Work has been completed on a three-volume Armenian encyclopedia in English, exploring Armenian history, culture and politics, with the support of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK).
The encyclopedia, which has yet to be published, was a result of a project led by Abant İzzet Baysal University Associate Professor Kamer Kasım, who is also an expert on the Caucasus at the International Strategic Research Organization (USAK), and the president of USAK, Associate Professor Sedat Laçiner.
Kasım and Laçiner discussed the project with TÜBİTAK in 2006. With its recent increase in interest in social sciences, TÜBİTAK responded positively to the project. The two academics recently completed their four-year study, and a three-volume encyclopedia now stands ready to be published.
Stating that there are dozens of works in Turkey on the topic of Armenians, Kasım explained that they prepared the encyclopedia in English because few sources produced in Turkey are in a language other than Turkish. He also said the encyclopedia’s content is arranged alphabetically, with articles on many subjects ranging from history to cuisine and from music to politics. The work also explains in detail the incidents of 1915, during which many Armenians died while being forcibly deported. Kasım also said they worked to dispel stereotypes and false beliefs held about Armenians.
TÜBİTAK previously supported another social sciences project involving Turkish-Armenian relations. Titled “Ninelerimizin Komşuları” (Neighbors of our Grandmothers), the book, written by Zekeriya Başkal, focuses on the peaceful aspects of Turkish-Armenian relations and was published recently.
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