Charlie Rose

KO  09/18/2008 03:19 AM Report

My Armenian friends. You need to move from the anger phase to the forgiveness phase. You see Turks know that we wronged you and we feel bad about it but we also feel justified in that if we didnt kill a million of you there would have been a million Turks dead. There is no conspiracy like the final solution in what happened in 1915 so frankly we get kind of upset when we are compared to Nazi's. You see I am totally OK with having to be accountable for making you all leave your homeland and that a lot of you died in the process makes me sad. But I am not ok with you suggesting we wanted to exterminate all Armenians. The crime of ethnic cleansing WAS committed but this is SO different from Genocide. If you do not see the difference you are simple minded. The Turks of 1915 were scared! France, England, Russia all were invading at the same time. Let me ask everyone here, look how America over reacted about 911. What was happening in 1915 was 100x worse then 911 in the ottomans minds, their entire empire was collapsing. It is fact that the Armenians were revolting at the stage. People were scared. There was NO order. Chaos was everywhere. So that is the way a Turk sees it and you will not convince them otherwise. Isnt it in all of our interest to get along. And in all frankness Armenia has way more to gain

VAKKAS DOGANTEKIN  08/26/2008 02:59 AM Report

armenians are unfortunately getting more and more loser. instead of spending billions of dollars to fabricate lies and buying governments to believe in them, you better start investing in your landlocked country where your people are unemployed and starving.

Robert  07/17/2008 08:22 PM Report

Jim,

It seems as though there appears alot of ignorance in your speech, as the propaganda you agree with in terms of the Turkish denial its absolutely under no circumstances debatable whether the Genocide happened. If you need people to explain to you what happened then it appears you are unable to read a book on your own. Why not educate yourself by going to the library. I can guarantee you, you will find books on the Genocide which will educate you.

The Armenian Genocide happened and needs to be addressed as it has been successfully accepted in Canada and France. There are plenty of archives from the allies of Turkey during World War 1(Germany and Austria-Hungry, who were later defeated by the Triple Entente and US) who have documented the step by step process as to which Turkey committed these horrible acts.

As well, on a sad note Turkey did close its borders to American soldiers during the second Gulf War it proved it wasnt a loyal ally. As a proud American I believe as these cowardous acts of not accepting fault for the Genocide and not opening your borders to American soldiers proves Turkey's faults are large.

To everyone here THE TRUTH was already established on April 24, 1915 looks like we were late 100 years.

Tony  07/17/2008 08:22 PM Report

Hey Eric, don't forget that the Ottoman Empire also massacred the Pontic Greeks and Assyrians.

You have nothing to say, it seems like you are asking the audience to educate you on the crimes committed against so many innocents.

What does Turkey's population compared to Armenia's have anything to do with what you are saying. You're people killed 2 out of 3 Armenians in that Genocide. Go to any History class in the U.S. where that period is glanced and you will hear about the atrocites committed by the Ottomans.

Enough with the "Turkish Ally" garbage. Armenia has troops stationed in Iraq standing along side the United States. How many Turkish soldiers are inside Iraq? (Oh, besides trying to cause instability with your own selfish efforts to kill off the Kurds and cause more turmoil in Northern Iraq.)

Zareh Sahakian  07/17/2008 08:21 PM Report

I find it amusing that Eric is an American, because his logic reflects more of a Turkish citizen, i.e. accepting government-fed lies, than an open-minded American. Apparently, Eric the American is only capable of seeing the untenable Turkish lies... hence the fitting description of talking like a broken record. Eric is American.....hmmmmm... I think not. Maybe he should move to Turkey because a true American is he who believes in truth and justice, equal rights to all and in freedom of thought, something that one is heard pressed to find in his posts, and something that is commonplace in Turkey. All the same, he is interested in ignoring mountain of evidence in front of him and counter argues by....repeating that Armenia lacks democracy...yes like a broken record.

Of course Eric does not see that Turkish democracy is under constant threat by its generals who, so far, have not toppled the Islamist government only because of the ongoing EU negotiations.

By the way, Eric also seems unaware that after all that the US has done for Turkey, including billions of annual financial and military help, this rock-solid ally, the United States, enjoys a mere 7% approval rating among the Turks. More, Turkey is threatening to bite the hand that feeds her, imagine that!!! a simple non-binding commemorative resolution would result in "severe consequences" and the American base at Incirlic is thrown around as being under the threat of closure.

With friends like this who needs enemies.

ana luisa  07/02/2008 09:28 AM Report

As novas fotos e videos da Paris Hilton brasileira rose leonel, a apresentadora de maringa, confira como ela é cachorra.

http://xrl.us/jc7ej

Doga Sacid  01/17/2008 10:14 AM Report

Dear Mr.Charlie Rose,

Thank you very much for this very informative and timely interview. Please do not get discouraged with the intimidations and threats of those Armenian commentators. It is shame that they cannot even tolerate hearing Turkish Prime Minister's opinions, let alone respect them.

Robert  10/29/2007 05:20 PM Report

Mr. Eric, You have not proved anything in your comments. First of all you failed to realize that 2 genocides had occured before the one in 1915, I guess you forget about the bloody sultan. Do you realize that there was a genocide in 1891 as well as in 1901. Many Armenians suffered and lost their lives in both, but I guess you forget these facts.

As well, I want to point out another interesting fact, if the genocide never happened then why was Talat Pasha tried in Turkey for committing acts of genocide againsts Armenians. Oh but remember he fled to Germany. I mean if you are innocent shouldnt you not flee to another country. That in itself shows cowardness and guilt.

I think the facts are all there, its just that you are not willing to accept it.

As well, to accept the genocide is being a true American as we have accepted many genocides in the past, for you to deny it is not.

Thank you

Harry  10/10/2007 09:19 PM Report

Mr Rose:

As I am sure you are aware the Armenian Genocide Resolution made its way through the House Foreign Affairs committee today. There has been a lot of back and forth on this blog regarding this issue. Therefore, as the son of Armenian parents who immigrated to the US from Turkey I feel I need to say my peace. What is the real issue on the table? It is a question of the changing of history and recognizing what this means over the long term. Please note that this battle of a genocide which took place decades ago is occurring while there are present day deniers of the genocide in Rwanda. History cannot be forgotten.

Just because a word did not exist in 1915 does not mean that the actions that are described by that word did not occur. Would Turkey rather admit to having committed â??The systematic and planned extermination of an entire national, racial, political, or ethnic groupâ?? rather than genocide? Probably not, even though any dictionary or just court of law it would be agreed that these mean exactly the same thing.

In much the same way the court system speaks of the written law and yet refers to the spirit of the law I think you need to start by asking yourself aside from all of the written history by third party observers at the time, is it possible or even likely that a genocide occurred at the hand of the Ottoman Government. In these cases many times a court of law will call on a character witness to attest to the possibility of whether or not an individual could undertake the actions of what it is he or she is accused. Well letâ??s do that and fast forward to the present day. Here are two relatively recent articles commenting on the character of Turkey and it attempt to change history for their benefit. Some people would say that what happened in the past has nothing to do with the present. I would completely disagree and say that history dictates the future.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4328285.stm

http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=69531

As noted in the first article from 2005 it details how they attempted to change the scientific and internationally accepted name of the animals of the area because they contained references to Armenians or Kurds. The reason according to the Turkish Environmental Ministry was â??because they conflict with Turkish Unity.â?? The article goes on to further say that the animals were named with â??ill intentionsâ?? against Turkey. These animals were not named by Three Stooges school of Zoology. Clearly, this is an attempt to change history is order to make something not necessarily more Turkish but less anything else. You donâ??t just change the internationally accepted scientific classification of an animal just because it suits you, especially if you do not have a scientific reason to do so. In the second article from 2007, from a Turkish newspaper mind you, this attempt to alter history is continued. The Armenian church which the PM mentioned in the interview has become a museum and had the name island on which it sits changes to be more Turkish. Furthermore, they removed the historical bells and cross from the church. If your real intent was to create a museum and preserve history as it actually took place, you leave the items in tact for the future to clearly understand the past. This is a second attempt of skewing the present day so that the history of the future doesnâ??t look so bad for Turkey.

