PBS SINCERE HOPES THAT THE PROGRAMS ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE WILL HELP THE AMERICAN PUBLIC GAIN A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THESE IMPORTANT EVENTS IN WORLD HISTORY

On 17th April the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) affiliated television stations across the US are planning to air an hour-long documentary on "The Armenian Genocide" produced by the independent, New York-based filmmaker Andrew Goldberg. Immediately after the documentary PBS will air a 25-minute panel discussion called "The Armenian Genocide: Exploring the Issues" including two scholars who will present Turkish side's views. The PBS motion to give air time to "genocide deniers" has provoked an outpouring of outrage from the Armenian-American community. The bi-weekly newspaper covering public television in the U.S., reported PBS received about thousands of e-mails protesting the panel. Pressure to cancel the panel also has come from two Democratic congressmen - Rep. Anthony Weiner and Rep. Adam. B. Schiff. Several key PBS-affiliated stations have said they do not intend to show the panel discussion. Out of 10 top markets PBS stations has, only those in Chicago and Houston plan to air the follow-up panel.

Below are the answers of Jan McNamara, Director, Corporate Communications PBS to ArmInfo:

Armenian-American community is strictly against the PBS plan to air a 25-minute panel discussion featuring known genocide deniers Justin McCarthy and Omer Turan. What do you think about this and what circumstances may make PBS change its plans?

It is part of the mission of public television is to engender responsible discussion and illuminate complex issues. We have received numerous messages from across the country protesting and praising THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE and the follow-up panel, THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: EXPLORING THE ISSUES. We are committed to offering both programs, which we sincerely hope will help more Americans understand this important chapter in world history. Both programs were fed last month to PBS stations. The final decision about what programs air in a specific market are made individually by local stations.

What is PBS official position about the Armenian Genocide? Does it recognize it?

Implicit in PBS' decision to accept THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE for distribution is its recognition that the overwhelming majority of historians have concluded that a genocide took place.

Who funded the documentary and the panel?

PBS is solely responsible for bringing these programs to our schedule. We did so because we believe the programs examine an important chapter of world history that more Americans should understand. PBS accepted "The Armenian Genocide" for the schedule based on its merits and because the information it presents is an important part of recent world history.

There is an opinion that PBS becomes complicit in the Turkish government's campaign to deny this crime against humanity by the decision to provide public air time to the deniers of the Armenian Genocide. What do you think?

The specific intent of the panel, ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: EXPLORING THE ISSUES, is to examine the question of how historians can come to such radically divergent conclusions about these events. Again, it is part of the mission of public television is to engender responsible discussion and illuminate complex issues.

What do you think about people denying Holocaust and other genocides? Could PBS initiate a similar discussion with the deniers of Holocaust, for example?

With all due respect, the comparison is not entirely analogous. Germany has fully accepted responsibility for the Holocaust, paid reparations, made apologies, met with survivors and teaches about it in its schools. As you know, this is not the case with the Armenian genocide. Turkey's official position on this chapter of history is a key part of the controversy that the documentary and the panel discussion seek to examine.

In your mind, will the documentary provide a sufficient balance of opinions? Don't you think it would be more purposeful if the representatives from the Armenian community give comments to the film rather than pro Turkish scholars?

The panel participants included professors Peter Balakian and Taner Akcam who, as you know, argue strongly that the events that took place were unquestionable genocide.

What outcomes does PBS anticipate from the programs?

Our sincere hope is that the American public will gain a greater understanding of these important events in world history.

Oksana Musaelyan,April 17, 2006. ArmInfo