messages of hope and inclusiveness for all such as: "For democracies cannot be static -- they must move forward. Freedom of religion and expression lead to a strong and vibrant civil society that only strengthens the state, which is why steps like reopening Halki Seminary will send such an important signal inside Turkey and beyond. An enduring commitment to the rule of law is the only way to achieve the security that comes from justice for all people. Robust minority rights let societies benefit from the full measure of contributions from all citizens. I say this as the President of a country that not very long ago made it hard for somebody who looks like me to vote, much less be President of the United States. But it is precisely that capacity to change that enriches our countries. Every challenge that we face is more easily met if we tend to our own democratic foundation. This work is never over. That's why, in the United States, we recently ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed. That's why we prohibited -- without exception or equivocation -- the use of torture. All of us have to change. And sometimes change is hard. Another issue that confronts all democracies as they move to the future is how we deal with the past. The United States is still working through some of our own darker periods in our history. Facing the Washington Monument that I spoke of is a memorial of Abraham Lincoln, the man who freed those who were enslaved even after Washington led our Revolution. Our country still struggles with the legacies of slavery and segregation, the past treatment of Native Americans."


"I also want to be clear that America's relationship with the Muslim community, the Muslim world, cannot, and will not, just be based upon opposition to terrorism. We seek broader engagement based on mutual interest and mutual respect. We will listen carefully, we will bridge misunderstandings, and we will seek common ground. We will be respectful, even when we do not agree. We will convey our deep appreciation for the Islamic faith, which has done so much over the centuries to shape the world -- including in my own country. The United States has been enriched by Muslim Americans. Many other Americans have Muslims in their families or have lived in a Muslim-majority country -- I know, because I am one of them. Above all, above all we will demonstrate through actions our commitment to a better future. I want to help more children get the education that they need to succeed. We want to promote health care in places where people are vulnerable. We want to expand the trade and investment that can bring prosperity for all people. In the months ahead, I will present specific programs to advance these goals. Our focus will be on what we can do, in partnership with people across the Muslim world, to advance our common hopes and our common dreams. And when people look back on this time, let it be said of America that we extended the hand of friendship to all people."



Photos from around Istanbul

Turkey-US Shared Vision and Honest Dialogue

By Zafer Urey

Turkey and US recently reaffirmed the strong bonds of alliance, solidarity and strategic partnership between the Republic of Turkey and the United States, as well as the commitment of both countries to the principles of peace, democracy, freedom, and prosperity enshrined in the (Shared Vision and Structured Dialogue ), document agreed to in July 2006.

It is critically important to stress that actions and statements expressing mutual trust, as was included in the original statement , becomes an integral part of all such dialog if the strength of the relationship is to endure and to produce lasting results for democracy, peace and prosperity. It is the opinion of this author that 'honest' dialogue is essential in establishing mutual trust relationships and in building strong bonds of friendships. Furthermore, 'trust' promotes justice and development by facilitating the spread of welfare and peace while discouraging the acts of terrorism, conflicts and wars in our increasingly interconnected and integrated world.

In a recent report "Turkey's Evolving Dynamics: Strategic Choices For U.S.-Turkey Relations" by the CSIS (Center For Strategic and International Studies) various authors offered their views on US-Turkey relations. Provided that a common world standard is applied to restrict the relationships and dealings of democratic regimes with undemocratic or aggressive regimes the following exerpt from the report can be considered as a helpful comment to set a stage for 'honest' dialogue:

"With careful management and high level attention effective policy coordination can be achieved and the alliance can be strengthened. Ankara would like fuller consultation from Washington on major U.S. policies and initiatives vis-a-vis the Middle East, Russia and the Caucasus. The worst surprise the United States could foist on Turkey would be to undertake a major move in the region without first consulting Turkey. Turkey also wants to be treated as a trusted ally even as it pursues distinct policies in advancing its interests. Washington wants Ankara to be a reliable regional and global partner in peace with its neighbours, but not overly close to undemocratic regimes, and able to exert influence with its Muslim neighbours through its leadership and example. This role is best assured if Turkey deepens its democracy and pursues reforms required for EU integration"


Photos from around Istanbul

Turkey elected to UN Security Council

By Zafer Urey

In only one round of voting (voting result ), the UN General Assembly elected Austria, Japan, Mexico, Turkey (related news story ) and Uganda to serve as five non-permanent members of the Security Council for two-year terms beginning on 1 January 2009.