Whatâ??s my point? Simply that Turkey has never cares about the actual history. It cannot even preserve history without changing it for its own benefit. They have proven this with their own actions. Actions which were not influenced by any other party. It took its own rope and hung itself for all of the world to see. History needs to be based on facts which are not altered by government in order to benefit it.

Mr. Rose, I challenge you to do a story on this. Not necessarily specifically on the Armenian Genocide (although that would be great) but what happens when a government alters the present to improve its history in the future.

Hovsep  10/10/2007 03:16 PM Report

It is high time the American government recognized the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide so that the denialists will loose a weapon in their arsenal of deceit. The historians have spoken and Turkey, by denying the truth, has made the issue a political matter. It is the Turkish gov't who mix politics with history by denying the facts.

Nihat Ozgun  10/09/2007 07:27 AM Report

I think the commentors here should be aware that Many Turkish people do not support the denial of the genocide against the Armenians.

The victims of today's denial policy are not just the memory of the Armenian victims but the citizenry of today's Turkey. Professors are fired, students of the era are under threat.

Nationalism is so bad that the head of the government's history directorate in Ankara has made the most racist statements on the Kurds and Armenians (right out of Nazi Rozenberg's racism) with impunity.

Eric  10/08/2007 05:46 PM Report

I have to say that it was an interesting interview. Mr.Erdogan had some constructive ideas about the Iraq and it was also interesting to hear how much help Turkey provides in Iraq which we never get to hear over here. also it was very refreshing to hear his proposal again on the Armenian claims which makes perfect sense if Armenians are so certain and confident about their claim why not respond to Mr. Erdogan's proposal and have the issue settle once and for all.

That alone tells me that there is something fishy about the Armenian claims. i didn't even know that he proposed this two years ago and he didn't get any respond from Armenia or the Armenians here in USA till this day.

Here in this country we believe all suspects are Innocent till proven guilty.

I think, Turkey deserve her day in the court lets not find her guilty before she can make her case.

Good Job Mr. Rose

Congratulation

Best Regards.

Eric M.

Vahit Sametoglu  10/08/2007 05:46 PM Report

The so-called â??Armenian Genocideâ?? is not genocide in any way, they are unfortunate consequences of mutual disagreements and warfare.

The Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923, but this incident took place in 1915; therefore, Turkey is not and cannot be held accountable.

Turks and Armenians lived together peacefully for about eight centuries in the same geographical area (six centuries under the Ottoman rule). They enjoyed freedom of religion and sustained their culture, language, traditions and faith. So, what happened 1915 so that the Ottoman Empire decided to massacre Armenians all of a sudden? Why did they wait for six centuries to kill Armenians? These are some of the questions that those genocide claimants cannot and will not answer.

In early twentieth century, the political, economic and social aspects of the Ottoman Empire declined substantially and eventually caused its dissolution in 1922. During this period, Russiaâ??s goal was to reach Anatolia and the Mediterranean Sea. To this end, they provoked and instigated the Armenians against the Ottoman government and promised them to have their own sovereign state. Since the Ottoman army was in dispute and warfare against many powerful armies from the West (the British, the French, Italians, Greeks and Arabs from the south), it was not in a position to deal with the Armenians.

The Armenians started to rise up and demanded to have their own territory. The Ottoman Empire, in a way, was stabbed from the back, since Armenians seemed to have no significant problems with the government and they were loyal citizens and there were plenty of high ranking officers and merchants of Armenian background in the Ottoman society. Many illegal Armenian gangs attacked Turkish-majority villages in the present-day eastern Turkey and killed many innocent people. In order to deal with the Armenians, the Ottoman Empire decided to force them to migrate to another region where they would pose less threat. During this mandatory migration, many Armenians died owing to various reasons including diseases, harsh winter conditions, lack of food and even some excessive force exerted by the Ottoman forces. (I do not blame Armenians for demanding their own independent state. Because, â??nationalismâ?? was a very popular ideal in that period. It is sociologically natural to anticipate such a demand from a minority group.)

There were many clashes between the Armenian rebels and the Ottoman Army, where large numbers of soldiers and civilians died from both parties. The Ottoman archives estimate that there were a few hundreds of thousands of victims from each side.

The Diaspora Armenians, first, claimed that 300,000 Armenians were killed. Ever since then, whoever brought up this issue has added new figures to this amount from their wild imagination. Today, some even claim that it was 2.5 million Armenians. The census done before this incident shows that there were 700,000 Armenians only. Even if this count is somewhat askew, there are still many inconsistencies and fallacies.

All in all, there were several hundreds of thousands of victims on both sides each, and all of these took place in state of active and mutual war. Unfortunately, many people were killed. I am sorry for those who were victims of this unfortunate course of events, whether they were Armenians or Turks. However, this, under no circumstances, can be classified as genocide. The definition of genocide includes deliberate, premeditated, active, pre-emptive, indiscriminate and systematic mass-murder of a certain group of people due to their beliefs, nationality, ethnicity or race. This incident does not qualify for this at all. It became a puppet in the hands of some shrewd and sinister politicians.

Turkey is and has been ready to open up all the historical archives, put them at expertsâ?? disposal and debate these matters with qualified historians, political scientists, and legal experts in an open forum. Turkey invited the Armenian government on numerous occasions to constitute a joint-commission to review these documents and handle these very sensitive issues and reach a mutually acceptable conclusion, but was fiercely rejected. Turkey also encouraged other nations who have documents in regards to this incident to come forward and join this commission and work together. Turkey wants to resolve this issue once and for all in light of authentic historical documents and unbiased scientific discussions and come clean.

Today, there is still a vibrant Armenians community in Turkey enjoying a standard of life envied by many average people. Recently, we see a rise in ultranationalism exhibited by a small number of Turks against some minority groups. However, this does not pose a threat to law-abiding minorities of Turkey. Mainstream Turkish people and many intellectuals abhorred these hate-filled remarks and actions vehemently. The safety of all minority groups is protected by the Constitution. They are just as equal before laws. Unfortunately, we cannot fully eliminate such extreme political perverts. Just like, there are still KKK members in the USA, neo-Nazis in Europe. Turkey is on the right path as to become more democratic, pluralist, liberal and free.

I would like to thank Mr. Erdogan for expressing these concerns and Mr. Rose for having a balanced and intellectually rich conversation.

