Tatul Hakobyan publishes study of Armenia-Turkey relations

Published: Monday June 04, 2012

Tatul Hakobyan presents his latest work. Photolure

Yerevan - "Looking from Ararat: Armenians and Turks," a new book by veteran journalist Tatul Hakobyan has been released recently. The 500-page work is the result of eight years of extensive research, analysis and travel by the author, who is an expert with Civilitas Foundation in Yerevan and former correspondent of The Armenian Reporter.

The first release was published in Western Armenian using classical orthography and was presented in Beirut in March. The Eastern Armenian version was presented in Yerevan and Gyumri in April. An English version is being prepared for release this fall.

In the words of Shahan Kandaharian, editor-in-chief of Azdak daily in Beirut, the author "presents each end of Yerevan-Ankara relations with high journalistic professionalism," having carried out extensive archive analysis and frequent visits to Western Armenia during which he conducted a number of in-depth interviews with Armenian, Turkish and foreign diplomats, presidents, and historians.

Lebanese Armenian intellectuals Khatchig Dedeyan, Tigran Jinbashian and Sargis Giragosian presented comments on the author and his new published book.
"Looking from Ararat: Armenians and Turks" is comprised of three parts. The first ten chapters describe Armenian-Turkish (Kemalist) relations from 1918 to 1921. The seven chapters of the second part dwell on Armenian-Turkish relations at a time when Armenia was a part of the Soviet Union. In the eleven chapters of the third part the relations from 1988 to present day are examined. The book also includes a preface ("The saddest Liturgy") and an epilogue ("Where are you, Land of Nairi"), as well as an Appendix where the author presents all of the documents ever signed between Turkey and Armenia.

"I started this book almost simultaneously with my first one - "Karabakh Diary, Green and Black." This could be considered as a continuation to that and its second volume," said Hakobyan at the Beirut presentation, adding, "If you have read "Green and Black", I would advise you to read this one as well and stay tuned for more!"

"Green and Black" now in Arabic

In May, a thousand copies of the "Karabakh Diary, Green and Black" was published in Arabic in Beirut. The book has more than 500 pages and since August 2008 it was published more than five times in Eastern and Western Armenian (with classical orthography), Russian and English.

The translator of the Arabic version is Nora Arissian, a professor at Damascus University and a member of the Arab Writers Union. Sargis Putakian, a businessman and a benefactor form Beirut donated the money for the translation as well as the publication.

Tiran Lyokgyozian translated "Karabakh Diary, Green and Black" into Turkish and it would be published soon.