Action Committee was especially created to respond to various defamation attempts and statements against Turks and Turkiye. The committee assisted students or student organizations at campuses when they faced with similar situations. Below follows some of the respond articles we have written for various cases. You can also find various brochures and materials to utilize. We hope you will not need them at all which is unfortunately a weak hope but our strong hope is that younger generations will grow with sincere and peaceful minds, and they will manage to strengthen peace and love among all people…They have to.
The reality on the Midnight Express
French Historian Applies for Turkish Citizenship
Sworn Affidavit by Edward Tashji
Write to PBS and urge for fair-play. February 2006
Turks are ready to confront their history.
Respond to New York Times article.
Respond to Resolution in German Federal Assembly on Turkish-Armenian Relations
A letter to non-Turkish participants of the so-called Armenian Genocide seminars
The reality on the Midnight Express
The Reality on the Midnight Express
Interview with Bill Hayes on Midnight Express
By Alinur Velidedeoğlu
Yil 1999.
8 yıl önce.
Cannes’da “Life is Beautiful” filmi gösteriliyor.
O müthiş film.
Hani sonradan Oscar aldı.
Davetliler arasında reklamcı Alinur Velidedeoğlu da var.
Pırıl pırıl, şahane bir hava.
Güneş, çapkın çapkın göz kırpıyor.
Davetliler, Carlton Oteli’nin plajındalar.
Pek çok milletten insan bir arada.
Alinur’un karşısında kırık ama sevimli bir Türkçe ile konuşan bir Amerikalı var.
Alinur da o gün son derece neşeli, fırsatı kaçırmıyor, espriyi patlatıyor:
“Sevgiliniz güzel miydi?”
“Hayır” diyor Amerikalı en ciddi haliyle, “İsterdim ama Türk sevgilim hiç olmadı…”
“Nasıl oluyor da kendinizi Türkçe bu kadar iyi ifade ediyorsunuz o zaman? Nerede öğrendiniz dilimizi…”
“Hapishanede” diyor adam.
“Ülkenizin hapishanelerinde beş sene yattım…”
Sessizlik.
Alinur soruyor:”Hapse neden düştünüz?”
“Esrar kaçırıyordum, yakalandım…”
“Allah Allah yaşadıklarınız Midnight Express’in hikáyesine benziyor…”
Amerikalı da, “Benzemiyor, ta kendisi!” diyor.
“Dünya küçüktür” dedikleri şey, bu olsa gerek.
Bir reklamcı olarak Midnight Express’in ülkemize verdiği zararın kolay kolay telafi edilemeyeceğine inanan Alinur Velidedeoğlu, hiç
aklında yokken, karşısında filmin kahramanı Billy Hayes’i buluyor.
Ne var ki, olayı bizzat yaşayan kişi, yani Hayes, olan biteni filmden çok farklı anlatıyor.
“Bana Türk hapishanelerinde kötü davranılmadı” diyor, “Türkiye’deki cezaevlerini Amerika’dakilere tercih ederim.”
Söz konusu filmin, kasten Türkleri karalamak için çekildiğini söylüyor.
En önemlisi de kendisinin öyle şeyler yaşamadığını anlatıyor.
Alinur birdenbire, “Bu bana aktardıklarınız kameraya da söyler misiniz?” diyor, “Madem Türkleri bu kadar çok seviyorsunuz…”
“Hay hay” diyor Hayes, “Ben derdimi dünyaya anlatamadım, belki sayenizde sesimi duyururum…”
Ve Carlton Oteli’nin plajında, Alinur Velidedeoğlu’nun sorularını kamera karşısında yanıtlıyor.
*
Tekrar ediyorum, bunlar tam sekiz yıl önce oluyor.
O röportaj, Türkiye’de yayınlanıyor.
Bu tabii Alinur’u kesmiyor, o istiyor ki bu gerçeği, bütün dünya öğrensin.
Bugüne kadar Midnight Express’i izleyip Türkiye hakkında olumsuz fikirlere sahip olanlar, meseleyi bir de olayın kahramanından farklı
şekilde dinlesin.
CNN’i, ABC’yi, BBC’yi arıyor.
Söz konusu röportajı ulaştırmak istediğini söylüyor.
Cevap: “Çok teşekkür ederiz ama biz ilgilenmiyoruz…”
Nedense Avrupalı ve Amerikalı hiçbir kanal Hayes’in anlattıklarını yayınlamayı kabul etmiyor.
Oysa Midnight Express, sağda solda gösterilmeye devam ediyor.
Ve derken…
Youtube icat ediliyor ve salgın haline geliyor.
Alinur’un aklına da şöyle bir fikir düşüyor.
Eğer bu röportaj Youtube’da yayınlanırsa, herkes izler ve gerçeği öğrenir.
Ve çok “tık” alırsa daha uzun süre yayında kalır ve dünya üzerinde daha çok insan neler olup bittiğinin farkına varır.
Alinur Velidedeoğlu, Midnight Express hikáyesini kampanyaya dönüştürmek istiyor.
Düşünsenize, geçenlerde Abdullah Gül Washington’a gitti, o gün bile film gösterildi. Milyonlarca Amerikalı filmi tekrar izledi. Şimdi o
gece Midnight Express’in yayınlanması önceden planlanmış mıydı bilemem ama siz sonuca bakın. Hangi yabancıyla tanışırsanız tanışın,
bildiği birkaç şey vardır ülkemiz hakkında: Göbek dansı, şiş kebap, Ayasofya, İstanbul ve Midnight Express…
Yukarıdaki linten Oliver Stone’un çevirdiği “Midnight Expresss” adlı filminin gercek kahramanı Billy Hayes ile Alinur Velidedeoglu nun,1999 Cannes Film festivalinde yaptigi roportaji izliyeceksiniz. Ve tum gercekleri ogreneceksiniz.