Nevzat Yilmaz  10/08/2007 05:46 PM Report

Turkey fought its War of Independence from 1919-1922 against the allied forces of France, Great Britain, Greece and Armenia. At the time, Armenia was not fighting the Turks to avenge for an alleged genocide. It was fighting to lay claim to their ancient ancestral lands that was in turn some other culture's ancient ancestral land throughout the long course of human history. Ottoman Turks

were as expansionist as any empire and they fought as hard and as cruelly as any empire to

reach their goals. What was unique to them was to let the minorities they conquered practice their religion and preserve their culture for the most part. Or else we would not be talking of Armenians, Greeeks, Christians, Assyrians, Jews or any other minority existing in Anatolia or in the vast reaches of what was once Ottoman Territory for over 600 years. If the Ottomans had in mind wiping out a people

during their crushingly powerful reign, they would have done so while they were in position of superior authority and not wait until 1915 while they were fighting in WWI against all odds with the armies of Britain, France, Italy, Greece, Arabs and the Russians. Armenian gangscommited attrocities aginst Muslim villagers in eastern and south-eastern Anatolia and sided outwardly with the Russians in fighting the Turks. Turks took severe measures to combat the onslaught and decided to displace the Armenians in the questioned parts and deport them to lands where they would no longer pause a threat. The deportation marches turned into a tragedy and many Armenian lives were lost. I'd hate to say it but such as war. All nations who claim to be civilized have dark spots on their historical conscience. We have to come to terms with these terrible incidents and reconcile for better relationships among nations, among cultures and among peoples of differing faiths. As Prime Minister Erdogan stated on the show, Turkish archives are accessible to anybody and other nations ought to follow suit on this issue.

Turkish lobby and the small Turkish-American community is dwarfed by the sizes of Greek and Armenian lobbies and the incomparable size of Greek and Armenian communities. Their voices have been much louder than the Turkish voices. They do everything within their means to stifle even a tiny pro-Turkish squeek and not allow any equitable platform for the Turks to defend their views. A similar scenario is encountered in Western Europe; especially in France. Turks are a proud people. They have every right to speak what they know to be true and defend their views. Turks will not be intimated and pushed aside by political clout

and propaganda.

kaya  10/08/2007 05:46 PM Report

Dear Charlie:

Your interview with PM Erdogan was one of the most interesting/impressive talks in your program. Erdogan has a lot of contructive ideas and clearly he has positive influence in a region where the US policy is in deep trouble, however, what is really the most significant here is that it is clear that he is a rational person. His views and suggestions on the Armenian genocide claims are really refreshing - I support his approach regarding that ALL parties involved (France and Russia, particularly) are to make their records public. What more can one ask? Some comments here are trying to make a parallel between the Jewish genocide in the Nazi Germany (and Europe) and the Armenian uprising (and its consequencies) in the Ottoman Empire. Simply, such parallel does not make any sense. The Ottoman Armenians tried to take advantage of the failing empire to push the Turks out to make themselves a country by means of terror (mass killings, systematic rape, collobrating with invating Russian army, etc - all documented). History is very clear about the Armenian terror in the Ottoman empire and its European supporters -that is why it is essential that the third parties (especially, France and Russia, the supporters of this concept)are to make their records public. On the other hand, the Jews in Nazi Germany had not killed a single (pure blood?) German for the Jewish cause of an independant state. Moreover, no one gave any help/support to the Jews against the Germans, of which everyone (especially, the European nations)are clearly guilty. Let us not try to lessen to the Jews to make some political gains here. Let us not forget the Ottoman Empire was the only country that took Jews from Spain in circa 1450s when they have nowhere to go.

Eric  10/08/2007 05:46 PM Report

Dear Mr.Rose

Congratulation on a great conversation with Mr.Erdogan.

I just read the comments here mostly from Armenian, Greek decants and once more i am puzzled with the way this people think.

Turkey is a great ally of us America and is one of the countries that help us in Afghanistan and Iraq the most i guess, for this commentators that doesn't mean anything even though they are"i assume" mostly Americans they were born and raised in this country but they dont give a shit about this countries America's interest. unfortunately i dont consider this people as true Americans they are just visitors.

it is so sad to see this. i guess, my advice is since you dont care about America why not go home and help your fellow citizens with whatever.

Turks always stood by America and helped us in Korea,Somali, Bosnia, first Gulf war, Afghanistan, Iraq..

what did Greeks or Armenians do for us when we need it help... NOTHING.....

I dont necessarily feel like i should care about your problems

About this Armenian claims.

one has to wonder why Armenians are still not responding the Mr PM offer to form a comity to solve the problem.

unless you got something you dont want people to find out that should be welcomed by Armenians here and their homeland.

apparently it has been 2 years since this offer was made and yet no respond.

why not go for it. he is offering a solution.

let it be research and reveal as to what really happened.

Cyprus issue

These two groups i think, they work hand in hand whenever there is something about Turkey you always see these people making nasty comments.

i dont know much about this Cyprus issue i have to admit but

i know Turkey along with Britain and Greece are the guarantor countries on the Island of Cyprus.

when Greeks started killing innocent Turks to merge the island with the homeland.

Turks naturally went over there to protect their countrymen.

I am not sure what Greeks expected Turks to do just sit there and watch while their people massacred.....

And it was and still Turks legal right to be there as a guarantor country to protect her citizens.

to me this is a classical example of "biting more than you can chew"

overall, your country should come first..

be patriotic to your country America first.

kaya  10/08/2007 05:46 PM Report

Dear Charlie:

Another issue I really hoped you'd ask PM's views about is the Nagorno-Karabakh invasion in 1992. After all, the Turkey-Armenia border is closed because of the Armenian invasion of Nagorno-Karabakh, not the genocide claims or anything else. According to the New York Times (July 24, 2000), approximately one million Azerbaijani refugees who fled Nagorno-Karabakh after outbreak of fighting in 1992 between Armenians and Azerbaijanis remain scattered throughout 40 or more camps in Azerbaijan ...

kaya  10/08/2007 05:46 PM Report

Dear Charlie:

Another issue I really hoped you'd ask PM's views about is the Nagorno-Karabakh invasion in 1992. After all, the Turkey-Armenia border is closed because of the Armenian invasion of Nagorno-Karabakh, not the genocide claims or anything else. According to the New York Times (July 24, 2000), approximately one million Azerbaijani refugees who fled Nagorno-Karabakh after outbreak of fighting in 1992 between Armenians and Azerbaijanis remain scattered throughout 40 or more camps in Azerbaijan ...

kaya  10/08/2007 05:46 PM Report

Dear Charlie:

When bringing up the issue of the Armenian claims of genocide, I am somewhat disappointed that you didn't open up the issue of Armenian terror acts against the Turkish diplomats. Killing diplomats should really tell about the nature of who we are dealing with. In the time period from 1973 to 1994, 110 acts of terror were carried out by Armenian terrorists in 38 cities of 21 countries. 39 of these were armed attacks, 70 of them bomb attacks and one was an occupation. 42 Turkish diplomats and 4 foreign nationals were assassinated in these attacks, while 15 Turks and 66 foreign nationals were wounded.

Ataturk  10/08/2007 05:46 PM Report

Dear Mr. Rose,

I am writing this comment as a young Turkish woman who lives in the US.

I wish you asked to Erdogan why he and he supporters doesn't allow any "western" clothing, sports or ideas in Turkey.

I wish you asked him how his grandson becomes

a US citizen while he curses US administration when he is in Turkey.

I wish you asked him why as a person who represents 80 million Turkish people, he can't speak English.

