Only great nations are able to admit their mistakes

By Vestnik Kavkaza

A year ago the Turkish newspaper Agos, which is published in the Armenian language, published an article devoted to the tragedy in Khojaly. The editor of the periodical, Rober Koptash, urged Armenians to take responsibility for the events. The article is headlined “Responsibility for Khojaly.” The author describes events of the tragedy in detail and calls it “a true humanitarian disaster,” and the Armenians living in Turkey have to know about it.

“We, Turkish Armenians, didn’t know what happened on that dreadful night; and even today there are those who don’t know it,” the article says. Koptash emphasizes that the tragedy which is assigned to the “dark sides” of the war by many people forces the Armenians, who are thought to be a nation that experienced genocide, to talk and take responsibility. “What does denial of the massacre give to a nation which suffered genocide itself? If you are an Armenian, shouldn’t you admit your misdeeds? Isn’t silence a sign that you agree with the crime?” the editor of Agos writes.

He cites words by Thomas de Waal, who met Armenian President Serge Sargsyan years after the tragedy and asked him about the bloody events. Serge Sargsyan answered: “The Azerbaijanis thought that the Armenians would never make an attempt at the lives of peaceful population, and the stereotype was ruined. At the same time, I think a lot was exaggerated, as the Azerbaijanis need a reason to equal some place with Sumgait. But they cannot be compared, as there were not only peaceful residents in Khojaly, but also soldiers. A bullet flies and has no eyes to differ between a solder and a common citizen. If the peaceful population stayed there, even though they had an opportunity to leave, it means they participate in the fight as well.”

Robert Koptash noted that “because of the conflict, Baku which is important to Armenian culture, remained without Armenians. At the same time, Karabakh and Armenia remained without Azerbaijanis. Today joint living of Armenians and Azerbaijanis can be seen only in a few villages in Georgia.”

“It should be realized that denial of your guilt, your mistakes, makes nations little. Only great nations can admit their mistakes. We still haven’t admitted them, and there is no difference between us and those who are thought to be our enemies. We are men of mould. I believe that tomorrow is with the Armenians who feel the pain of Khojaly and the Azerbaijanis who carry the pain of Sumgait in their hearts,” the author concludes.