Our congratulations to Ambassador Aznavour
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 12, 2009 00:00
Sometimes, the migration from the realm of the arts to the realm of politics and activism is a great thing: Melina Mercouri, Ronald Reagan, Tarık Akan are among the names which come to mind of those successfully making the transition. Sometimes this is not the case: Zülfü Livanelli, Arnold Schwarzenegger or for history buffs, Helen Gahagan, might be examples.
But we are of a mind that French singer Charles Aznavour, just appointed Armenia’s ambassador to Switzerland, will be a case of the former. We at the Daily News would like to congratulate Ambassador Aznavour on his new posting, which we reported last week. As a newspaper that strongly supports reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia, we believe Aznavour will be an effective champion and advocate for better relations and understanding between our two peoples.
While he is new to high diplomacy, Aznavour is no stranger to activism. He has worked tirelessly as a fundraiser for those in his ancestral country devastated by the 1988 earthquake, for example. At times, his advocacy for Armenia has drawn ire in Turkey. But for the most part, his music has been as popular here as well as elsewhere in the world, and he enjoys many fans in Turkey.
Yes, sometimes he has been controversial. But he has refrained from engagement in some of the harshest polemics that have defined relations at difficult times in Turkish-Armenian relations. Upon his appointment he commented to the effect that, "My greatest wish is for Turkey and Armenia to again become friends. Armenia is ready for this, and this deserves support from the United States."
We realize we and Aznavour are likely to differ on many issues as dialogue grows between our two societies, particularly how we look back at the historical circumstances that continue to divide Turkey and Armenia. But we certainly are of one mind in our vision for the future. We agree that it is time for friendship.
That this appointment to a critical post follows Swiss-mediated talks that yielded the "road map" for reconciliation we have reported in recent weeks is all the more symbolic. That it too follows another artist’s calls published here for better relations, those of Armenian duduk virtuoso Djivan Gasparyan, is all the more heartening.
"It is the right time," Gasparyan told us, for all Turks and Armenians to raise their glasses "arm-in-arm for peace and brotherhood." It is also worth noting that while he was born in Paris, Aznavour’s family emigrated there from Adapazarı, where his mother was born. Turkey is as much his ancestral home as is Armenia.
Famous for his singing and composing, Aznavour has additionally struck the right chords diplomatically as well in his first remarks. We welcome this additional support to the process of reconciliation.
As we say in Turkish, Mr. Ambassador: "hayırlı olsun."
While he is new to high diplomacy, Aznavour is no stranger to activism. He has worked tirelessly as a fundraiser for those in his ancestral country devastated by the 1988 earthquake, for example. At times, his advocacy for Armenia has drawn ire in Turkey. But for the most part, his music has been as popular here as well as elsewhere in the world, and he enjoys many fans in Turkey.
Yes, sometimes he has been controversial. But he has refrained from engagement in some of the harshest polemics that have defined relations at difficult times in Turkish-Armenian relations. Upon his appointment he commented to the effect that, "My greatest wish is for Turkey and Armenia to again become friends. Armenia is ready for this, and this deserves support from the United States."
We realize we and Aznavour are likely to differ on many issues as dialogue grows between our two societies, particularly how we look back at the historical circumstances that continue to divide Turkey and Armenia. But we certainly are of one mind in our vision for the future. We agree that it is time for friendship.
That this appointment to a critical post follows Swiss-mediated talks that yielded the "road map" for reconciliation we have reported in recent weeks is all the more symbolic. That it too follows another artist’s calls published here for better relations, those of Armenian duduk virtuoso Djivan Gasparyan, is all the more heartening.
"It is the right time," Gasparyan told us, for all Turks and Armenians to raise their glasses "arm-in-arm for peace and brotherhood." It is also worth noting that while he was born in Paris, Aznavour’s family emigrated there from Adapazarı, where his mother was born. Turkey is as much his ancestral home as is Armenia.
Famous for his singing and composing, Aznavour has additionally struck the right chords diplomatically as well in his first remarks. We welcome this additional support to the process of reconciliation.
As we say in Turkish, Mr. Ambassador: "hayırlı olsun."