I wish you asked him how he felt when he cursed Ataturk 15 years ago and than apologized from Turkish people before he elected.

I wish you asked him how come terrorism rised up during the elections in Turkey.

I wish you asked him why people are not free to practice their religion in Turkey while he is talking about "freedom of religion"

I wish i wrote this letter to you before your interview. I want you to understand that i am very educated person. I came to the US because I am sick and tired about people like Erdogan.

Turkey is such a beautiful and unique country and I love my country. Unfortunately I am ashamed of Turkey's president.

Kindly Regards,

Eric  10/08/2007 05:46 PM Report

Comment by Eric on Saturday, Sep 29 at 04:11 AM

Dear Mr.Rose Congratulation on a great conversation with Mr.Erdogan. I just read the comments here mostly from Armenian, Greek decants and once more i am puzzled with the way this people think. Turkey is a great ally of us America and is one of the countries that help us in Afghanistan and Iraq the most i guess, for this commentators that doesn't mean anything even though they are"i assume" mostly Americans they were born and raised in this country but they dont give a shit about this countries America's interest. unfortunately i dont consider this people as true Americans they are just visitors. it is so sad to see this. i guess, my advice is since you dont care about America why not go home and help your fellow citizens with whatever. Turks always stood by America and helped us in Korea,Somali, Bosnia, first Gulf war, Afghanistan, Iraq.. what did Greeks or Armenians do for us when we need it help... NOTHING..... I dont necessarily feel like i should care about your problems About this Armenian claims. one has to wonder why Armenians are still not responding the Mr PM offer to form a comity to solve the problem. unless you got something you dont want people to find out that should be welcomed by Armenians here and their homeland. apparently it has been 2 years since this offer was made and yet no respond. why not go for it. he is offering a solution. let it be research and reveal as to what really happened. Cyprus issue These two groups i think, they work hand in hand whenever there is something about Turkey you always see these people making nasty comments. i dont know much about this Cyprus issue i have to admit but i know Turkey along with Britain and Greece are the guarantor countries on the Island of Cyprus. when Greeks started killing innocent Turks to merge the island with the homeland. Turks naturally went over there to protect their countrymen. I am not sure what Greeks expected Turks to do just sit there and watch while their people massacred..... And it was and still Turks legal right to be there as a guarantor country to protect her citizens. to me this is a classical example of "biting more than you can chew" overall, your country should come first.. be patriotic to your country America first.

Eric  10/08/2007 05:45 PM Report

Great Job Mr.Rose

if you guys wanna have a true discussion done on this so bad"per by the commentators here" why is it that your homeland hasn't responded positively to Mr.PM ERDOGAN's request to form a comity to work on this.

Mr.PM made the offer TWO years ago still no respond from Armenia.

Not the mention the fact that they still refuse to open their archives to the public and everyone.

you know one has to be honest here it is very simple if you dont have anything to hide.why is it that you guys are afraid of Turkeys offer to solve this problem.i read here and there that issue was discussed and settle long time ago that is just a pathetic attempt to avoid the proposal on the table.

if it was settle before... do it again for the rest of the Americans here because i haven't heard anything about the issue being settled. settled perhaps amongst your Armenian community but not for the rest of the country.

why not open your archives for everyone to go and research.

all these adds up to the suspicion of an ordinary American that either you guys dont wanna solve this problem or you know damn well that you have been deceiving American people all alone.

i am even now more suspicious as read the comments here about Mr.PM converisation.

the guy "Mr.PM" is offering a solution on a national T.V and you all condemed the host because Mr PM renewed his offer.

one would think that this would be welcomed by you guys but i guess, that is too much to expect

Eric  10/08/2007 05:45 PM Report

Mr.Phantom "why not use your name ?" no one is here to get you.

I agree with the fact about the article 301 of their Constitution and as you know very well that that article is in the process of being amended either to be completely removed or changed to fit to the EU norms but as an Armenian your self of course you would not have the courage to mention that.

one has to look at his/her country before pointing finger at others.

Armenia is a dictatorship run by a corrupt puppet government strings pulled by Russia.

Democracy is light year away from Armenia.

The bottom line is about Mr.PM's invitation "offer".

He is putting a solution on the table and why would the other disputes have to be included on this issue those have nothing to do with your genocide allegations.

that alone tells me that genocide allegations are used only to put pressure on Turkey for a concession on other things.

that supports my suspicion on the sincerity of your allegations.it shows that genocide allegations are used to get some stuff from Turkey.that is a pity.....

as for me i am not sure what is the importance of me being Turk, Chinese or German while we are talking about your country.

but i am an AMERICAN who is married to a beautiful Turkish girl. i got interested in to this issue couple of years ago and quickly discovered that you guys and Greeks work hand in hand to turn every American in to Turk hater and i hate to break it to you but it'll fail miserably....

Turkey is friend and Ally of America and they always been there for us and we'll do the same.

Eric  10/08/2007 05:45 PM Report

You guys gonna stop making stuff up... I've never ever heard that Mr. PM suggested that the commission should be set up in Turkey" so, the commission can be set up in a third country" and he also invited all related countries to participate now that doesn't sound like a man who got something to hide.... or worried about the end result.

I guess, i am having a hard time understanding why you guys dont want this to be researched by independent historians. i heard you guys saying that the issue is settled but that is just amongst the Armenian community if you want everybody else to buy your story you gotta let it be researched and discussed UNLESS you got something you dont want people to find out.

what's wrong with having a debate and talking about it what is that you guys are afraid of.

why Armenia is not opening her archives all these adds up to create a strong suspicion on what you guys real intentions are.... i am guessing... some financial compensation of some sort or some other silly demands from Turkey.

Americans are asking questions whenever this issue is brought up and i believe it'll be soon over with the help of the Internet.

as i mentioned in my previous email one has to take a look at ones own country before criticizing others.

Armenia is a third world country Democracy is something that people of Armenia never experienced and wont experience it for along time.

Nobody is saying Turkey is perfect in that matter nobody is perfect what matters is at least they have the courage to admit their weakness and doing something about it to fix it.

They are in the process of writing a new constitution in line with the EU norms.

I find your mudslinging campaign on Turkey phatetic.

I guess, Turkey's biggest advantage is the Internet people can go on-line and verify the stuff that you guys make up here in matter of minutes.

I am completely convinced that this whole genocide claims are just a tool that is used to get something from Turkey. just like Mr. Phantom admitted in his post.

that is really sad you guys are trying to get what you couldn't in the battle field through blackmail and mudslinging.

Eric  10/08/2007 05:44 PM Report

I am afraid i dont consider you as a true American. A true American puts his/her countries interest first not other countries. it is very clear to me that for you people Armenia comes first and there is nothing wrong with that dont get me wrong but you should be in Armenia and deal wiht your problems over there. Your legions is to someother country other than America.

i think, you should really ask around what doest it mean to be a true American.

i again sense the panic and the frustration from the Armenian commentators here.

it is hard to understand this in America people are allowed to talk and debate anything i guess, that is another American thing that you guys are not used to.

if there are millions of people out there that disputes your claims than you have to go out there and prove your claims beyond a reasonable doubt.

that's how we do things in this country.i know that is very different than in Armenia.

on a separate note Turkey did the right thing to not support a war that was completely unnecessary.

i dont think, you understand what being an ally or friend means.

they supported us in KOREA , SOMALIA, BOSNIA, FIRST GULF WAR, AFGANISTAN they are still supporting us logistically in Iraq.

knowing all this and not being able admit it must be hard for you.

so, what did ARMENIA do for AMERICA.......

