Agos: famous Armenians address Turkey ahead of Genocide anniversary

PanARMENIAN.Net - Ahead of the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Agos Armenian-Turkish weekly issued interviews with famous Armenians from around the world.

The article slams the treatment of Armenian Diaspora in Turkey, with the interviewees asked to address a message to Turkish people. 16 world-known Armenians whose ancestors were born in Maras, Adiyaman, Arapgir, Egin, Dersim, Diyarbakir, Van, Sivas, Mersin, Elazıg, Kilis, Erzurum, Kayseri, Tokat, Antep, Dortyol, Urfa shared their sentiments on the issue.

Rock-musician Serj Tankian, filmmaker Atom Egoyan were among those voicing their messages through the weekly.

"I thank all the wonderful people who shared their stories with me, giving me hope for justice. To Turkish people I wish that they find their true historic identity," the Lebanese-born musician said.

Canadian filmmaker of Armenian decent, Atom Egoyan was born in Cairo. In 2002, Egoyan filmed Ararat, a drama depicting the efforts of an Armenian director, Edward Saroyan, to make a Hollywood-style film about the Armenian Genocide, from the fictionalized point of view of a genuine historical figure, Arshile Gorky.

Ararat won a number of accolades, once again bringing the issue of the Armenian Genocide on the international agenda.

"I'm tired of Turkey's stubborn denial of the Armenian Genocide, with no progress seen on the issue. However, with no alternative left, all I can do is accept that weariness,” the filmmaker wrote.

Nancy Kricorian, the author of a novel Zabelle telling a story of a Genocide survivor, said she doesn’t want Turkey’s apologies. “But I want my question answered: what’s your aim in depriving Armenian people of their rights and justice?” she questioned.

Agos weekly newspaper, published in Istanbul, Turkey, was established on 5 April 1996 by Hrant Dink who was its chief editor from the newspaper's start until his assassination outside of the newspaper's offices in Istanbul in January 2007.

Dink was a prominent member of the Armenian minority in Turkey, best known for advocating human and minority rights in Turkey; he was often critical of both Turkey's denial of the Armenian Genocide, and of the Armenian Diaspora’s campaign for its international recognition. Dink was prosecuted for denigrating Turkishness, while receiving numerous death threats from Turkish nationalists.