On October 13, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan received Germany-based Turkish writer Kemal Yalcin and members of New York’s Vladimir Kocharyan Theater Company.

The minister greeted the guests and said: “I am pleased to meet the respected writer and the members of the Vladimir Kocharyan Theater Company. I am also pleased with the fact that Karine Kocharyan has directed the play based on the Turkish writer’s book “You Rejoice My Heart”. I know what the book is about and would like to emphasize that it’s important that foreigners write books devoted to this topic, which is painful for us Armenians. What’s more appreciable is the Turkish intelligentsia’s position on the issue. In this sense, Mr. Yalcin proves that the truth is more important to him than nationality. We highly appreciate his courage as a citizen and his ability to face the truth. We regret that even 100 years after the crime, the Turkish authorities don’t want to acknowledge what happened and lift the burden off of their shoulders. They spend millions of dollars to confuse the international community with their policy of denial. Moreover, even today, the genocide continues through different manifestations,” the minister mentioned, talking about Armenia’s blockade, the eradication of Armenian cultural heritage in the territory of modern-day Turkey, the psychological trauma that the Diaspora Armenians deprived of their homeland face every day and other realities.

Expressing deep condolences for the atrocities that his compatriots committed 100 years ago, Kemal Yalcin mentioned the following: “It is an honor for me to be in Armenia. I felt very poor before I actually met the Armenians. The Turks had kept silent about the issue for many years, and only during the years of study in Germany did I learn the whole truth. Since then, I have always felt guilty. As a Turkish writer, I apologize to the Armenians for the genocide. I sincerely wish for the reestablishment of the bridge linking the borders of Turkey and Armenia. I believe there will come a day when we will meet near that bridge and will make a toast for friendship because in reality, the Turks and the Armenians have lived side-by-side for centuries. The Armenians are creative people and have made great contributions to the civilization of not only Turkey, but also world civilization, and of course, it is the Turks’ duty to express their words of gratitude to the Armenia people for all this,” said Yalcin.

The writer went on to share his impressions of Yerevan and mentioned that he was very impressed as he saw how the streets of Yerevan are named after writers, artists and benefactors, while the Turks mainly name their streets after criminals. Kemal also voiced hope that the current democratic movements in Turkey develop, engage more and more people and lead to the desired outcome. “History never forgives crimes against humanity. The common pain must become a basis for peace and justice. I wish my books help mitigate the common pain,” he mentioned.

In the end, Minister Hranush Hakobyan donated gifts symbolizing the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and the album entitled “Monuments of Sorrow, Remembrance and Struggle” published by the RA Ministry of Diaspora to Kemal Yalcin.

The minister also wished the Vladimir Kocharyan Theater Company success and voiced hope that their performance would help the Armenian audiences not only deal with the pain of remembering, but also see the light of the truth.