I'll tell you what giant NOTING zilch... zero..

all this really supports my suspicion that you guys are hiding the truth otherwise why wouldn't want it to be researched.

if I didn,t have anything to hide, i would welcome the opportunity to get the facts out once and for all....but that isn't the case for you people...

Zareh Sahakian  10/05/2007 12:53 AM Report

"open archives", "expert historians researching the allegations", "establishment of commissioners" etc...

The world is supposed to give credence to such bogus "invitations" where in Turkey history is dictated by government commissars and imposed on the population under the penalty of imprisonment for those who disagree.

Now we have yet another bogus promise by the new president, Abdullah Gul, that article 301 apparently needs amendment.

I believe it when I see it. No doubt these are political games by Turkey to try to influence the US Congress in order "not to spoil the reconciliation process" but in fact it is a desperate attempt to prevent the passage of Resolution 106 recognizing the Armenian Genocide, at the same time pretend that they are abiding by the EU demands for reforms.

What a joke! There is no reconciliation process, and all Turkey wants is to buy time to come up with another bogus "compromise"

Phantom is right on the mark when he reminds the Turks that Prime Minister Erdogan refused Armenia's request to establish commissions on the government level. Historians have rendered their verdict on the factuality of the Armenian Genocide, all Erdogan can do is consult their works or use politcs to hide behind the Turkish crime against the Armenians. He has chosen the latter, which is not surprising, otherwise he would risk going to jail under the criminal law 301.

Turkey will do everything possible to avoid a process that would ultimately reveal the already known charade that's being played.

The question is who is insulting the Turks more, Armenians with their just demands or Turks themselves for shamefully thinking that the world is an ass they can ride on willy-nilly?

Worst is all those who live in a free country like the US and still refuse to get themselves educated on this subject. Turks, or their non-Turkish spouses should be reminded that they will not go to jail in America for telling the truth.

Joe  10/03/2007 04:27 PM Report

Dear Charlie,

Once again the propaganda machine of the Turkish State was given a free pass. Your show was USED to perpetuate an atmosphere of uncertainty around the fact of the Armenian Genocide. In scholarly circles, the Genocide is a well-documented FACT. Yet the unsuspecting viewer would easily be swayed by Erdogan's spin: "Where are the facts?" I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO INVITE A PANEL OF INDEPENDENT HISTORIANS TO DISCUSS THE ISSUES ON THE SHOW AND UNDO THE DAMAGE DONE BY ERDOGAN'S MISREPRESENTATION.

Phantom  10/03/2007 04:27 PM Report

Eric,

Apparently, you did not pay attention to the interview very well. PM said that he invited Armenia to a discussion by historians to analyze the facts and to learn the truth, but that the Turks were innocent and there's nothing in the facts that would implicate them. In other words, he's not interested in impartial review. He already knows the conclusion before the review has even started. Moreover, as a Turk you should know how comical it is for PM to call for an open discussion when it is completely illegal in Turkey to say there was a Genocide. If he was serious, he would first bring freedom of speech to Turkey by abolishing Article 301. Then perhaps he might be taken seriously. Finally, Armenia did not refuse Erdogan's plan for a "commission". Instead, the Armenian government replied saying that the discussion should be open to all issues that cloud Turkish-Armenian diplomacy, but Erdogan refused that. Those are the real facts.

Robert Y.  10/02/2007 09:03 PM Report

All that I know is that my grandfather and uncle were massacred by the Ottoman Turks. It was not a war; it was a genocide and has been proven so by world scholars who are not even Armenian and have no ax to grind. I urge you, Charlie Rose, to take the challenge, facilitate the process of resolution proposed by the president, by inviting a panel of independent historians on your program. The truth will prevailwithout doubt in spite of politics.

Phantom  10/02/2007 07:58 PM Report

Bravo Jerry and Vahagn.

As for your Sarper, your analogy could not be more ridiculous and ignorant. If you want an anology that is based on historical fact, here's how it would go:

The U.S. is in a war with Mexico. Both Mexico and the U.S. have citizens of Jewish descent. The Jews of Mexico fight for their country, Mexico, and the Jews of America fight for their country, America. The U.S. uses a handful of Mexican Jews to spy and stab their country in the back, and Mexico does the same by recruiting a handful of American Jews to spy and fight against America. That notwithstanding, the vast majority of each Jewish population is loyal to its home country. The U.S. uses the pretext of the American-Jewish "back-stabbers" and the Mexican-Jews to exterminate all Jews living everywhere throughout the United States. Then it invades those parts of Mexico where most of the Jews live and tries to exterminate the Mexican Jews.

That is an anology that is based on historical fact. Your analogy, on the other hand, is based on a fantasy!

Jerry  10/02/2007 02:03 AM Report

I was disappointed with the interview (propaganda) you conducted with PM Erdogan. It was a manipulation of journalistic truth. There were no tough questions asked, nor challenges to his responses as you did with Mahmoud Ahmedinejad . It seemed like you fed him the questions that were pre-agreed upon and he had chosen which questions he wished to reply. It looked like you were threading on eggs with your questions and did not want to offend your host, in his â??house as a guestâ??, with the hard questions.

After the show had ended, he dropped a bombshell on you at the last minute, by manipulating a commentary on the Armenian Genocide for the next six minutes. You who are knowledgeable about the Armenian Genocide, should not have allowed it to continue knowing the inadequacy of the time to make a discussion on such a topic of immense importance.

You are an intelligent and a respected journalist and should have conducted the interview with a â??really good conversationâ?¦informed, spirited, soulful.â?? None of your principles were evident. The conversation seemed orchestrated and passive. Either you lacked being informed, which I sincerely doubt, to counter his replies or chose to be non abrasive or challenging. It was not soulful, but it was transparent on your part. I liked your dynamic and spirited interview with Mahmoud Ahmedinejad when you energetically challenged him regarding his denial of the Holocaust, nuclear weapons, regional terrorism, etc. Alas, it was lacking with this interview.

Turkey calls itself a democracy, and yet it has Article 301, the criminal penal code that would put a person in prison for many years just for criticizing the government and its policies, as â??insulting Turkishness.â??

He calls Turkey a friend of the United States, and yet, during the invasion of Iraq, it did not allow American ground troops to go into Iraq from Turkish territory, making the invasion more dangerous, difficult and costly.

He mentioned that anti-Semitism is a crime in Turkey and yet oppresses the Christian minorities. Christians and Jews in Syria have more freedom than they do in Turkey. Turkey has closed theological seminaries since 1969 and there is a critical shortage to find clergymen who meet the criteria of the Turkish government. At this rate, the Christian communities will disappear within the near future.

You asked for Turkey do denounce Mahmoud Ahmedinejadâ??s views on the Holocaust, without any positive reply, and yet you did not bring up the subject of Turkeyâ??s denial of their own past crimes of the Armenian Genocide. Even when you rightfully pressed for the PM to denounce the views of Holocaust denial by Ahmedinejad, he did not.

He said â??a strong country does not have to fear debate or challenges to its ideology.â?? Is that why Turkey has Article 301 that threatens and muffles freedom of expression? Yet, Turkish citizen, Hrant Dink, the journalist of Armenian decent, was assassinated in front of his newspaper office for being an Armenian and expressing his views on the Armenian Genocide.

