Editorial
13/11/2009

Shahan Kandaharian
Editor-in-chief
`Aztag’ Daily Newspaper

The criticism of the prominent Swiss newspaper against its government
is characteristic. The “Neo Zuricher Zeitung” newspaper criticizes the
country’s foreign ministry, for mediating between Armenia and Turkey
in the process of normalization of their ties as well as signing of
the protocols. The main issue of the criticism is Turkish denialist
policy. In other words, official Bern shouldn’t have mediated such a
process as long as Turkey doesn’t recognize the Armenian Genocide.

We’re not talking of a casual phenomenon here where a
media representative would criticize Turkey for its denial of history.
First of all, we’re talking about the most popular newspaper in a
given country. Second, we’re talking about Switzerland; a country that
has been given a mediatory role by geopolitical powers for a long time
now. It’s true that the criticism didn’t come from a government
official, however, after all we’re talking about a major contradiction
between the state and the public opinion.

It shouldn’t be surprising to state that by taking up this
mediatory role Switzerland also manifested intra-state contradictions.
And the rationale is this: We all know that the then president of the
Turkish Historians’ Union Yousouf Haladjoghlu and after him historian
Doghou Perincek were taken to court one after the other for denying
the fact of Genocide based on Swiss Criminal Law. The judicial odessy
is familiar to our readers.

Let’s continue the attempt of developing the rationale.
The same Switzerland was mediating secret talks between the Armenian
and Turkish foreign ministry delegates which was developing in rounds.
Most probably during those secret talks the Turkish delegates must
have denied the Armenian Genocide several times.

The question about the contradiction doesn’t end here
though. According to media reports, on the day of the signing of the
protocols it was decided for the two ministers to address the
reporters. The written address of the Turkish foreign minister
included a section which to say the least doubted the Armenian
Genocide and which even if not presented, nevertheless was read and
examined not so far from the spotlights and the reporters’ cameras. In
other words, a Swiss law-countering step was taken in the courts of
University of Zurich.

Still, the historic subcommittee mentioned in the
Protocols opens doors for Turkey to assure the examination of the
facts of the Genocide. The examination itself is the indirect denial
of the truth; a unique way of denial. So, there goes the third
explicit violation of Swiss Law.

The issue, therefore, isn’t about state-public opinion
contradiction, but the screaming contradiction between Swiss judicial
and political sectors seen in the mediation of the for normalizing the
Armenian-Turkish relations. And that was seen in three occasions; too
many occasions.

This issue has no relation with the success or collapse of
the process. The Swiss foreign affairs high directorate must give an
explanation to the official judicial sector about the violations
committed until now if it’s really true that in countries like
Switzerland the judicial sector is independent of the political
sector.