Elekdag’s museum proposal against Armenian claims

Elekdag said that the legal research put forth that Turkey did not have an opportunity to prevent the opening of an "Armenian genocide museum". "In this case, the most appropriate way would be to open an "Anatolian Culture and Civilizations Museum" (AKMM) in a distinguished district of Washington in order to promote the culture, history and civilization of our country and discard the negative effects of the Armenian genocide museum," Elekdag added.

Expressing his proposal at one of his addresses to Parliament, Elekdag mentioned his opinions on this issue to the TDN.

Elekdag said that AKMM’s leading goal would both promote Turkey and refute Armenian claims indirectly. He added that the main theme of the museum would be to exhibit the Turkish arts, culture and civilization in Anatolia during the course of time.

Elekdag stated that the AKMM might put forth the traditional tolerance of the Turks. He said that the Ottoman Empire’s welcoming of Jews, who had escaped from the tyranny of Christians and the Inquisition, might be given place in the museum.

According to Elekdag, samples of how the Muslims, Christians and the Jews maintained their own traditions of culture, occupation, religion and justice in Anatolia for centuries should be found. He stressed that the Ottoman Empire’s tolerant attitude toward religious beliefs should also be displayed at the museum.

"The AKMM should reflect the humanism of Yunus Emre (Sufi poet), who considered the 72 nations in the same point of view, and the humanism of Jelaluddin Rumi (Mevlana, great Sufi philosopher), who said ‘Come, come, come… Whatever you are, it does not matter," Elekdag said.

Elekdag noted that the Armenian propaganda was based on the claim that the Ottoman Turks mistreated the non-Muslims and the Armenians during the course of time. "Placing this issue on a ground of Christian-Muslim clashes with this approach is an effort to win the support of the Christian world in the first place."

Emphasizing that the facts were just the opposite to the Armenian claims, Elekdag said that an era of confidence, freedom and welfare had started for the Armenians, who escaped the tyranny of the Byzantium after Sultan Mehmet II conquered Istanbul (Constantinople) in 1453.

"The Armenians were organized under the name of Millet (nation) in the Ottoman Empire and their patriarch became the spiritual and material leader. Istanbul became a focal point of attraction. The Ottomans appointed the Armenians, which they viewed as millet-i sadika (loyal people to the Ottoman Empire), to top state posts and top missions of the civilian administration. The names of hundreds of Armenian officials were listed in roles such as minister, pasha, prosecutor, ambassador, governor, judge and undersecretary in the yearbooks of the Ottoman state. In the last period of the Ottoman state, Gabriel Noradungyan was foreign minister, while Agop Pasha was the minister responsible for the Treasury," Elekdag said.

Elekdag suggests that all these may take place visually in the AKMM in the framework of the Ottomans’ understanding of tolerance and equality toward non-Muslims. He believes that the AKMM may be opened easily if it’s financed through grants, but underlines that a foundation should be set up in Turkey to realize the museum project with the moral support of the Turkish Parliament.

"The real mission of this foundation will be to put forth the museum project, provide financing opportunities, inspect during the opening phase and take measures to provide the efficiency and renewal of the museum after it’s founded," he added.

Elekdag stated that it would be appropriate for Turkish officials to consult the Turkish American Associations Assembly in Washington and the federation in New York on this issue.

Armenian Genocide Museum
CHP’s Elekdag said that the Armenians living in the U.S. decided to open a "Armenian genocide museum" in 2000 in order to strengthen their propaganda against Turkey. He said that the developments showed that the preparations for the museum have come to the final stage.

Elekdag noted that the Armenian Assembly of America bought a pompous building, which is two blocks from the White House and started restoration work as of that date. He added that the Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Supreme Patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church Karekin II visited the museum under construction and blessed it.

Pointing out that the designers of the museum expect 250,000 visitors to the museum per year, Elekdag said, "The museum will play an active role in the smear campaign of opponent lobbies in the U.S. against Turkey. It will also become a factor that would poison the American people against our country."

Elekdag believed that the scientific surveys carried out in the U.S. showed that the American public had deep prejudices against Turkey despite the half-century alliance between Turkey and the U.S. He stated that this mostly stemmed from the intense and systematic smear and humiliation campaign carried out by the Greeks, Greek Cypriots and Armenians against Turkey since the beginning of 20th century.

"This situation is the basic factor that prevented the Turkish-U.S. relations from stabilizing. It’s certain that the opening of a genocide museum will further damage Turkey’s image in the U.S, thus exerting negative pressure on bilateral relations," Elekdag said.