Following a recent report "Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities and the Responsibility to Protect: Challenges for the UN and the International Community in the 21st Century" by International Peace Institute the Genocide Prevention Task Force released its report. The report includes valuable recommendations to peacefully resolve local conflicts. Following exerpts are from the report, which is entitled “Preventing Genocide: A Blueprint for U.S. Policymakers".

"U.S. officials recognize the importance of partnerships with other actors—including other governments, the United Nations, regional and subregional bodies, non governmental organizations (NGOs), faithbased groups, and the private sector—but there is little understanding of the capacities of these prospective partners and of the options for concerted action."

"From the outset, this task force was unanimous in its conviction that the
United States should seek to work with other actors in the international community to prevent genocide. The United States will continue to have great influence in the world, particularly relative to other individual states. But the U.S. government may not always be the most influential actor and may not always have enough influence by itself to prevent genocide and mass atrocities. In many cases, the influence of neighboring states, regional powers, and patron states will outweigh that of the United States. Building anti-genocide partnerships is a practical necessity.
It is also a real possibility. There are few things that garner as much global consensus as averting the horror of genocide and mass atrocities. In the six decades since the adoption of the Genocide Convention by the UN General Assembly, 140 states representing almost 90 percent of the world’s population have joined the treaty. At the World Summit in 2005, every government in the world accepted “the responsibility to protect its populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity” and affirmed that the “international community, through the United Nations, also has the responsibility … to help protect populations” from these crimes. World leaders also resolved “to take collective action, in a timely and decisive manner, through the Security Council … should peaceful means be inadequate and national authorities are manifestly failing to protect their populations” from these crimes. The breadth of global consensus is critical because mass atrocities do not restrict themselves to any region of the world. It represents a strong foundation for intergovernmental cooperation to prevent genocide and mass atrocities. (We discuss international norms and institutions further in Chapter 6.)
In addition to governments and intergovernmental organizations, civil society is a key partner, the breadth of which extends from major international NGOs working in human rights advocacy, humanitarian assistance, and development to local groups in high-risk communities, such as religious organizations, women’s groups, and trade organizations. Civil society actors worldwide have pushed their governments to build institutions to match their stated commitments to the responsibility to protect, and to ensure accountability for past atrocities.
The diversity of potential partners poses a challenge to match its opportunity: How can the U.S. government most effectively work in partnership with other actors to prevent genocide and mass atrocities? The structures and processes that work well in cooperating with states are not likely to work as well with grassroots NGOs. Meanwhile, existing multilateral structures, such as the UN Security Council, have proven to be difficult if indispensable vehicles for leveraging effective strategies to prevent genocide and mass atrocities. We must look for ways to invigorate existing mechanisms for working in partnership, and find new, flexible mechanisms suited for this mission."

"The report asserts that genocide is preventable, and that making progress toward doing so begins with leadership and political will. The report provides 34 recommendations, starting with the need for high-level attention, standing institutional mechanisms, and strong international partnerships to respond to potential genocidal situations when they arise; it lays out a comprehensive approach, recommending improved early warning mechanisms, early action to prevent crises, timely diplomatic responses to emerging crises, greater preparedness to employ military options, and action to strengthen global norms and institutions."

"Working with security forces must be done as part of the larger context of political reform and conflict transformation. Building capacity for civilian oversight and management of the security sector is essential. Mechanisms of governance and accountability that allow for effective control and administration of security forces constitute an important check on the ability of those forces to perpetrate genocide or mass atrocities. Such oversight capacity should be built within all branches of government."

"A targeted pre-crisis atrocities prevention strategy thus requires focusing on three primary elements: leadership, institutions, and civil society. It is in these pillars of modern society that the capacity both to undertake and to prevent genocide is found. To target these critical elements, we need to expand and hone the tools available for genocide prevention and wield them effectively. Ultimately, there is no single model or checklist appropriate for every environment, nor is any country irreversibly prone to genocide. Standing alone, none of these pillars can support an effective pre-crisis genocide prevention strategy. When translated into tailored, context-specific approaches, however, they form our best hope of never again having to say “never again.”"

"Support power sharing and democratic transition. Grievances over power sharing and resource distribution are one of the most common elements in atrocity-prone environments; reaching a sustainable agreement among communities in discord and their leaders is a necessary step in the transformation of the conflict. There is no one formula for power distribution. Such choices must be based on demographic, geographical, historical, and other contextual factors. Perhaps most important, however, is that the fundamental rules of the game are inclusive and agreed upon by concerned parties."

"While democratic governance is among the best long-term hedges against genocide, the introduction of electoral competition into divided societies can heighten the prospect of conflict. It is, therefore, critical that governance arrangements remove the mentality of zero-sum, winner-take-all politics that drive impulses to demonize, exclude, and exterminate. Far more effort can be devoted to increasing electoral cooperation rather than competition and to ensuring that electoral systems produce democratic actors."

"Support economic and legal empowerment. Poverty reduction and economic empowerment are essential strategies in reducing the likelihood of conflict and the conditions that can lead to the commission of atrocities. Economic growth and improved employment opportunities can be an important catalyst of citizen participation and demands for rights. Economic development, including trade and investment opportunities, can reduce feelings of hopelessness, empower individuals and groups, and strengthen the resilience of societies. Economic growth alone, however, is not sufficient. The benefits of growth must be widespread through the population. There must also be accountability in the use of public and natural resources. Mechanisms such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative allow citizens to hold their governments accountable for income sources, thereby improving the likelihood that such resources will be used fairly and for public benefit."

"...there are a few specific measures that could serve to diminish the potential risk of genocide. For example, assistance programs should create employment and other economic opportunities for ex-combatants or decommissioned members of security forces, often a key source of instability unless reintegrated into the economic and social life of the country. Similarly, land rights, economic opportunity, and displacement form a critical nexus of peril and opportunity. As the Commission on the Legal Empowerment of the Poor noted, the majority of the world’s poor live outside the rule of law, without protections that recognize their property rights. A focus on aiding governments to undertake land reform to provide property rights to landless farmers and squatters, and to compensate for loss of land rights due to displacement, may help reduce long-standing grievances."


"Develop civil society. Creating a healthy society that provides numerous avenues for participation and disperses power provides the best defense against opportunistic leaders. Independent groups that can play a role in monitoring and addressing community-based conflict provide a valuable resource for early warning and dispute resolution. Groups promoting and protecting women’s rights should be a particular focus of assistance efforts. Women are frequently a target of atrocities, including sexual violence orchestrated on a massive scale. At the same time, women play an integral role in civil society efforts at all stages of conflict mitigation. Likewise, expanding educational opportunities at all levels, including those specifically designed to promote peace, is a vital step toward building a vibrant civil society. Organizations engaged in public education and advocacy for rights can help not only protect individual rights, but also promote a culture of lawfulness. Religious organizations can also provide a foundation for promoting interfaith cooperation and tolerance."

"Support a free and responsible media. Free and responsible media are critical to ensuring that both citizens and governing elites are well informed and that citizens are able to hold their government accountable. Independence from state control and a multiplicity of independent outlets are essential not only for the integrity of information, but also promoting healthy political dialogue and supporting language and cultural preferences. It is also important that the media develop a sense of ethical responsibility, supporting the rule of law and diminishing intergroup tensions...."

