Akcam: Talat Pasha Has Been Avenged

The Armenian Weekly publishes below an article by Prof. Taner Akcam arguing that Hrant Dink’s murder was implemented in such a way so as to resemble the assassination of Talat Pasha, the mastermind of the Armenian Genocide. The Turkish version of this article appeared in Taraf newspaper on Jan. 23. Since the appearance of the [...]

Akcam: Before Further Escalation in Syria

It looks like the countdown to regime change has begun in Syria. And Turkey may end up having a say in the international intervention that’s likely to occur. Still, Turkey should engage in sober deliberations before getting involved in any outside intervention. From the perspective of Syria and the region, Turkey’s participation will not be [...]

Akcam: The Newspaper Birgün and ‘Our Neighborhood’

The front page of Birgun.

In May 2010, the Turkish Parliament changed 26 different articles of the constitution, which had been created by the military regime that came to power in the coup of Sept. 12, 1980. However, because the necessary two-thirds majority could not be obtained in the parliament, the changes had to be submitted [...]

Akcam: What Davutoglu Fails to Understand

While the ruling AK Party in Turkey continues to sing the same old tune on the genocide, it is trying out a new style. Our minister of foreign affairs, Ahmet Davutoglu, is one of those testing out this new style with the concept of “just memory.”
Davutoglu explains the concept in this way: “If [Armenian Foreign [...]

Akcam: An Open Letter to the Prime Minister and Bulent Arinc

The Turkish version of this letter was published in Taraf on March 13.
There is something I have difficulty understanding. How is it that you, who put an end to 95 years of the state’s policy of “There are no Kurds, they’re just Turks who wander around the mountains”… You, who removed the military’s guardianship over [...]

Akcam: Beyond Roadmaps and Protocols: Obstacles and Opportunities in Turkey’s Path to Peace with Armenians

This article was written explicitly for an American audience in late spring 2009. When I penned it, there was no sign on the horizon of a rapprochement between Armenia and Turkey. I haven’t changed anything in the article, since recent developments are only a confirmation of what I had suggested last spring.

A huge poster of [...]