Thank you, Markar Esayan

Death is the common fate of all human beings. In İsmet Özel's moving description, "death that takes no side, like a ricocheting bullet," is the most common thing even among those who have nothing else in common in this world.

Yet deaths make a difference in terms of their timing, their context and their manner. Sometimes more than what the person who tastes death could not accomplish in life, something more effective and more powerful, is achieved through his death or after it, because of his death. In this respect, while deaths outdo other deaths, the personality, nature and influence of the deceased in fact come to light precisely with his death.

Normally the record of deeds of the deceased is closed, and from that hour on he has no effect in the world. But when it comes to the sociological influence of the deceased, there are many examples that show exactly the opposite.

The words that Sahak Maşalyan, Patriarch of the Armenians of Turkey, spoke for Markar Esayan at the funeral ceremony held in the Church of the Holy Mother of God in Kumkapı on the occasion of Markar Esayan's death, in the presence also of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, expressed precisely this truth in the most striking manner. Despite all our sorrow, despite the sadness that death itself causes, the Patriarch drew attention to the good brought about by Markar Esayan's funeral.

In the very middle of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenians and Azerbaijanis, right in the midst of the most fervent feelings that can arise between the two sides, through his death, which made it possible for the President of the Republic of Turkey to be present in an Armenian church together with all the state dignitaries, Markar, while dying, was rendering service to a great good. Perhaps such an attendance had the quality of being a first in the history of the Armenians of Turkey. This is not because such an attendance was impossible for either side, however. It is only because no occasion had arisen. Otherwise Turkey has no problem with the Armenians, has never had one throughout history, and there can be no reason for one to arise henceforth.

Markar, through his passing, which was not in his own hands and was entirely a divine decree, made this plain truth visible to the whole world. In fact, he died just as he lived. Whatever cause he struggled for while alive, as he died he caused the message of the cause he struggled for to be announced to the whole world in the most striking way. Death, which takes no side at all, came about in such a way as to give his death the highest effect, most in harmony with his intention and actions, as the influence of his life.

The Patriarch, whose speech flowed from the most authentic, most genuine roots of Turkey's history and society, announced on account of Markar that the conflict in Karabakh "has nothing to do, near or far, with being a religious war between Turks and Armenians." Indeed, this war is not even a war between the Armenian and Azerbaijani nations. According to him, and this is the truth, "this war is in essence a struggle over land and a knot, hard to untie, left between peoples by the imperialist mind."

The Patriarch's speech, which bears witness with all sincerity both to Markar and to the state of affairs of Turkey and of the Armenians in Turkey, is a perfect text in every sentence. In contrast to those who try to beat Turkey today over the events of 105 years ago, it is a perfect expression of the genuine bonds between Turks and Muslims, or between Muslims and Christians in these lands, of the deepest channels between them.

The Armenians in Turkey too are undoubtedly among the direct or indirect victims of the process in the ongoing debates. Even though no opportunity is given in Turkey for any injustice against them, it is not easy even to be a subject in these debates. Markar was one of those who felt this best and conveyed this feeling. Just like Hrant Dink. Despite all his sincerity and striving, Hrant could not escape becoming, or being made, the target of a feeble-minded racist discourse. But as the Patriarch said, Markar: "When he dared to step into those neighborhoods of this country little known to Armenians, a magic took place. A beautiful image that Armenians have always longed for was formed. Those neighborhoods, which did not know the Armenian well or knew him wrongly, came to know in Markar Esayan the beautiful human being, the friend and brother, the honorable and courageous Armenian who, throughout the ages, has embraced this country as his own homeland and strived for its welfare. The battered word 'Armenian' was honored, if only to a small degree, in Markar Esayan and found a positive echo.

Markar Esayan became a bridge man. How much we need people like Markar who build bridges in these days. We need those blessed people who will build bridges of friendship between Armenians and Turks, Azerbaijanis and Armenians, like bread, like water. How many disasters would be prevented, how many lives saved, who knows?"

Markar Esayan and I had a friendship that began after the death of Hrant Dink and developed on various occasions into political companionship in a common cause within the AK Party. While I served as Head of Human Rights at the AK Party, he was serving as deputy head. His sincere, devout, pious commitment to his faith always aroused deep respect in me. I knew this faith very well, I saw it, and I felt the deepest respect. I was sure that our feelings were mutual.

The funeral ceremony and the speeches showed the whole world in the most striking way that Turkey is not, and cannot be, in a racist enmity against the Armenians. As our President also said: "As we have until today, from now on as well, we will continue to support the Armenian community, an important color of our richness that makes Turkey strong."

We too bear witness before God to Markar, who bore witness to us through his passing. Thank you, Markar Esayan. Condolences to Turkey.