When he mentioned that he has Armenian citizens in Turkey, I was astonished, because Turkey has always maintained that only Turkish citizens live in Turkey.

The Armenian Genocide is well documented by non-biased, independent scholars and historians from around the world and the issue has been settled. After 92 years, there is no debate or discussion left on the issue. The Turkish Ottoman Empire during 1915-1923, premeditated, organized, and executed the extermination of the Armenian nation from their homeland of thousands of years. That is why Armenians, as a population ratio, are probably the most dispersed people on earth.

Restoring one church, as a tourist attraction, among thousands of ancient historic churches that they destroyed, including burning them with men, women, and children while still alive inside, is a token not worthy of mention.

I would suggest that you invite real historians to discuss the issue of the Armenian Genocide at length, and not a politician, who sneaks it in like a Trojan horse and lobbies for six minutes.

Bobby  10/01/2007 04:26 PM Report

Genocide is difficult to prove. If Armenia has oil, evidence is easily created. The gassing of Kurds was not officially seen as genocidal until recently when The Hague Int'l Tribunal declared it "Genocide". Because Kurds proved to be pro-western, and most importantly, oil-rich ;)

Vahagn Avedian  10/01/2007 02:21 PM Report

Mostly it is the lack of knowledge that makes poor explanations such as this one made by the PM Erdogan about the Armenian Genocide to go unchallenged. Had Mr. Rose done his home work better on the subject there would not be any chance for such ridiculous statement as "Where are the documents? Because it`s --you cannot have this accusation without facts." The amount of proof and documents, beside those â??exist-but-you-can-not-accessâ?? in the Ottoman Archives, are abundant. The Austrian, German, Russian, French, British and American archives contain enough material to fill several volumes of work, which they most certainly have done. Today, the Armenian Genocide is the second well-studied genocide case after the Holocaust. Just because the Turkish state has chosen to ignore international research (and continue to do so) does not mean that they donâ??t exist. For further reading I recommend (among many others) the following eminent names in the field:

- Chalk, Frank and Jonassohn, Kurt, The History and Sociology of Genocide, Analyses and Case Studies, London, 1990

- Charny, Israel W., Encyclopedia of Genocide, Vol. 1, Oxford, 2000

- Charny, Israel W., Toward a Generic Definition of Genocide, in Andreopoulos, G. (ed.), The Conceptual and Historical Dimensions of Genocide, Philadelphia, 1994

- Dadrian, Vahakn N., The Comparative Aspects of the Armenian and Jewish Cases of Genocide: A Sociohistorical Perspective, in Rosenbaum, Alan S. (ed.), Is the Holocaust Unique?, Colorado, 1996

- Destexhe, Alain, Rwanda and Genocide in the Twentieth Century, London, 1995

- Fein, Helen, Genocide Watch, New York, 1992

- Huttenbach, Henry, From the Editor: Towards a Conceptual Definition of Genocide, Journal of Genocide Research, 4, No. 2, 2002

- Jones, Adam, Genocide, A Comprehensive Introduction, New York, 2006

- Katz, Steven T., The Uniqueness of the Holocaust; The Historical Dimension, in Rosenbaum, Alan S. (ed.), Is the Holocaust Unique?, Colorado, 1996

- Mace, James E., Facts and Values: A Personal Intellectual Exploration, in Totten, Samuel and Jacobs, Steven Leonard (ed.), Pioneers of Genocide Studies, New Jersey, 2002

- Magnusson, Kjell, Holocaust and Genocide Studies: Survey of Previous Research, Research Agenda, The Uppsala Programme for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, 8-54. Uppsala, 1999

- Melson, Robert F., Revolution and Genocide, On the Origins of the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust, Chicago, 1992

- Novick, Peter, The Holocaust in the American Life, New York, 1999

- Shaw, Martin, War and genocide : organized killing in modern society, Cambridge, 2003

- Shermer, Michael and Grobman, Alex, Denying history: Who says the Holocaust never happened and why do they say it?, Berkeley, 2000

- Stannard, David E., Uniqueness as Denial: The Politics of Genocide Scholarship, in Rosenbaum, Alan S. (ed.), Is the Holocaust Unique?, Colorado, 1996

- Staub, Ervin, The Psychology of Bystanders, Perpetrators, and Heroic Helpers, in Erber, Ralph and Newman, Leonard S., Understanding Genocide, The Social Psychology of the Holocaust, Oxford, 2002

- Steinman, Lionel B., Paths to genocide: Antisemitism in Western history, New York, 2000

- Tatz, Colin, With Intent to Destroy, London, 2003

- Taylor, Alan John Percivale, The struggle for mastery in Europe 1848-1918, Oxford, 1971

- Valentino, Benjamin A., Final Solutions, Mass Killing and Genocide in the 20th Century, New York, 2004

- Várdy, Steven Béla and Tooley, T. Hunt, Ethnic Cleansing in Twentieth-Century Europe, New York, 2003

and also

- Adalian, Rouben Paul, Remembering and Understanding the Armenian Genocide, Yerevan, 1995

- Akçam, Taner, A Shameful Act, The Armenian Genocide and the Question of Turkish Responsibility, New York, 2006

- Alvarez, Alex, Governments, Citizens, and Genocide, A Comparative and Interdisciplinary Approach, Indiana, 2001

- Astourian, Stephan H., Genocidal Process : Reflections on the Armeno-Turkish Polarization, in Hovannisian, Richard G. (ed.), The Armenian Genocide, History, Politics, Ethics, London, 1992

- Auron, Yair, The Banality of Indifference, Zionism and the Armenian Genocide, New Jersey, 2002

- Bauer, Yehuda, Rethinking the Holocaust, Virginia, 2001

- Bevan, Robert, The Destruction of Memory: Architecture at War, Chicago, 2006; http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/1861892055.html

- Dadrian, Vahakn N., The Key Elements in the Turkish Denial of the Armenian Genocide: A Case Study of Distortion and Falsification, Toronto, 1999

- Dadrian, Vahakn N., The History of the Armenian Genocide: Ethnic Conflict from the Balkans to Anatolia to the Caucasus, Berghahn, 2004

- Foss, Clive, The Turkish View of Armenian History: A Vanishing Nation, in Hovannisian, Richard G. (ed.), The Armenian Genocide, History, Politics, Ethics, London, 1992

- Gaunt, David, Massacres, Resistance, Protectors: Muslim-Christian Relations in Eastern Anatolia During World War I, New Jersey, 2006

- Gerner, Kristian och Karlsson, Klas-Göran, Folkmordens historia, Perspektiv på det moderna samhällets skuggsida, Stockholm, 2005

- Graber, G. S., Caravans to Oblivion, The Armenian Genocide, 1915, New York, 1996

- Hovannisian, Richard G., Armenia on the Road to Independence, Los Angeles, 1967

- Hovannisian, Richard G., The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times, Vol. II, Basingstoke, 1997

- Miller, Donald E. and Miller Touryan, Lorna, Women and Children of the Armenian Genocide, in Hovannisian, Richard G. (ed.), The Armenian Genocide, History, Politics, Ethics, London, 1992

- Moranian, Suzanne Elizabeth, Bearing Witness : The Missionary Archives as Evidence of the Armenian Genocide, in Hovannisian, Richard G. (ed.), The Armenian Genocide, History, Politics, Ethics, London, 1992

