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Journal of Turkish Weekly
Feb 3 2005
Turkish Parliament to Discuss Armenian Allegations
The Turkish Grand National Parliament's committee for harmonisation
with the European Union (EU) has announced that it will investigate
allegations by Armenians that the Ottoman Empire committed acts of
'genocide' against its Armenian citizens during World War One.
Ali Riza Alaboyun, the deputy chairman of the Parliamentary
Committee, said that some Armenian groups have agreed to the discuss
the issues and settle the Armenian genocide claims that have been
levelled at Turkey by many groups and organisations.
`I do not believe that in our history there is anything to be ashamed
of' Alaboyun said.
`There is lack of information. We shall take the initiative in hand
and have an unbiased assessment of events occurring away from us' he
added.
Onur Oymen, a member of the opposition Republican People's Party who
also sits on the committee, said that Armenians distribute
publications targeting Turkey on the genocide claims and that Turkey
should make sure to send out material refuting the allegations.
There is a vivid debate in Turkey about Turkish-Armenian relations.
Many Armenian books have been translated from Armenian and other
languages, including the pro-Armenian ones. However Turkey does not
accept the Armenian allegations about the 1915 Events. According to
Turkey there was a war in 1915, and the Armenian armed groups
attacked the Ottoman Armies. 500,000 Muslims (Turkish and Kurdish)
were killed by the Armenian armed groups. The ultimate aim of the
Armenian nationalist groups was an independent Armenia in Eastern
Anatolia. Dr. Nilgun Gulcan from ISRO said "Armenian citizens were
not loyal to their own state."
Gulcan told the JTW:
"Thousands of Armenians changed their nationality and became Russian
citizens. In Eastern provinces they attacked the Ottoman Armies and
Muslim villages. Even they helped the occupier Russian armies. Apart
from the war curcumstances there was a severe clash between the
Kurdish and Armenian villages. Many were killed in these conflicts.
In Van Province, the Armenians rioted against the Ottoman State and
killed thousands of Turkish and Kurdish women, children and old
people. They declared a city-state. When the Russians came to the
city they dreamed of a greater Armenian state. However the Ottoman
forces recaptured the city and put an end to the Armenian dreams. It
is true, many Armenian civilians died. However the reason was not a
genocide. The bad weather conditions and war curcumstances hit the
Armenian civilians, and like the Turks and Kurds many Armenians lost
their lives. No one could blame the Ottoman Government for genocide
or mass killings."
Nilgun Gulcan said the real problem is lack of cummunication and the
Armenian diaspora: "Diaspora prevents dialogue between Turkey and
Armenia" added Gulcan.
"You can easily discuss the problem in Turkey. Armenians, Americans,
British, etc. can question Turkish history. However no one can
question Armenian history. Armenians first must question their own
history. They must ask themselves how many Turks and Kurds killed
their grand parents? Who killed 500,000 Muslim civilians?" added Dr.
Gulcan.
Dr. Nilgun Gulcan also examined the Western World's attitude
vis-a-vis Turkey and Armenians:
"Armenian forces occupied another European state's about 20 per cent
territories. More than 1 million Azerbaijanis have been refugees
without any assistance from the West. The US and the EU states bombed
Serbia for its mistakes in Kosova and Bosnia. Iraq was occupied when
it occupied Kuwait. However no one did anyting angainst the Armenian
occupation. Now 1/5 of Azerbaijani country is under Armenian
occupation. And Armenia does not recognise Turkey's national borders.
Yerevan encourages Armenian separatist movements in georgia. And the
EU and the US discuss the events happened almost a century ago. In
Khojally Armenians did a genocide. But no one discuss Khojally but
the 1915 events. France says Turkey cannot enter the EU without
questionin its history. It is strange. The EU and France do not
question its current policies, but they can ask Turkey to question
its past.The past has been abused, and the real intenations are
curtailed with history.
Armenians do not want to discuss 'genocide' allegations...
They do not accept any debate about the past...
Armenian politicians do not want to withdraw their soldiers from
Azerbaijani territories...
They do not recognise Turkey's national borders...
They take no step in peace process...
They refuse to question their history...
They just accuse... they blame... they ask... they just want from
Turkey... They accuse Turkey... They accuse Azerbaijan... They accuse
Georgia... They accuse the US... They accuse the EU... They accuse
anyone, but themselves... It is a strange game, no one can
understand, including the Armenians."