Ne kadar çok rating yaptırabilirsek o kadar çok insanın izlemesini sağlayabiliriz.
Röportajın 2. bölümünü yine aynı sayfadan izleyebilirsiniz.
Teşekkürler
French Historian Applies for Turkish Citizenship
October 2006
Well we invite all French to do the same 
We are talking about the French historian Jean-Michel Thibaux…Apparently something really drove him crazy, or he discovered the uniqueness of being a Turk…
Mr. Thibaux applied for Turkish citizenship as respond to a shameful resolution. The recent resolution, there has been so many of them as you know but now in our agenda is the one in the French parliament -which is now accepted-, may let you find yourself in prison and/or paying thousands of euros because of saying ‘it was not a genocide’. Well, it seems that the parliament will need to discuss the budget necessary to increase the capacity of their prisons as we are all going to Paris this summer and shouting ‘it was not a genocide but what you did in Algeria and many other places were!’, and we’ll do this in front of a Voltaire statue. For those members of the French Parliament who has not heard of Voltaire, as apparently there are many, should read and learn more about him and remember at least one of his quotes: “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities”.
It is sad to see Voltaire’s grandchildren be a part of such an ‘intellectual terrorism’ or let’s say ‘genocide! of intellectual discussion, sincerity, and dialogue’.
Let’s continue with more quotes, some may not be directly related to our topic but hey, aren’t there indirectly related issues involved in such attempts? Directly or indirectly there are many issues that need to be clarified, and everything direct or indirect counts when dealing with such stupidity which is also a hypocrisy.
Voltaire: “Great Turks rule 20 nations of various religions in peace. They taught Christians to be moderate in war and tender in victory.”
Phillip Marshall Brown: “In spite of the great victory that they gained, Turks generously granted to the people of the places they conquest the right to self-rule with their own laws and traditions.”
Politis, Foreign Minister of Venizelos Government:”The interests of Greeks in Turkey could not have been so much protected by any power other than Turks.”
J.W. Arnold:”It is a fact that can not be denied by the history that Turkish armies did not intervene with the religion and culture at the places they conquest.”
German General Bronsart:”Turks are the most tolerant people of the world towards people of other religions unless they are disturbed.”
Napoleon Bonaparte considers to make the Catholic Armenians in Ottoman Empire rebel against the administration and take some kind of revenge upon Akka defeat. He asks whether this would be possible to his Ambassador in Istanbul. The reply of the Ambassador is clear and definite: “Armenians are so pleased with their lives that this is impossible.”
If genocide and similar topics are very interesting to work on for the French parliament we recommend them to look at the years 1789 and the duration from 1830 to 1962, which will provide them real stories, with themselves being main characters.
Just out of curiosity…If this resolution is approved by the Senate and ends up being an actual law, will it be retroactive? We have 2 cases that they can take to the court immediately:
Hovhannes Katchaznouni, First Prime Minister of the Independent Armenian Republic: ‘In spite of the fact that the Armenians had better material and better support, their armies lost….the advancing Turks fought only against the regular soldiers; they did not carry the battle to the civilian sector…’
Bogos Nubar, an Armenian representative attending the Lausanne Peace Conference, said that there were about 300,000 Armenians in Turkey and that 700,000 had migrated to other countries. There could have been deaths during their revolts or emigration, but the claim that 1 million Armenians were killed is sheer nonsense.
If somehow French Parliament wants to notice at least a little portion of massacred Turks, they should take a look at this too: In April 1915, following the Russian decision to launch an offensive on the eastern city of Van, the Armenians started a revolt so the city would be easy pickings for Russia. On April 21, 1915 Russian Tsar Nicolas I sent a telegraph expressing his thanks to the Armenian community for their assistance to Russian troops in Van. The Armenian daily Gocnak, published in the US, proudly wrote in its issue of May 24, 1915 that there were only 1,500 Turks left in the city.
Let’s end with some other quotes from Voltaire:
“Common sense is not so common.”
“How inexpressible is the meanness of being a hypocrite! how horrible is it to be a mischievous and malignant hypocrite.”
“I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”
A Note on April 24th
Memories of a Russian Colonel: http://www.armenianreality.com/comments/Memories_of_a_Russian_Colonel.htm
Assasination of Van Mayor Kapamaciyan: http://www.armenianreality.com/articles/on_the_assassination_of_van_mayor_kapamaciyan.htm
It is not our objective to remind and promote certain painful facts in history; especially not to ask for sympathy, nor is it our intention to defame any specific society or people. We are only looking to strengthen our national motto created by Ataturk: ‘Peace at home, Peace in the world’. And we just want to alleviate the pain created by such sad events which happened for a countless number of reasons. Looking back on history the majority of us tend to forget: we forget not only the Armenians but also the British, French, Greek, Russian, Italian, Australian, New Zealander and their colonial troops all came to Turkiye to exterminate all the inhabitants, to share the lands as planned prior to the WW1.
We forgot them all and opened a new page as Republic of Turkiye in 1923 after difficult times. However, we are in a position of remembering and reminding all these to the responsible parties and to everybody on this planet as there has been an ongoing campaign against Turks; a disgusting campaign which is all based on groundless accusations and lies, a campaign which is NOT expressing all of the facts, a campaign which is feeding hatred and teaching new generations hostile feelings, a campaign which is brainwashing, a campaign which is not only ignoring a large portion of the story but also totally changing the remainder of the story according to its agenda, a campaign which is abusing Turks’ silence, a campaign away from fair play, a campaign which is taking advantage of living in Europe and USA for decades, a campaign which is defaming not only the Ottoman Empire but also the Republic of Turkiye, a campaign by those who were not satisfied by their crimes and collaborators some decades ago.
