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HISTORIAN: ASSYRIAN GENOCIDE CLAIMS BOGUS
The New Anatolian, Turkey
Dec 27 2006
Turkey is now being haunted by claims of an Assyrian genocide in 1915
during the country's relocations.
Bulent Ozdemir, head of the Turkish Historical Society's (TTK)
Assyrian Studies Section, responded yesterday to a draft report by
Dutch Christian Democrat parliamentarian Camiel Eurlings, in which
she asserted that Turkey should accept Pontic Greek and Assyrian
genocide claims, in addition to those by Armenians.
Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, Ozdemir said that claims
regarding an Assyrian genocide during World War I are groundless and
branded them "bogus" along with the Armenian claims.
Ozdemir said that they had prepared a book on the issue and during
its preparation process they mostly used foreign archive documents
rather than the Ottoman archives to make it more reliable and exact.
"After four months of research at the British National Archives from
November 2004, we made a detailed study at the U.S. National Archives
in May last year," he said. "The results of our meticulous research
show that neither the Ottoman Empire nor today's Turkish Republic can
be accused of genocide during World War I. Foreign archive documents
strengthen the arguments of Turkey on this issue. Compared to the
Armenian genocide claims these untrue statements about Assyrians can
not trouble Turkey."
Pointing out that Assyrians declared war on the Ottoman Empire at the
beginning of the conflict and fought against the Ottomans along with
Russian and the British soldiers, Ozdemir said that these statements
were expressed in a petition presented by Assyrians at the Paris
Peace Conference.
"They chose a side in the war and combat occurred under the rules
of war. At this point the title of Wigram's book clearly expresses
the situation: 'Our Smallest Ally'," Ozdemir said. "At the end of
the Ottoman reign, Assyrians were considered a 'Trojan horse' by
Russia, France and the Britain. It's obvious that they were used by
some nations."
Ozdemir underlined assertions by some historians that the real culprit
for the pain and suffering the Assyrians faced during World War I
were the policies of Russia and the Allies in the region, and their
not fulfilling promises given to Assyrians.
"Today accusations regarding an Assyrian genocide are addressed just
for the sake of politic interests and these accusations twist the
truth," Ozdemir said. "Migrating to the U.S., Australia and Western
European countries after the war for various reasons, Assyrians are
organized and they have formed a diaspora. They use genocide claims
as a means of identity."
Attending a conference on the so-called Assyrian genocide held at
Erciyes University's History and Culture Club, Ozdemir answered
questions from students.
The assertion that Turkey should accept the so called Pontic Greek
Genocide in addition to the so-called Armenian genocide was in
Eurlings' draft Turkey Report, which was presented to the European
Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The New Anatolian, Turkey
Dec 27 2006
Turkey is now being haunted by claims of an Assyrian genocide in 1915
during the country's relocations.
Bulent Ozdemir, head of the Turkish Historical Society's (TTK)
Assyrian Studies Section, responded yesterday to a draft report by
Dutch Christian Democrat parliamentarian Camiel Eurlings, in which
she asserted that Turkey should accept Pontic Greek and Assyrian
genocide claims, in addition to those by Armenians.
Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, Ozdemir said that claims
regarding an Assyrian genocide during World War I are groundless and
branded them "bogus" along with the Armenian claims.
Ozdemir said that they had prepared a book on the issue and during
its preparation process they mostly used foreign archive documents
rather than the Ottoman archives to make it more reliable and exact.
"After four months of research at the British National Archives from
November 2004, we made a detailed study at the U.S. National Archives
in May last year," he said. "The results of our meticulous research
show that neither the Ottoman Empire nor today's Turkish Republic can
be accused of genocide during World War I. Foreign archive documents
strengthen the arguments of Turkey on this issue. Compared to the
Armenian genocide claims these untrue statements about Assyrians can
not trouble Turkey."
Pointing out that Assyrians declared war on the Ottoman Empire at the
beginning of the conflict and fought against the Ottomans along with
Russian and the British soldiers, Ozdemir said that these statements
were expressed in a petition presented by Assyrians at the Paris
Peace Conference.
"They chose a side in the war and combat occurred under the rules
of war. At this point the title of Wigram's book clearly expresses
the situation: 'Our Smallest Ally'," Ozdemir said. "At the end of
the Ottoman reign, Assyrians were considered a 'Trojan horse' by
Russia, France and the Britain. It's obvious that they were used by
some nations."
Ozdemir underlined assertions by some historians that the real culprit
for the pain and suffering the Assyrians faced during World War I
were the policies of Russia and the Allies in the region, and their
not fulfilling promises given to Assyrians.
"Today accusations regarding an Assyrian genocide are addressed just
for the sake of politic interests and these accusations twist the
truth," Ozdemir said. "Migrating to the U.S., Australia and Western
European countries after the war for various reasons, Assyrians are
organized and they have formed a diaspora. They use genocide claims
as a means of identity."
Attending a conference on the so-called Assyrian genocide held at
Erciyes University's History and Culture Club, Ozdemir answered
questions from students.
The assertion that Turkey should accept the so called Pontic Greek
Genocide in addition to the so-called Armenian genocide was in
Eurlings' draft Turkey Report, which was presented to the European
Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs.