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TALAAT PASHA'S REPORT ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE LAUNCHES IN ISTANBUL
epress.am
09.28.2011 12:48
British-Armenian journalist and director of the London-based Gomidas
Institute Ara Sarafian (pictured) recently travelled to Istanbul to
launch his newly published book Talaat Pasha's Report on the Armenian
Genocide in Turkey.
During a joint press conference with other writers, Sarafian responded
to attacks by Turkish writers about the book.
This work is a serious appraisal of a report found in the possession
of Talaat Pasha, the Ottoman Minister of Interior responsible for
the Armenian Genocide of 1915. It concludes that the report was
a confidential account of the Armenian Genocide based on Ottoman
records. It presents Talaat's data in detail and includes additional
materials such as two illustrative color maps and appendixes.
Haber Turk writer Murat Bardakc覺, who published the Talat Pa癬_a
diaries in 2008, wrote in his coloumn that Ara Sarafian and members
of the Armenian Diaspora stole his book. Sarafian responded that,
of course, it was very important to publish the Taalat Pasha's
Black Book ("Talat Pa癬_a'n覺n Evrak-覺 Metrukesi" in Turkish) but
Bardakc覺 analyzed the report incorrectly which is understandable
considering Turkey's official stance on the Genocide. Sarafian added,
nevertheless, we have to express much gratitude to Murat Bardakc覺,
because he had the courage to publish this book, which in itself
rejects the Turkish version of the events of 1915.
In describing the book, Sarafian writes:
"Recent documents released in Turkish archives, combined with surviving
documents from Talaat's Pasha's private papers, confirm that Talaat
was indeed the architect of the Armenian Genocide. There is a clear
record that he ordered and supervised the general deportation of
Ottoman Armenians in 1915-16, and that he followed the fate of such
deportees from close quarters. Talaat was sent updates regarding
Armenians at different stages of deportations, as well as information
about the fate of others who were subjected to special treatment.
"Ottoman records in Turkish archives, as well as Talaat's 1917 report,
show that less than 100,000 Armenians survived in the so-called
resettlement zone for Armenians... According to Talaat's figures
1,150,000 Armenians disappeared in the Ottoman Empire between 1915-1917
or they were dispersed in different provinces of the Ottoman Empire
for assimilation.
"Talaat Pasha's Report on the Armenian Genocide is the closest
official Ottoman view we have of the Armenian Genocide. The report was
undoubtedly prepared for Talaat Pasha and meant for his private use.
It was not meant for publication and probably only survived because
Talaat was assassinated in 1921 and his widow gave the report to a
Turkish historian [Bardakc覺] who eventually published it."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
epress.am
09.28.2011 12:48
British-Armenian journalist and director of the London-based Gomidas
Institute Ara Sarafian (pictured) recently travelled to Istanbul to
launch his newly published book Talaat Pasha's Report on the Armenian
Genocide in Turkey.
During a joint press conference with other writers, Sarafian responded
to attacks by Turkish writers about the book.
This work is a serious appraisal of a report found in the possession
of Talaat Pasha, the Ottoman Minister of Interior responsible for
the Armenian Genocide of 1915. It concludes that the report was
a confidential account of the Armenian Genocide based on Ottoman
records. It presents Talaat's data in detail and includes additional
materials such as two illustrative color maps and appendixes.
Haber Turk writer Murat Bardakc覺, who published the Talat Pa癬_a
diaries in 2008, wrote in his coloumn that Ara Sarafian and members
of the Armenian Diaspora stole his book. Sarafian responded that,
of course, it was very important to publish the Taalat Pasha's
Black Book ("Talat Pa癬_a'n覺n Evrak-覺 Metrukesi" in Turkish) but
Bardakc覺 analyzed the report incorrectly which is understandable
considering Turkey's official stance on the Genocide. Sarafian added,
nevertheless, we have to express much gratitude to Murat Bardakc覺,
because he had the courage to publish this book, which in itself
rejects the Turkish version of the events of 1915.
In describing the book, Sarafian writes:
"Recent documents released in Turkish archives, combined with surviving
documents from Talaat's Pasha's private papers, confirm that Talaat
was indeed the architect of the Armenian Genocide. There is a clear
record that he ordered and supervised the general deportation of
Ottoman Armenians in 1915-16, and that he followed the fate of such
deportees from close quarters. Talaat was sent updates regarding
Armenians at different stages of deportations, as well as information
about the fate of others who were subjected to special treatment.
"Ottoman records in Turkish archives, as well as Talaat's 1917 report,
show that less than 100,000 Armenians survived in the so-called
resettlement zone for Armenians... According to Talaat's figures
1,150,000 Armenians disappeared in the Ottoman Empire between 1915-1917
or they were dispersed in different provinces of the Ottoman Empire
for assimilation.
"Talaat Pasha's Report on the Armenian Genocide is the closest
official Ottoman view we have of the Armenian Genocide. The report was
undoubtedly prepared for Talaat Pasha and meant for his private use.
It was not meant for publication and probably only survived because
Talaat was assassinated in 1921 and his widow gave the report to a
Turkish historian [Bardakc覺] who eventually published it."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress