In an interview with Turkey’s Taraf daily, prominent Turkish historian Taner Akcam reflected on the Armenian Genocide issue, and, in this connection, also to the matter of compensation, should Turkey recognize the Genocide.   

Akcam noted that, in his letter addressed to the Kurdish big landowners of the time, modern Turkey’s founder Ataturk had written: “The Armenians will come and seize your property.”  

“The fear of the Armenians’ return was used as a motivation in Turkey’s “Liberation” War. But such problem does not exist today. Now, you cannot deceive a Turk with this. The nationalists are using this to scare the society.   

The matter of compensation is a topic to be discussed between the governments of the two countries [i.e., Armenia and Turkey]. This is the rule: Both societies must say that their conscience is satisfied. This could be done by way of joint commissions—formed by the governments of the two countries—[and thus] by discussing the matter before the societies. [This is] Because compensation is [also an] ethical [issue] and it is not measured by money alone.         

[And] By saying compensation, we must understand an apology; the revealing of the traces of the Armenians who lived in Anatolia; the giving them of the right to [Turkish] citizenship; the providing of social assistance to Armenia; the opening of the Trabzon Port for Armenia; and many other things [that] can be done,” Taner Akcam stated.