- Pasdermadjian, Hrant, Histoire de l'Arménie depuis les origines jusqu'au traité de Lausanne, Paris, 1949

- Schabas, William A., Genocide in International Law, Cambridge, 2000

- Weitz, Eric D., A Century of Genocide, Utopia of Race and Nation, Princeton, 2003

- Zayas, Alfred de, The Twentieth Centuryâ??s First Genocide: International Law, Impunity, the Right to Reparations, and the Ethnic Cleansing Against the Armenians, 1915-16, in Várdy, Steven Béla and Tooley, T. Hunt (ed.), Ethnic Cleansing in Twentieth-Century Europe, New York, 2003

As far as it goes for the â??Akdamarâ?? island, first of all, itâ??s â??Akhtamarâ?? and not that distorted name which the Turkish government has name the island as they have with all other Armenian churches, monasteries, towns, cities, rivers and mountains, in the last act of erasing any trace of Armenian presence in the region. Secondly, that particular church is one out of several thousands which where destroyed by the Turkish government in order to erase Armenian presence in the country. In 1914 the Armenian Archbishop in Constantinople presented a list over Armenian sacred sites under his supervision. The list contained 2549 religious sites of which 200 were monasteries while 1600 were churches. An inspection in 1974 revealed that only 916 Armenian churches could be identified, of which half were as good as totally destroyed and among the rest only ruins remained of 252 objects.

http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=69531

These are facts. And there are plenty more if PM Erdogan whishes to be enlightened on the subject.

With best regards,

Vahagn Avedian

Chief Editor of Armenica.org

http://www.armenica.org

Narineh   09/30/2007 10:50 PM Report

There WAS a genocide. It has been documented and America was aware of it at the time. The American consul in Kharput, Leslie A. Davis, described his discovery of the bodies of nearly 10,000 Armenians dumped into several ravines near Lake Göeljuk as the "slaughterhouse province". Just because the Turks have wiped it from their history books and archives and failed to educate their people doesn't mean that it didn't happen. Turkey does not want to recognize it because they would have to pay Armenia back and return the lands. Akhtamar is Armenian. It's in the story books. How did it end up in Turkey? When the bill to be voted on the American acceptance of the genocide went to congress, Turkey threatened to to stop it's alliance and stopped the vote. You asked us what are we afraid of?? What the hell are you afraid of?? Let it go to congress. If it didn't happen, why are you worried? Either way, Armenians will continue to fight for the recognition. It wasn't a war, it was a genocide. It was documented, just not in your books. Turkish people that are old enough to remember have testified to what they have witnessed. I guess we can't blame Turks for being uneducated. Their own government lied to them.

Sarper  09/30/2007 10:04 PM Report

Well done Eric!! I can not agree more. Armenia was an Ottoman state until the early 1900. When the Ottoman Turks were in war against Russia, guess who helped them?? The answer is Armenia..Imagine the U.S is in a war with Mexico and Texas is helping Mexico. How is that possible? There was never a genocide. There was a war between the two. There were many Turks died as much as Armenians. Should we also claim that there was a genocide as well? It is Armenia's obligation to prove the facts but they have not done so....

Art Chebishian  09/30/2007 05:49 PM Report

The funny thing is, they want to have an 'open commission' to debate a historical fact, and at the same time they have article 301 in Turkey in which anyone who even brings up the Genocide is punished for insulting "Turkishness".

It is unfortunate that Charlie gave Erdogan a free pass on this last minute statement. If he said the same thing about the Holocaust, I'm sure his reaction would be much different.

Margaret Tellalian-Kyrkostas  09/30/2007 03:17 PM Report

Dear Charlie,

I have been an admirer of your candid sincerity since you were on Nightwatch at CBS. However, your interview with Pres. Erdogan of Turkey gave me the impression that you both had discussed how the 1915 -Armenian Genocide would be presented. He brought it up himself, and you did have a strange look on your face just listening to his defense of an historical non-issue. I am sure that the Turkish government has all the facts and his plea for historical facts was what astonished me the most. Well, send me his address and I will mail him more than he needs. The Armenian room at the Anthropology Museum of the People of New York has a special wall dedicated to the 1915 Armenian Genocide and original newspaper accounts of the 1915, 1895-96 and 1909 massacres of Armenians instigated by the Ottoman Turkish government. I will send you a copy of my book "Armenia: Memories From My Home" based on the exhibit at Ellis Island in 1997-98. The book has 50 pages of photographs and documentation sources. And just for your information....my mother was 14 years old, when one afternoon at around 3:30 pm she and her family were sent walking on the death march for 9 months through the Syrian deserts. Only she and her mother survived to reach Damascus.

Thanks Charlie, for opening up this issue.

Margaret C. Tellalian-Kyrkostas

Executive Director

The Anthropology Museum of the People of New York &

The Armenian Cultural Educational Resource Center Gallery

64-19 Kissena Blvd. Kissena Hall I @ Queens College

Flushing, NY 11367

T: 718-428-5650

F: 718'428-5610

V: 718-997-2838

E: Anthroarmen@aol.com

Web: www.anthropologymuseum.org

V. Gregorian  09/30/2007 02:08 PM Report

Shame on you, Charlie!

Marty  09/30/2007 12:28 PM Report

I am disgusted that Charlie Rose has given this Genocide denier a soapbox. Mr Rose, you have insulted the memory of all the victims of the Armenian Genocide by allowing Erdogan to voice such ignorant opinions without even once challenging him on his opinions and shown absolute disregard to the families of those victims by simply smiling at such a despicable statement. You certainly would not have done the same with a Holocaust denier. I would hope that you would at least make a comment in your next show to publicly state your opinion on the Armenian Genocide.

Zareh Sahakian  09/29/2007 11:53 PM Report

This is the second time that you let the Prime Minister of Turkey "off the hook", you just smile at him and let him speak without your usual insightful questions.

How can you, Charlie Rose, let him speak down to you concerning the Armenian Genocide which you know it is a fact.

The Prime Minister of Turkey tells you that the Turkish archives are open, but then he tells you that he knows that there is nothing in the "million" archives that ptoves the genocide. Why didn't you ask him if he has read those archives?

Taner Akcam, the Turkish historian has done extensive research and even the remnants of the full archival evidences, despite being purged for a century now, demonstrate the Turkish guilt of committing genocide against the Armenians.

What would it take for the seemingly self-respecting and intelligent journalist and talk show host to have the courage to confront the Prime Minister of Turkey?

I hope on your next trip to Turkey, as you are invited by Mr. Erdogan, you will find the courage to redeem yourself about this ongoing injustice.

Dante Van  09/29/2007 11:39 PM Report

Charlie, Charlie, Charlie,

Wow, what a total ass-kisser you have become. You totally blew it when Erdogan threw in the cheap shot regarding the Armenian Genocide, and you totally enabled him to deny it. Of course, when the Iranian President was on, you grilled him relentlessly on the Jewish Holocaust. What a total double standard you set.

I am not sure what your ethnic/religious background is, or what your political views are, but, it seemed like you "orchestrated" the denial of the Armenian Genocide segment.

What a total copout.

