The conference entitled Conscience and Responsibility in the Armenian Genocide: New Research on Survivors organized by Hrant Dink Foundation was held at Cezayir Restaurant Meeting Hall on March 14, 2014. The History Research Fund was created in the year 2010 with the initiative and contributions of Dr. Alper Öktem, one of the supporters of Hrant Dink Foundation with the aim of promoting studies on acts of civil courage displayed during the Armenian Genocide of 1915: identifying people who set an example for the humanity with their attitude, sharing their actions with today's society, and shedding light on another dimension of history. The scope of this fund was expanded in 2013 and it was renamed the History and Memory Research Incentive Fund. In the conference, organized under the sponsorship of Heinrich Böll Turkey Representation, the findings of the studies carried out under the umbrella of this fund were debated in four panel discussions, namely “Memory and Coming to Terms with the Past,” “The Memory of 1915 in Arts”, “Stories of Survival” and “Stories of Rescuers.”
Some of the studies were published in the namesake book, issued with support from Heinrich Böll Turkey Representation. In the preface to the book which features contributions by Ayşe Gül Altınay, Ishkhan Chiftjian, Adnan Çelik, Namık Kemal Dinç, Burçin Gerçek, Öykü Gürpınar, Armen Marsoobian and George N. Shirinian, Taner Akçam expressed as follows why the element of “conscience,” on which the studies of the History and Memory Research Incentive Fund focus, is important:
Conscience as a democratic dynamic
“Identifying and honoring the Muslims who rescued Armenians during the genocide is important for multiple reasons. First, such stories are the best way to refute the denial policy pursued by Turkish governments. Second, individuals whose capacity to question has been atrophied through decades of ideological brainwashing, are given the chance to come to terms with their past. Trying to understand and discuss history on the basis of such conscientious individuals also creates an immensely strong democratic dynamic. Third, such stories help rebuild Armenian-Turkish relations which have collapsed with the genocide. They function like a bridge which brings back together two peoples which have grown distant to each other. It strengthens the thought of living together in peace on the basis of mutual respect. A future can be built on such conscientious individuals by rectifying the sense of justice shattered in peoples' hearts and consciences, without forgetting the past or downplaying the importance of the evil acts committed.
Supporting conscientious people is not only a means towards certain ends, but also a test for our conscience. Such conscientious people were not numerous in the past; otherwise, the massacre would not have taken place. Nevertheless, their small numbers in the past reminds us of the need to create multitudes for the future.”