On April 24th every year, this campaign reaches its peak and Armenians all over the world commemorate the so-called genocide. They should (in fact we should all) commemorate the humanitarian efforts of the Ottomans, since while under attack the Ottomans decided to relocate the Armenians away from the war zones and stopped them from perishing totally. Ottomans could have taken some other more bitter measures for them considering what they had been doing! There was no other empire or country in the history who while under attack tried to protect itself and some of its distinctive citizens although those same distinctive citizens were cooperating with the attackers and killing thousands of other innocent citizens with whom they were once neighbors and friends!
They say the research and findings that show the incidents were not ‘genocide’ were garbage. No historian or researcher can become such disrespectful to others’ research; instead they come together and share what their findings are and how they got to those, only if they are sincere!
Pick any country (from the history or today) and ask: What would a country do to a group of its citizens if that group is cooperating with the enemies and hitting the army from the back while the country is also fighting at other fronts with limited resources? Probably not even take the time to think about it while the country is under attack from all sides: just get rid of them there! Ottomans, however, handled the situation with dignity and humanity; they did their best under extremely hard conditions and decided to take these people away from war zones. During this journey they were attacked by other groups whose relatives or family members were once killed by Armenians, during this journey there were severe weather conditions, there was hunger, sickness, and unfortunately not all of them survived the relocation (during the same time period 90 thousand Ottoman soldiers perished on the way to the war fronts because of the freezing cold weather).
This relocation process -although the relocated groups were invited to go back after the war- was handled as good as possible under the circumstances. Still the Ottomans tried an approximate 1000 non-Armenian citizen or officer for war crimes and not doing better during this relocation; some were sentenced to death. We have to yet to witness one historical document describing an Armenian trial of its guilty parties for war crimes and murder. The evidence becomes more clear that the Armenian side is not interested in viewing this situation objectively.
We hope this campaign of defaming Turks will come to an end soon so that all parties involved will spend their time, energy, and resources for more useful causes for the humanity. Turks and Armenians have lived together peacefully for centuries; we believe that they can continue to do the same with more strength by sincerely sharing and understanding each other’s grief experienced during those regretful times when millions from all sides suffered. No one -including the Armenians- will be allowed to destroy the centuries long peaceful relations of the Turks and Armenians.
Conclusion and Solution:
If there is such a dispute on a such a sensitive issue and the parties are accusing each other of not teaching their communities the truth, then here is a potential solution which will make everything crystal clear and stop distracting national and international agenda.
The parties can create joint committees that will handle the case from different points of view. Each committee comprises of an expert in the field not only from Armenian and Turkish side but also one from a neutral country (it’s hard to be one though!). Above all these committees there can be a managing committee again reps from Turkish side, Armenian side and one representative from all countries involved.
1) Historical approach (One task is to search all the archives on all sides and check the history books of all countries. This committee can even produce a history book that will replace all other history books used in schools that are not very objective and friendly.)
2) Statistical approach (One task is to analyze the population before and after the war including the relocation periods, trace the relocated people.)
3) Political approach (One task is to analyze why the sides may be defending their such arguments; analyzing their loss and profit from however the result comes out. Who are supporting which side and why?)
4) Financial approach (One task is to find out if the issue became an industry for some parties.)
5) Psychological approach (One task is to analyze the psychology of the all people suffered during 1915-1918, and also to help parties be sincere and welcome the outcomes of the project with maturity and respect, and ensure all parties continue with love towards each other. In addition to that the experts should enlighten the parties about the damage that teaching hate can cause on kids and young generations, so invite all parties to be extremely sensitive about that.)
If we are fighting about something after nearly a century, all parties have to agree on such a comprehensive study and work together with patience and solidarity; of course meanwhile please stop all the defamation and baseless accusations.
Sworn Affidavit by EDWARD TASHJI
The following commentary is presented as a sworn affidavit by the undersigned, and Is intended to express explicitly my position on the subject of Turkish-Armenian relations. Being of sound mind and body, fully cognizant of my statements ,free of any coercion and/or any suggestion of any monetary recompense, — I do hereby declare the comments in this written material are solely mine and for which I take full responsibility. My signature follows this declaration and It will appear at the conclusion of this commentary.
This is not intended to portray even a semblance of any historical research, nor to create a subterfuge in the expression of my thinking and sincere feelings on a subject to which I have devoted a lifetime of attention. Simply stated, these pages are intended to reveal my position on a highly emotional issue based upon childhood experiences, an exposure to both the Armenian and Turkish communities, and as a result of long years of effort. The purpose of this life-long effort has been and by the grace of God, will continue to be two-fold: first, to continue the bond of brotherhood between the Armenian and the Turkish peoples. Secondly, with the continuance of the six centuries of trust and harmony, to eradicate an infectious hatred which has manifested itself in innocent hearts and minds of succeeding generations. To say that my task has been most difficult and potentially dangerous to my life is not an exaggeration, as the content of this commentary will confirm. The average American is unaware that a serious problem between these ancestral brothers even exists. However, as a result of a blatant anti-Turkish posture on the part of our news media, together with the acceptance by many members of Congress of one version of a tragic story, the Turkish Nation and its God-fearing people are being accused of “genocide.” The absurdity of the charge is equal only to the mindless “hate merchants” within the Armenian community. So why should my pro-Turkish position be of interest to anyone outside the Turkish Community? It should I say, it must I emphasize, because I am not Turkish nor am I of the Moslem faith; In reality I am a Christian and an Armenian!! I was born In Troy, New York — In 1932 — as the second son of an Armenian mother and a Syrian Orthodox father, who had been eyewitness to the tragic events which took place In Ottoman Turkey during the First World War. In spite of their suffering, in spite of their losses, in our home our parents had taught us not to hate the Turkish people, In fact just the contrary was instilled in our hearts. We learned the realities of those events about which the West has accepted one interpretation as historical fact.
