Armenian Academics Under Fire For Calling Secret Meeting

Ara Sarafian and Vincent Lima, the editors of the journal Armenian Forum, released the following statement on Tuesday, 13 March 2001.

"We are dismayed to learn that the Armenian studies establishment is convening a closed, secret meeting of Armenian academics in Dearborn, Michigan, on 17 March 2001, to develop a strategy for the so-called Armeno-Turkish dialogue.

"To convene such a meeting is to treat scholars as advocates and negotiators representing national interests.

"The Armenian studies establishment has produced little of late in the way of critical scholarship on the Armenian Genocide. Aided by Turkey's campaign of falsification and denial, the establishment has eschewed critical inquiry in favor of advocacy.

"Among the serious scholars who have lately examined the events of 1915-16 are some scholars of Turkish origin. This simple fact—if anything, a welcome development—has brought out the worst in the Armenian studies establishment.

"Instead of applying ordinary scholarly criteria and judging all scholarship on its merits, the establishment has been showing an inordinate interest in the ethnic origin of scholars. Turks are presumed to espouse the interests of the Turkish state and Armenians are expected to subordinate their scholarship to Armenian advocacy concerns.

"A January 2001 panel discussion in New York City actually looked at encounters between scholars of Armenian and Turkish origin as 'Armeno-Turkish dialogue.' Acting like a cabal, the Armenian studies establishment has now called a closed meeting to develop a strategy for that 'dialog.'

"To consider ethnicity rather than the substance espoused by scholars is anathema to scholarship and informed debate.

"We wish to disassociate ourselves publicly from these measures, which harm the credibility of Armenian studies and serve only to divert attention from the embarrassing paucity of serious scholarship on the Armenian Genocide within the Armenian studies establishment.

"Our commitment remains to promoting scholarship and informed debate in Armenian studies."

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