ATA-DC Teacher Training Workshop in Washington, DC

By Zafer Urey

ATA-DC (Association of Turkish Americans living in Washington, DC area) organized this year's Washington, DC teacher training workshop on March 1st, 2008. The venue for the event was Turkish Embassy on Massachusettes Avenue in Washington, DC. Besides the workshop committee other participants and contributors to the event included the Embassy of Turkey, the Culture and Tourism Office of Turkish Embassy, Turkish Businessmen and Industrialists Association (TUSIAD), Turkish Cultural Foundation, teachers, speakers and volunteers. The organizing committee put together a program which was well thought out with a good balance of presentations covering Istanbul 2010 (European Capital of Culture), Turkish cousine as well as US-Turkish relations and a presentation on the comparison of US-Turkish education systems. Kardelen Dance Ensemble provided this year's lunch hour performances while washington area school teachers enjoyed a selection of Turkish food. Most teachers in the audience were from schools in northern Virginia, however, teachers from Maryland's Prince Georges and Montgomery counties were also present as well as some teachers from schools in Washington, DC district. Following opening remarks by Ms. Demet Cabbar, president of ATA-DC, Mrs. Gulgun Sensoy, wife of Turkish Ambassador to US, welcomed teachers to a day long program aimed at providing a wealth of information on Turkey and US-Turkish relations.

Three of the speakers focused their presentations on US-Turkish relations. The Deputy Chief of Mission Designate to US Embassy in Ankara, Mr. Douglas A. Silliman, gave an overview of US-Turkish relations from the US perspective. Turkish perspectives were presented by the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Turkish Embassy, Dr. Burak Akcapar, and by Mr. Gunay Evinc. Following their talks, in a Q&A session, Mr. Silliman and Dr. Akcapar provided answers to a range of questions on Kurdish, Cyprus, European Membership and Armenian issues faced by Turkey.

Other speakers of the event covered a number of different subjects in their presentations. Ms. Elif Ertekin's slide presentation focussed on a review of Istanbul's promotional material in the context of European Capital of Culture in 2010. Ms. Ertekin also informed the audience about the official candidacy of Izmir, the third largest city in Turkey, to host the 'World Exhibition' in 2015. Izmir is racing with Milan, Italy to host the World Expo in 2015. A winner will be announced by the BIE (Bureau of International Exhibitions) at the end of March 2008.

TUSIAD activities were briefly described by Ms. Didem Cakmakli. Ms. Esin Caglayan-Guner shared her experiences as a teacher in both Turkey and the US and provided a comparison of the education systems of both countries. The speaker for "A Peace Corps Volunteer's experiences in Turkey" was Mr. Malcolm Pfunder who spent 2 years in Turkey in 1960s. Mr. Pfunder shared his story of how he arrived at a small village in the north eastern part of Turkey and read small sections from his recently published book "Village in the meadows". The presentation by Ms. Sheila Kaufman was titled "The delight and (history) of Turkish Cuisine. Ms. Kaufman described her fascination with Turkish cuisine in her talk. Below are some quotes from speakers:

Ms. Sheila Kaufman:

"Turkey is a land of a timeless history, over 10000 years, which is best described as 'mosaic'.
"Anatolia, or Asia Minor, was making wine as early as 4000BC"
"The only city located in two continents is Istanbul which has been the capital of three empires: Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman for 2000 years"
"Turks introduced coffee to Europe and also gave the Dutch their tulip"
"Turkey provides 70% of world's hazelnut"

"Oral history of Turkish cuisine began in biblical times. According to legend Noah's Ark landed on mount Ararat in eastern Turkey and the last meal that was served aboard the vessel was a pudding consisting of nearly 20 ingredients"
"According to Turkish tradition a stranger in one's door is considered a guest from God and should be accommodated accordingly"
"Some of the recipes you would be eating in a Turkish restaurant would be 1400 years old and unchanged"

Mr. Douglas Silliman:
"Turkish government is helping to develop democracy in Iraq. I think it is very interesting what the Turks has done that no one else in the world has done. Over the course of past several years Turkish foreign ministry brought from Iraq to Turkey every major political party in Iraq: Sunni, Shiite, Christian, Secular, Religious, Kurdish. And, they brought them to Ankara. They had their meetings with lawyers on Turkish constitution, met ruling party, met opposition parties and talk about things like how do you develop political platforms, how do you gather support, how do you get people to polls, how does democracy actually work"


Photos and videos from 2008 ATA-DC Teacher Training Workshop in Washington, DC

Promotional videos for Izmir Expo 2015

Turkey, 'Home for Tolerance, Open for Everyone'

Turkish Festivals


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