My wife’s background is similar to my own, except that both of her parents were Armenian. Her support of my efforts and her endless patience have been my greatest source of encouragement. Do you think, dear reader, any book, any newspaper account, or any politician could outweigh the Influence upon me by my parents who were there!? They had no reason to give me false information, and their greatest gift to me was to love the traditions and culture of our peoples. Because of their wisdom, their compassion and their humanity, I was destined to be FREE of all animosity. Based upon THEIR comments to me, and after years of study and effort, (which cannot be described here), I offer for your consideration the following facts which should be recognized by every member of Congress:
1. That the Armenian people had suffered In Ottoman Turkey during the First World War is beyond dispute. Their suffering was brought about as a result of the ravages of war; they suffered as did the Arab, the Jew, the Syrian Orthodox, the Greek, as well as the Turkish Moslem. The suffering of the Armenians was NOT as a result of a “genocide”! To this day, the other ethnic and religious groups which had endured those terrible days, HAVE NOT referred to being the victims of “genocide” In Turkey! But Armenian extremists have used the term “genocide” as a way of concealing their own crimes:
2. My mother was born in Balikesir, not far from the city of Izmir. In her town she had remembered that there were organized Armenian political factions determined to overthrow the government, and engaged in war activities against Turkish military forces as well as thousands of innocent civilians. These groups were active In Turkey then, as they continue to be to this day IN the United States. These are the names of the infamous groups: the Ramgavar, the Huntchak, and the fanatical Dasnaksakgan, (all spelled phonetically). These armed revolutionaries were headed by a maniacal fringe who had even attacked Armenians who did not support them in their treachery and disloyalty against a country where for seven centuries they had prospered and enjoyed total freedom.
3. As a child my mother had learned a song which had been taught In Armenian school to all the children, The following Is a translation, from the Armenian, of the only words I remember:
“Let us slaughter the Turks — Let us establish our own country…”
What would be our reaction if any cultural or religious community taught their children to kill Americans?!
4. Many Armenians after leaving their homes were allowed to RETURN and take possession of their homes and properties. My uncle was one who returned to his home, and my wife’s aunt, who is still living, was another. Her family had returned to their home in Adlyaman.
5. As a refugee my mother was taken into the home of an Armenian family In the town of Kilis. They lived in a house which they owned, and this was toward the end of 1915!
6. The long list of ethnic Armenians who had attained the highest positions in the Ottoman Government is a matter of record.
7. Armenian fanaticism In Ottoman Turkey spread to our country during those years and It continues to this very day: The Armenian community and church in the United States is torn apart by bitter hatred within its own family. Many Armenians, especially those who came from Turkey in recent years, do not feel any hatred against the Turkish people but dare not make their feelings public, lest they be castigated by church and community leaders. In 1932, while celebrating mass on Christmas morning, the Armenian Archbishop Tourian was assassinated by members of an opposing Armenian group. Today Armenian terrorism has taken the lives of over sixty-five Innocent Turkish Diplomats and family members world-wide.
8. A so-called statement purportedly made by Adolf Huller referring to the plight of the Armenians, was, after extensive research, proven to be FALSE by historian Robert John, who like myself is born of Armenian ancestry!
9. The following is an exact quotation from a pamphlet printed and distributed by The Armenian Revolutionary Federation, here in New York:
“…Its History: Struggle for National Liberation. Founded in 1890, as a confederation of various action groups struggling for Armenian national and human rights, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, (ARF), known as Dashnaktsoutioun, carried on this struggle with all available means: political action, propaganda, and at times, armed struggle..
— I direct the attention of the reader to the date: 1890! Tuenty-five years BEFORE the Armenians began wIth their theme song: “genocide”. I’m certain you made notice of the words: “…armed struggle…”.
10. In her book entitled, “The Armenian Revolutionary Movement”, the author, Louise Nalbandlan, says about her book, In part, the following: “This study covers in detail the armed struggle of the Armenian revolutionists against the Ottoman government, beginning with the first major disturbance in 1862 and extending to 1896…” And they speak of “genocide”! It is the Turk who is justified in accusing the Armenian of this heinous crime! There is more, much much more which can refute the allegation made against Turkey.
Once again our Congress considers the so-called Armenian Resolution. How dare they sit in judgment of a nation whose true history is not known by those who would accuse Turkey of “genocide”?! I say, Mr. Senator and Mr. Congressman, examine your own history and consider the plight of the American Indian!!
Dear reader, these are the words of my beloved mother:
— My son, we had everything in Turkey. We owned our own homes, our farm lands, shops, and businesses. We were free in our schools, our churches, and our press. On religious holidays Christians and Muslims would exchange greetings, flowers, and baskets filled with all kinds of foods. After having so much, for so long, WHY should the Turks decide to destroy us?! WE, my son, WE were responsible beyond any doubt, for the misfortune that befell our people! WE, the Armenians, were not loyal to our homeland, Turkey! – Many years later, when several Turkish Naval Officers visited our home In Queens, New York, my mother had said to them, “Welcome my children — this is your home, welcome…” She had become their “mother” and we their family in the United States. THIS Is humanity! THIS Is God’s wish for all of us! THIS is the only answer if we are to give our children a world free of hatred! THIS Is what I have found In the Turkish heart; I stand in awe of their compassion, of their warmth, their humanity.
I am proud that I have devoted a lifetime of service in behalf of our ancestral brothers and sisters. How we have labored, examples of our efforts, the Identity of the long list of government officials with whom we have met, how we were able to learn to speak Armenian and Turkish, why our home Is called an “Ottoman” home, and much more, is for another time between two hard covers perhaps. May I offer
now my concluding statements:
Dear reader, to the Armenian I am a traitor, one who has committed the greatest sin; to the Turk 1 have come to be known as a, “Turk dostu” — a friend of Turks; ours Is the embrace of brotherhood. I offer the reader my greatest success, that for which I have devoted much of my life, and this you will read on separate pages following my commentary. Read carefully please the writings of an Armenian student who sent me three letters. The most satisfying achievement in my humble life is the third and final letter I received from a young man whom I have never met. Indeed, read his words carefully an~ understand I have not turned against my people, for to do so would be to deny my mother.