Phantom  09/29/2007 10:55 PM Report

I watch your show frequently. I had no idea what a hypocrit you are until I watched this segment with Erdogan. You rightfully pinned Ahmedinejad against the wall for his views on the Holocaust. But with Erdogan, you didn't make a sound. You let him DENY A GENOCIDE right to your face and you didn't ask a single question. Why is that Charlie? Are Armenian lives not worth the trouble? Is a Jewish life more important than a Christian one? Why did you grill Ahmedinejad for his Genocide Denial, but you freely gave Erdogan a forum to DENY GENOCIDE? This whole thing stinks!

Narini Badalian  09/29/2007 10:52 PM Report

Mr. Rose,

I am quite confused why you did not respond to PM Erdogan's utter denial of the existence of the Armenian Genocide. Your stance has made it obvious how necessary it is for our government to empower our public TV hosts, by officially acknowledging the factuality of the Armenian Genocide through HR 106.

For the record, on June 13, 2005 the International Association of Genocide Scholars rejected PM Erdgan's call for a "joint-commission," stating that:

" We represent the major body of scholars who study genocide in North America and Europe... We note that there may be differing interpretations of genocideâ??how and why the Armenian Genocide happened, but to deny its factual and moral reality as genocide is not to engage in scholarship but in propaganda and efforts to absolve the perpetrator, blame the victims, and erase the ethical meaning of this history. "

http://www.genocidewatch.org/TurkishPMIAGSOpenLetterreArmenia6-13-05.htm

Ironically, again in 2005, when Turkish historians, scholars and intellectuals planned to hold a conference in Turkey regarding the "Armenian Question" (note- the word genocide was not even used)- the government accused them of being traitors and it was canceled, at least the first time around.

http://chronicle.com/subscribe/login?url=/weekly/v52/i07/07a04801.htm

Perhaps you can host a show and ask scholars if they would even be willing to go to Turkey and "debate" anything related to Armenians. According to article 301 of the Turkish penal code, insulting "Turkishness" is illegal. Have we not learned anything from the death of ethnic-Armenian, Turkish citizen, journalist Hrant Dink- did this not make us cherish our freedom of speech, even more, in this country at least? We have a right to speak up- Mr. Rose, as a respected host, and from a person who truly admires the quality of your show, you had an obligation to speak up.

Al Rivers  09/29/2007 10:15 PM Report

Dear Mr. Rose, Thanks for bringing this interview to the attention of American public. As Americans, we need to learn from the experience of Turkey in handling the problems of the Middle East and Iraq. Turkey has shown us that war is not the best solution for any human problem and conflict. Turkey is moving forward as the only secular, democratic and free economy based Islamic country that must be embraced by the Western world. West and US must stop their double standards when dealing the Islamic world.

alex  09/29/2007 03:40 PM Report

Dear Mr. Rose,

Please avail yourself of the extensive records documenting the Genocide against the Armenians. The simplest way would be for you to go to the New York Times website and search the archives for their own shocking and thorough reportage between 1914-1919.

In addition check out A Shameful Act by the Turkish historian Taner Akcam, who has been forced into exile for his work. His courage makes Orhan Pamuk's look mild (though commendable still.)

This would be a good start to a fuller understanding of what will surely be an issue on Capitol Hill until it is resolved.

If you had time, you could visit the northern deserts of Syria, where mass graves of the Armenian Genocide still lie. You could meet the sheikhs of the dozen or so Muslim Arab tribes who saved Armenian children from the slaughter.

The Genocide is not in doubt, except in the propoganda of Turkish politicians, and the imagination of most Turks, who have been denied the truth through the total absence of the fact regarding the fate of the Armenians in their history books. Lying is easy for them to do when the folks who are listening are not informed about history.

Thank you.

Aline B.  09/29/2007 01:43 PM Report

Charlie, the Turkish PM was allowed by you to exercise his linguistic contortions as he spent the last few seconds of the interview broaching his slanted comments on the Armenian issue. How did you allowed that to occur in those few little moments, you obviously had no intention of bringing it up yourself. The issue deserves an hour long dialogue with individuals that are fair and respected. But you never once brought any questions up. I find that very surprising from a journalist whom I watch regularly who often asks the interviewee questions that make them very uncomfortable. Why Charlie? Why did you put your credibility and reputation at stake and for whom? I hope you can redeem yourself with a follow up interview with real historians that tell the truth and pure scholars who have no agenda but the truth. That truth will set this issue free as it has in France and Greece and any country in the world that recognizes crimes against humanity, starting with the first genocide of the 20th century perpetrated by the Ottoman Turks in 1915. Look at the origin of the word "genocide." The Turkish PMâ??s pseudo humble comments about restoring churches and Agh-Tamar are insulting at best. What about Van, why are there Turkish militia posted there and no one is allowed to enter that land? So many questions Turkey needs to stop hiding from. Granddaughter of a survivor of the Genocide!

Seta Nersessian  09/29/2007 09:59 AM Report

This interview with Erdogan was unusually disappointing. I can understand why one may not want to challenge a head of state, especially one so "important" to us as Turkey, but I think it only right to host a panel of historians on the subject...maybe starting with Taner Akcam. He is banned from ever going back to Turkey, but he did recently author a book on Turkey's organized and systematic killing of the Armenians called A Shameful Act. As far as human rights being protected in Turkey for all it's constituent citizens, why not look into Article 301 of the Penal Code that denies a basic freedom of speech. You don't have to go to deep to do an incisive report on Turkey and its history, but you will never get Erdogan back on your show.

Mark Willows  09/29/2007 01:42 AM Report

My point is it is not right to reduce the context of every Turkey related debate to Armenians and Greeks of pre WW-1 era. After all, USA is not the best candidate to question the other countries about wars, massacres and genocides. After all we are in the process of Afghanistan, Iraq wars which are totally UNFOUNDED and UNJUSTIFIED.

My points are well directed to folks who remember their own personal history when they hear about Turkey. They should realize Erdogan is the best leader they can get. The next guy will be much tougher and they cannot even get anything out of him. Instead, they could monitor and help their native Armenian citizens in the current homeland who try to get on their life with all their neighbors including Azeris. Insisting on stigmas doesn't help the standard of living in Armenia in general. But with hate they become blind to the realities of their homeland.

Dante Van  09/29/2007 12:41 AM Report

Mark Willows-

People bringing up inaccuracies/denials in general world history do so in order to prevent atrocities in the future. Although descendants of Turkish massacres and genocide may feel it hitting closer to home due to whole branches in family trees being severed, historical accuracy is a universal issue.

Charlie has lost his fastball when he just sat there like a bumbling old man and let Erdogan call the shots in denying the Armenian Genocide. Or rather, maybe Charlie Rose was complicit due to his own religious/ethnic background serving a cause closer to home. Again, he had the stones to rightfully go after Ahmadinajad, but then aided an abetted a country who spends millions in denying a dark and murderous history.

Charlie Rose blew it, and lost my respect along the way.

Van  09/29/2007 12:33 AM Report

Greetings Mr. Rose,

I watched your program with Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey on 9/27/2007. I wanted to provide couple of third party references to the Prime Minister regarding the events surrounding the Armenians around 1915. I thought it is the least I can do to support his search for the facts.

"Who, after all, speaks to-day of the annihilation of the Armenians?"

A quote from 1939 attributed to Adolf Hitler

I realize that this particular quote might be difficult to confirm with the original source. Therefore, I like to pass along the following link to the free online encyclopedia, which is where I start most of my research projects.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Genocide

While you are at it, kindly pass along the following link to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust

Best regards,

Van