WHO IS THE CHARLATAN? by AZG (no login)   WHO IS THE CHARLATAN? A story in June 26 issue of the daily Azg was about a book, prepared by the Institute of Armenian Studies, an affiliation of the Eurasian Strategic Researches Center, based in Ankara. The book is about a film by a Canadian Armenian director Atom Egoyan, called Ararat and telling about the Armenian genocide. The story in the daily Azg was entitled ‘Writing a Book about Ararat Film Without Seeing It is at Least Charlatanry’. Eventually, our story and its title has made furious one of the book’s authors Sedat Laciner, who sent a letter to the daily Azg, in which though he admits that the book in question has been written without watching the film by Atom Yegoyan, but he does not stop short of condemning the daily for sustaining, as he says, a “blow” to the Turkish-Armenian relations. He also tries to show that he is concerned with Armenia’s true interests, but then proceeds to blackmailing and threats. The letter can be described as the condensed manifestation of hostility, adopted by the government of Turkey towards Armenia. It certainly demands a retaliation, but before doing it, we present the letter. We believe it will give an opportunity to once again see that the Institute for Armenian Studies is conducting a distinct anti-Armenian propaganda campaign having as its priority falsification of the facts about the Armenian genocide. Here is what Laciner writes: “Dear daily Azg, the Internet version (posted also in Turkish in addition to Armenian, Russian and English) of your newspaper posted a “story” by Hakob Chakrian in its June 26 issue (Writing a Book about Ararat Film Without Seeing it is at Least Charlatanry). I was profoundly saddened by that story, which was saturated with offenses. Your newspaper published the story ahead of a visit to Yerevan by a delegation of our Institute, sustaining thus serious damages to Armenian-Turkish relations. If the daily Azg believes that disrespect is information it commits a mistake. If the daily Azg and Chakrian believe that in this way they can bring profits to Armenia, promote normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations or resolve any question, they commit another mistake. First of all, the style of the story is rude and unacceptable. You cannot expect respect and understanding from people whom you do not respect. I am not going to disrespect you or Hakob Chakrian, it is not my style. Our work is on the table. You can either like it or not. But you cannot offend others. We have written our book basing on the script of the film, other archival material as well as on the basis of other 226 works. We have seen all the films, cited in the book, but Ararat, and after watching it, we saw that our conclusions were correct. We find it as a simple propaganda film. We have published a scientific research by using Turkish, Armenian and other sources. But the film by Egoyan has a one-sided approach, a director with no knowledge on History does even feel a necessity to look into Turkish archives while shooting a film on Turkish-Armenian relations. For such an approach, according to Hakob Chakrian, Egoyan should also be declared charlatan. However, I do not think so. By producing a well-balanced film Egoyan could make a large contribution to overcoming sensitive questions that still hinder normalization of ties between the two nations. If he did not do it he is a cheap person. If it was not done intentionally he then is a traitor. At the end I condemn you for you non-constructive approach, I condemn you not only for groundless accusations of me, but also for your blows to the efforts seeking to normalize relations between the two neighbor nations. You can criticize us, we shall listen to it, but you cannot disrespect us. If you continue that kind of approach , we shall have to resort to legal means. Doctor Sedat Laciner Institute of Armenians Studies, Ankara http://www.azg.am/_EN/20020703/2002070304.shtml Posted on Jul 4, 2002, 2:30 PM Respond to this message Return to Index Find more forums on Movies Create your own forum at Network54  Copyright © 1999-2009 Network54. All rights reserved.   Terms of Use   Privacy Statement    Archived threads:       Escaping Reality: it works for ostriches why not for Turkey? by Siamanto