I am convinced that hate breeds more hatred, and as we were blessed to have parents who passed on to us their message of love, so have I spoken to all who care to listen, our history, our culture and traditions, begin In Turkey as we have shared with her people the joys and the sorrows of that beautiful land. Today, the Armenians living in Turkey praise us for our efforts. The Syrian Orthodox community shares my position and our children grow free of the cancer of hate. Let the United States Congress honor the sacred memory of ALL the peoples that had suffered, and let not this resolution blemish the honor of a great people. I have dedicated myself to the inseparability of the Turkish and Armenian peoples and no power on earth can deter my resolve. In the name of reason, of universal peace for all mankind, and in the name of the God of all peoples, I remain, yours respectfully,
Edward Tashji
Director of Public Affairs Committee -
The Federation of Turkish American Societies, Inc.
Turks are ready to confront their history
PROF. AYSEL EKSI
PRESS RELEASE BY NGO’S
TURKS ARE READY TO CONFRONT THEIR HISTORY. But Armenian Invitees declined to attend the Symposium.
In a symposium titled “The Realities of Turkish – Armenian Relations”, the Turkish perspective of events will finally be presented.
During the two-day discussion, never seen visual, documentary, and verbal evidence will be seen and heard for the first time.
The representatives of 39 Turkish NGO initiatives, and parents of children and future generations, are concerned that virtually all the information about the tragic events of 1915 come from Armenian sources, and as such, the information presents a one-sided, and incomplete view of history.
In maximise the objectivity of the discussions, and present both sides of the story, the organizers approached numerous researchers from Armenian research centers or universities including 6 from the USA, 4 from Armenia, and one from Denmark , in addition to 5 historians that are well-known for their support of Armenian views in Turkey. Most of the invitees did not respond, and the 4 that did all declined. One of the responses cleary demonstrates the complete unwillingness to debate the subject:
”Principally, such a consideration of this historical fact as “War tragedy” in your letter rejects the fact of the genocide of Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire, although many Parliaments all over the world has legally recognized the fact of the genocide organized and committed in by the Ottoman government, and in some countries the rejection of this fact is prosecuted by the law”.
Unfortunately, the symposium will go ahead without the participation of representatives of the Armenian perspective. During the two-day symposium, 15 historians, academicians and journalists will present their specialized knowledge and experiences on the subject.
Prof.Dr.Türkkaya Ataöv will give a conference on the “Armenian Falsifications”. Dr. Birsen Karaca, associate professor of Russian and Armenian language and culture in Ankara University , will present
“Armenian Questions in the Armenian Mass Media”. Dr. Abdullah Kehale will also present his research findings on ‘Armenian Lobbying Activities in the USA.” Panel speakers will include Ambassadors Bilal Şimşir, Onur Öymen, Gündüz Aktan, and Sükrü Elekdağ, the President of the Turkish History Association Prof.Dr. Yusuf Halaçoğlu, lawyer Nazan Moroğlu, Prof.Dr.İlber Ortaylı, Prof. Dr. Ümit Özdağ and Prof. Dr. Norman Stone, from Koç University in İstanbul, all providing supporting historical documentation.
There will be a special segment in the symposium where the grandchildren of victims from Turkish provinces Erzurum, Erzincan and Van will speak of their grandparents memories. Ismail Gurcan, an eyewitness of the killing of hundreds of Turkish civilians by the Armenians, in what became known as the Alaca Village Massacres, when 600 defenseless villagers were locked into a barn which was set on fire, will be listened to via an audio recording. This grandfather will describe how his mother and seven siblings were murdered by Armenians. Journalist Eşref Uzundereli will display pictures taken in Van of mass graves. The DNA results of tests conducted on 500 Ottomans killed by the Armemains through shots to the head will be revealed for the first time. The execution of the Mayor of Bogaliyan who was found guilty of the death of Armenians and sentenced to death by the Ottoman Government will be described by his grandson.
The symposium will reveal visual and written historical evidence, numerous expert publications and books, and is an opportunity for the victims of the events to share their memories. In addition, there will be a section on the diplomats who were targets of the Armenian terrorist organisation ASALA.
The symposium will take place at the Macka campus of Istanbul Technical University, Mustafa Kemal Hall,
15- 16 December 2005
9:30 – 18:00
Simultaneous translation: Turkish and English.
Respond to NY Times article
Dear Editor NY Times,
We reviewed one of your latest articles on the so called “Armenian Genocide” and remarked the use of your language which is if not intentional it is irresponsible. Perhaps you may take some time to understand the complexity of the issue and the simple fact that 3 million Turks died in same time period and in the exact same geography as a result of a large scale war which included invading powers from afar such as Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Greece, and even Australian and New Zealender forces known as Anzacs.
Before implicating Turkey in a so called “genocide” remember that these forces helped murder 3 million Turks and other Muslim Ottoman peoples.
If Turkey is guilty of this alleged genocide then who is guilty for the death of above-mentioned 3 million people? Can we call it a ‘real’ Genocide of Turkish by those forces who invaded Anatolia and killed or helped kill its citizens all in a systematic way planned and directed by not only one government but many with only self interest in mind?
Should we then by all logical accounts demand an apology for the Genocide of Turks from Bosnia to Northern Iraq from 1915 to 1923?
To ensure that history is not repeated and to seriously take a lesson from the past, we must not look at history through a selective eye, but rather take it all in and realise we are a new generation understanding the ills we have all caused each other in the past and move into a new light, a new time of peace and understanding and not bigotry and ignorance. We can only make it happen if everyone, from a press member to an individual in the street, believes in it and works on it.