Compiled and prepared by Jan SOYKOK, JTW, 3 February 2005
Feb 3 2005
Turkish Parliament to Discuss Armenian Allegations
The Turkish Grand National Parliament's committee for harmonisation
with the European Union (EU) has announced that it will investigate
allegations by Armenians that the Ottoman Empire committed acts of
'genocide' against its Armenian citizens during World War One.
Ali Riza Alaboyun, the deputy chairman of the Parliamentary
Committee, said that some Armenian groups have agreed to the discuss
the issues and settle the Armenian genocide claims that have been
levelled at Turkey by many groups and organisations.
`I do not believe that in our history there is anything to be ashamed
of' Alaboyun said.
`There is lack of information. We shall take the initiative in hand
and have an unbiased assessment of events occurring away from us' he
added.
Onur Oymen, a member of the opposition Republican People's Party who
also sits on the committee, said that Armenians distribute
publications targeting Turkey on the genocide claims and that Turkey
should make sure to send out material refuting the allegations.
There is a vivid debate in Turkey about Turkish-Armenian relations.
Many Armenian books have been translated from Armenian and other
languages, including the pro-Armenian ones. However Turkey does not
accept the Armenian allegations about the 1915 Events. According to
Turkey there was a war in 1915, and the Armenian armed groups
attacked the Ottoman Armies. 500,000 Muslims (Turkish and Kurdish)
were killed by the Armenian armed groups. The ultimate aim of the
Armenian nationalist groups was an independent Armenia in Eastern
Anatolia. Dr. Nilgun Gulcan from ISRO said "Armenian citizens were
not loyal to their own state."
Gulcan told the JTW:
"Thousands of Armenians changed their nationality and became Russian
citizens. In Eastern provinces they attacked the Ottoman Armies and
Muslim villages. Even they helped the occupier Russian armies. Apart
from the war curcumstances there was a severe clash between the
Kurdish and Armenian villages. Many were killed in these conflicts.
In Van Province, the Armenians rioted against the Ottoman State and
killed thousands of Turkish and Kurdish women, children and old
people. They declared a city-state. When the Russians came to the
city they dreamed of a greater Armenian state. However the Ottoman
forces recaptured the city and put an end to the Armenian dreams. It
is true, many Armenian civilians died. However the reason was not a
genocide. The bad weather conditions and war curcumstances hit the
Armenian civilians, and like the Turks and Kurds many Armenians lost
their lives. No one could blame the Ottoman Government for genocide
or mass killings."
Nilgun Gulcan said the real problem is lack of cummunication and the
Armenian diaspora: "Diaspora prevents dialogue between Turkey and
Armenia" added Gulcan.
"You can easily discuss the problem in Turkey. Armenians, Americans,
British, etc. can question Turkish history. However no one can
question Armenian history. Armenians first must question their own
history. They must ask themselves how many Turks and Kurds killed
their grand parents? Who killed 500,000 Muslim civilians?" added Dr.
Gulcan.
Dr. Nilgun Gulcan also examined the Western World's attitude
vis-a-vis Turkey and Armenians:
"Armenian forces occupied another European state's about 20 per cent
territories. More than 1 million Azerbaijanis have been refugees
without any assistance from the West. The US and the EU states bombed
Serbia for its mistakes in Kosova and Bosnia. Iraq was occupied when
it occupied Kuwait. However no one did anyting angainst the Armenian
occupation. Now 1/5 of Azerbaijani country is under Armenian
occupation. And Armenia does not recognise Turkey's national borders.
Yerevan encourages Armenian separatist movements in georgia. And the
EU and the US discuss the events happened almost a century ago. In
Khojally Armenians did a genocide. But no one discuss Khojally but
the 1915 events. France says Turkey cannot enter the EU without
questionin its history. It is strange. The EU and France do not
question its current policies, but they can ask Turkey to question
its past.The past has been abused, and the real intenations are
curtailed with history.
Armenians do not want to discuss 'genocide' allegations...
They do not accept any debate about the past...
Armenian politicians do not want to withdraw their soldiers from
Azerbaijani territories...
They do not recognise Turkey's national borders...
They take no step in peace process...
They refuse to question their history...
They just accuse... they blame... they ask... they just want from
Turkey... They accuse Turkey... They accuse Azerbaijan... They accuse
Georgia... They accuse the US... They accuse the EU... They accuse
anyone, but themselves... It is a strange game, no one can
understand, including the Armenians."
Compiled and prepared by Jan SOYKOK, JTW, 3 February 2005