Speculating about the existence of this museum, it is difficult to forget its political role and function in mediating between Turkish and Armenian communities.  While this topic will be the object of future analysis, at the moment, it could be interesting to note how the opening ceremonies received a full coverage from all major Turkish daily news and media (also websites). Many sources reported the words pronounced by the Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (representative of the moderated Islamic Party, A.K.P.), who stressed the importance of tolerance and unity among the two groups.[43]  On the other side, the opening of such a museum offers an invaluable opportunity to the Armenians to visibly affirm its presence, and deal also with the other Armenian communities of Armenia and of the Diaspora.

Indeed, although not in a decisive way, we are assisting in these days to an increasing public discussion over the admission of the Armenian genocide. Although this discussion probably won?t lead to the expected public admission of ?Turkish fault? in the genocide; nevertheless, it opens a window for a public confrontation between the two parties (now, at least, in an academic environment), which could help future generation to understand their past and look forward to a practical enhancement of minority rights.

Final Remarks

This article aimed to show the evolution that occurred in Turkish society from the nationalistic regime of the Kemalist period to the more diversified political and social landscape, which characterize the present Turkish society. The study of cultural policy and museological discourse serves as an example for showing political and social debates. Those two museums seem to work as a binary system, as they complement each other, giving an image of the complex past of the Anatolian land and people.

At the same time, the evolution of both museums went far from the simplistic portrayal of national discourse about giving spaces to a different interpretation of museum spaces and objects.

On the other hand, changes in the political, social and economical landscape, which occurred from the 1980s, allowed for reconsidering and re-discussing topics such as the Ottoman past heritage and the multi-ethnic nature of the Ottoman society. In this frame, together with the rediscovery of the Ottoman art and architecture, there was a re-evaluation of the contribution of ?minorities? to the Ottoman /Turkish past.  The opening of minority museums is both a consequence of this new interest for the past and a chance for minorities? communities to affirm their presence in the Turkish society.

[43] Thanking the Armenian citizens for their contributions to the Turkish civilization, Erdoğan said: ``let`s see how the message given here will be reflected to the world? We will continue developing humanitarian values in the light of universal criteria. Long live our unity in these territories? (Anadolu Agency: 2004)