Please find below statement made in May 1985 to the U.S. Congress by 69 American academicians; the statement was also published in your newspaper on May 19 1985.
Finally another statement from the First Prime Minister of the Independent Armenian Republic; according to him there was not even massacres…Please read more below.
Sincerely,
Action Committee at ITSS
Your subject article:
Armenian-Turkish Dispute
By THE NEW YORK TIMES
Published: April 18, 2005
IZMIR, Turkey, April 17 – The Turkish State Archive on Sunday issued a list of more than 523,000 Turks it said were killed by Armenians in Turkey from 1910 to 1922.
The move seemed intended to counter the historical record of the
genocide committed by Ottoman Turks against Armenians in and around 1915.
Armenians plan to mark April 24 as the 90th anniversary of the start of the violence. Turkey is concerned that the issue could interfere with its plans to start talks with the European Union in October for possible membership. There have been growing calls from other countries for Turkey to acknowledge its role with regard to the Armenians.
Last week, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish
Parliament called for an international study of the events of that period.
THE STATEMENT MADE TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BY 69 AMERICAN ACADEMICIANS ON MAY, 19, 1985.
(also published in the New York Times and the Washington Post on
May,19,1985)
Attention Members Of The U.S. House Of Representatives
The undersigned American academicians who specialize in Turkish,
Ottoman and Middle Eastern Studies are concerned that the current
language embodied in House Joint Resolution 192 is misleading and/or inaccurate in several respects.
Specifically, while fully supporting the concept of a “National Day of Remembrance of Man’s Inhumanity to Man,” we respectfully take exception to that portion of the text which singles out for special recognition:
“. . . the one and one half million people of Armenian ancestry who were victims of genocide perpetrated in Turkey between 1915 and 1923 . . ..”
Our reservations focus on the use of the words “Turkey” and “genocide” and may be summarized as follows:
* From the fourteenth century until 1922, the area currently known as Turkey, or more correctly, the Republic of Turkey, was part of the territory encompassing the multinational, multi-religious state known as the Ottoman Empire. It is wrong to equate the Ottoman Empire with the Republic of Turkey in the same way that it is wrong to equate the Hapsburg Empire with the Republic of Austria. The Ottoman Empire, which was brought to an end in 1922, by the successful conclusion of the Turkish Revolution which established the present day Republic of Turkey in 1923, incorporated lands and people which today account for more than twenty-five distinct countries in Southeastern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, only one of which is the Republic of Turkey. The Republic of Turkey bears no responsibility for any events which occurred in Ottoman times, yet by naming ‘Turkey’ in the Resolution, its authors have implicitly labeled it as guilty of “genocide” it charges transpired between 1915 and 1923;
* As for the charge of “genocide,” no signatory of this statement
wishes to minimize the scope of Armenian suffering. We are likewise cognizant that it cannot be viewed as separate from the suffering experienced by the Muslim inhabitants of the region. The weight of evidence so far uncovered points in the direction of serious inter-communal warfare (perpetrated by Muslim and Christian irregular forces), complicated by disease, famine, suffering and massacres in Anatolia and adjoining areas during the First World War. Indeed, throughout the years in question, the region was the scene of more or less continuous warfare, not unlike the tragedy which has gone on in Lebanon for the past decade. The resulting death toll among both Muslim and Christian communities of the region was immense. But much more remains to be discovered before historians will be able to sort out precisely responsibility between warring and innocent, and to
identify the causes for the events which resulted in the death or
removal of large numbers of the eastern Anatolian population,
Christian and Muslim alike.
Statesmen and politicians make history, and scholars write it. For this process to work scholars must be given access to the written records of the statesmen and politicians of the past. To date, the relevant archives in the Soviet Union, Syria, Bulgaria and Turkey all remain, for the most part, closed to dispassionate historians. Until they become available, the history of the Ottoman Empire in the period encompassed by H.J. Res. 192 (1915-1923) cannot be adequately known.
We believe that the proper position for the United States Congress to take on this and related issues is to encourage full and open access to all historical archives and not to make charges on historical events before they are fully understood. Such charges as those contained H.J. Res. 192 would inevitably reflect unjustly upon the people of Turkey and perhaps set back irreparably progress historians are just now beginning to achieve in understanding these tragic events.
As the above comments illustrate, the history of the Ottoman-Armenians is much debated among scholars, many of whom do not agree with the historical assumptions embodied in the wording of H.J. Res. 192. By passing the resolution Congress will be attempting to determine by legislation which side of the historical question is correct. Such a resolution, based on historically questionable assumptions, can only damage the cause of honest historical inquiry, and damage the credibility of the American legislative process.
RIFAAT ABOU-EL-HAJ, Professor of History, California State University at Long Beach
RODERIC DAVISON, Professor of History, George Washington University
SARAH MOMENT ATIS, Professor of Turkish Language & Literature,
University of Wisconsin at Madison
WALTER DENNY, Professor of Art History Associate & Near Eastern
Studies ,University of Massachusetts
KARL BARBIR, Associate Professor of History, Siena College (New York)
DR. ALAN DUBEN, Anthropologist, Researcher, New York City
ILHAN BASGOZ, Director of the Turkish Studies Program at the
Department of Ural-Altaic Studies, Indiana University
ELLEN ERVIN, Research Assistant Professor of Turkish, New York
University
DANIEL G. BATES, Professor of Anthropology, Hunter College, City
University of New York
CAESAR FARAH, Professor of Islamic & Middle Eastern History,
University of Minnesota
ULKU BATES, Professor of Art History, Hunter College, City University of New York
CARTER FINDLEY, Associate Professor of History, The Ohio State
University
GUSTAV BAYERLE, Professor of Uralic & Altaic Studies, Indiana
University
MICHAEL FINEFROCK, Professor of History, College of Charleston
ANDREAS G. E. BODROGLIGETTI, Professor of Turkic & Iranian languages, University of California at Los Angeles
ALAN FISHER, Professor of History, Michigan State University
KATHLEEN BURRILL, Associate Professor of Turkish Studies, Columbia University
CORNELL FLEISCHER, Assistant Professor of History, Washington
University (Missouri)
TIMOTHY CHILDS, Professorial Lecturer at SAIS, Johns Hopkins
University
PETER GOLDEN, Professor of History, Rutgers University, Newark
SHAFIGA DAULET, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Connecticut
TOM GOODRICH, Professor of History, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
JUSTIN McCARTHY, Associate Professor of History, University of
Louisville
ANDREW COULD, Ph.D. in Ottoman History, Flagstaff, Arizona
JON MANDAVILLE, Professor of the History of the Middle East, Portland State University (Oregon)
MICHAEL MEEKER, Professor of Anthropology, University of California at San Diego
RHOADS MURPHEY, Assistant Professor of Middle Eastern Languages,
Cultures & History, Columbia University
THOMAS NAFF, Professor of History & Director, Middle East Research Institute University of Pennsylvania
PIERRE OBERLING, Professor of History, Hunter College of the City
University of New York
WILLIAM OCHSENWALD, Associate Professor of History, Virginia
Polytechnic Institute
ROBERT OLSON, Associate Professor of History, University of Kentucky
WILLIAM PEACHY, Assistant Professor of the Judaic, Near Eastern
Languages & Literatures, The Ohio State University
DONALD QUATAERT, Associate Professor of History, University of Houston
HOWARD REED, Professor of History, University of Connecticut
WILLIAM GRISWOLD, Professor of History, Colorado State University
TIBOR HALASI-KUN, Professor Emeritus of Turkish Studies, Columbia
University
WILLIAM HICKMAN, Associate Professor of Turkish, University of
California, Berkeley
J. C. HUREWITZ, Professor of Government, Emeritus Former Director of the Middle East Institute (1971-1984), Columbia University
JOHN HYMES, Professor of History, Glenville State College, West
Virginia
HALIL INALCIK University Professor of Ottoman History, Member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, University of Chicago
RALPH JAECKEL, Visiting Assistant Professor of Turkish, University of California at Los Angeles
RONALD JENNINGS, Associate Professor of History & Asian Studies,
University of Illinois
JAMES KELLY, Associate Professor of Turkish, University of Utah
KERIM KEY, Adjunct Professor, Southeastern University, Washington, D.C.
DANKWART RUSTOW, Distinguished University Professor of Political
Science, City University, Graduate School, New York
ELAINE SMITH, Ph.D. in Turkish History, Retired Foreign Service
Officer, Washington, D•C•
STANFORD SHAW, Professor of History, University of California at Los Angeles
EZEL KURAL SHAW, Associate Professor of History, California State
University, Northridge
METIN KUNT, Professor of Ottoman History, New York City
FREDERICK LATIMER, Associate Professor of History Retired, University of Utah
AVIGDOR LEVY, Professor of History, Brandeis University
BERNARD LEWIS, Cleveland E. Dodge Professor of Near Eastern History, Princeton University
DR. HEATH W. LOWRY, Institute of Turkish Studies Inc. , Washington, D.C.
GRACE M. SMITH, Visiting Lecturer in Turkish, University of California at Berkeley
JOHN MASSON SMITH, JR. , Professor of History, University of
California at Berkeley
DR. SVAT SOUCEK, Turcologist, New York City
ROBERT STAAB, Assistant Director of the Middle East Center, University of Utah
JUNE STARR, Associate Professor of Anthropology, SUNY Stony Brook
JAMES STEWART-ROBINSON, Professor of Turkish Studies, University of Michigan
DR. PHILIP STODDARD, Executive Director, Middle East Institute,
Washington, D.C.
FRANK TACHAU, Professor of Political Science, University of Illinois at Chicago
METIN TAMKOC, Professor of International Law and Regulations, Texas Tech University
DAVID THOMAS, Associate Professor of History, Rhode Island College
MARGARET L. VENZKE, Assistant Professor of History, Dickinson College (Pennsylvania)
WARREN S. WALKER, Home Professor of English & Director of the Archive of Turkish Oral Narrative, Texas Tech University
DONALD WEBSTER, Professor of Turkish History, Retired
WALTER WEIKER, Professor of Political Science, Rutgers University
JOHN WOODS, Associate Professor of Middle Eastern History, University of Chicago
MADELINE ZILFI, Associate Professor of History, University of Maryland
—–
Statement of the First Prime Minister of The Republic of Armenia; He says there was not even massacre, let alone genocide..
“The war with us was inevitable… We had not done all that was necessary for us to have done to evade war. We ought to have used peaceful language with the Turks…We had no information about the real strength of the Turks and relied on ours. This was the fundamental error. We were not afraid of war because we thought we could win. Our army was well fed and well armed and [clothed] but it did not fight. The troops were constantly retreating and deserting their positions; they threw away their arms and dispersed in the villages. …In spite of the fact that the Armenians had better material and better support, their armies lost……the advancing Turks fought only against the regular soldiers; they did not carry the battle to the civilian sector ….the Turkish soldiers were well-disciplined and there were not any massacres.
The Manifesto of Hovhannes Katchaznouni,
First Prime Minister of the Independent Armenian Republic
Published by the Armenian Information Service Suite 7D, 471 Park Ave.
New York 22 – 1955
Respond to Resolution in German Federal Assembly on Turkish-Armenian Relations
June 2005
A ‘hard to understand’ resolution is accepted in the Federal Assembly of Germany. The resolution accuses Turkiye of the deaths of Armenians during WW1; it does not directly observe the 1915 incidents as genocide, however mentions that Germany has to remember the Armenian victims with respect and accept her responsibility with the incidents. The resolution says Germany should contribute to better relations between Turkish and Armenian, and has to remember the Armenian victims.
On Sunday June 19th in Berlin, there was a protest march started from Adanaerplatz and ended at Gaechtniskirche where about 1500 joined. According to various resources like RBB (local station, Berlin-Brandenburg Radio and Television), der Tagesspiegel and Berliner Zeitung, the protest was all peaceful and the Turks were against defamation of their identity thru such resolutions; some signs were reading “peace instead of hate”, “parliaments are not courts”, “it was not genocide but deportation”, etc.
Such protests and our responds are all against such recent developments in order to invite all parties to be fair and approach such a sensitive issue with common sense and objectivity; at least first learning some history. Otherwise there will be no winners; everyone will lose and the damages will be irrevocable for many years to come. The objective of the politicians and the parliaments have to be to lead their societies towards more peaceful and close relations not only within themselves but also towards other societies, and finally achieve to leave next generations a world with free of hate but full of trust and love to each others.
Our thanks to Germany to think of bettering relations between the two societies. Apparently they were unable to think of another way to do this. In such a resolution Germany had to mention her responsibility not only with Armenian deaths but also with the deaths of Ottomans, Muslims and many others with different ethnics and religions who were living in peace but had to go to war fronts and lost their lives and beloveds during those years. Who is responsible from the killed women and children in their villages while their husbands, dads and brothers were at the war fronts? Is it not worth to remember them? Our dissappointment is because we would expect a better way of helping the two communities rather than offering such an unfair resolution with false arguments. We remember them all whoever suffered during those times, not only one spesific group. We feel that remembering only some deaths and totally disregarding all the rest along with some facts of the time, needs serious attention and such an act has to be fixed as soon as possible before it causes further damage.
If so much interested in contributing relations between Turkish and other communities then we here suggest to produce another resolution that would better strengthen the relations of two communities with 100% productivity: Turkish and Jewish. The resolution should remember the Turkish diplomats during WW2, only 60 years ago. Without the Turkish diplomats, Germany would be responsible from more deaths! While all the world was just watching, Turkish diplomats saved many lives from going to concentration camps. One Turkish diplomat got on the same train with Jews going to death camps, whereas another Turkish diplomat’s house was bombed by Germans that killed the pregnant wife of the diplomat (we wonder if any member of the German Assembly know about this? If yes could you please express apology, regret, remembrance? If not why? If you don’t know about it which was only 60 years ago, how come you can make reliable judgements about 1915 which was far before 1945? You can not remember 1945 but 1915?) Diplomat Ulkumen was unable to save his own family but many others (http://www.byegm.gov.tr/YAYINLARIMIZ/newspot/2003/july-aug/n6.htm). Why not a resolution remembering these brave diplomats, their heroism? Every single country has to remember these heroisms..not only the German Parliament..The younger generations have to take their lessons from such stories, not from falsified ones.
Another resolution could be offered to remember the key role of Turkish workers in re-building Germany’s shattered industry after WW2.
Or maybe another resolution that would be offered to all European parliaments to remember the past sorrows and show our respect to all those who died -regardless of their background, religion, identity- during WW1 and WW2, without mentioning in the resolution the responsible parties who caused all these sorrows! We strongly believe that the younger generations will achieve to share the good and bad experiences of their history and will embrace their common future in love and togethership without allowing anything to stop them, even their own parliamentarians’ efforts.
Germany achieved to have Ottomans’ cooperation and Ottomans entered the war on Germany’s side at the WW1. Years later acting in 180 degrees opposite way and apparently without throughly studying the subject but blaming an ally -the Ottomans- for the happenings of the same time period do not really sound nice and consistent to us. Asking Republic of Turkey, that was founded as a brand new country in 1923, to accept all responsibility of the 1915 sounds even more inconsistent. Such attemtps have to be carefully analyzed by everyone from any background; only by doing so we can better move to the future and ensure more peaceful relations among many societies on this world.
It is an excellent and humanistic move to try to help improve the relations between people. And that’s why we express our thanks and gratitude to Germany for such initiatives and this has to be a model to many other countries. However, such attempts have to be done with extreme sensitivity, extreme care, detailed research. If so much interested with such resolutions, including ourselves and our offers above, we must all study the subject carefully, be extremely fair, extremely objective and a little bit understanding, instead of unfairly digging the sorrow-full pages of the history.
Please accept our apologies for reminding you the sad experiences many lived in the past. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.
ITSS
=======================================
JETZT REICHT`S !
WIR PROTESTIEREN
gegen einseitige Berichterstattung und Darstellung der
Ereignisse in 1915 zwischen Armeniern und Muslimen im Osmanischen
Reich.
Sowohl in den Medien als auch im Deutschen Bundestag findet die
Bewertung von internationalen und türkischen Historikern keine
Erwähnung, wenn sie sich in Gegenposition zum jahrzehntelang von der
armenischen Diaspora erarbeiteten, mit Hass- und Rachegefühlen
verfestigten antitürkischen Standpunkt stellen. Lediglich die Aussagen
des türkischen Botschafters werden als Auslegung der türkischen Seite
zitiert und somit der Öffentlichkeit suggeriert, der türkische
Staatsapparat stehe ganz allein mit ihrer Einstellung zu den
Ereignissen. Uns verwundert die Ignoranz der Medien und Politiker in
diesem Zusammenhang. Uns verwundert das Verschweigen der Tatsache, dass die Öffentlichkeitsarbeit der armenischen Diaspora in den sechziger Jahren angefangen hat, dass eine unter anderem von der armenischen Diaspora finanzierte Terrorgruppe (ASALA) Dutzende
türkische Diplomaten in den siebziger und achtziger Jahren kaltblütig
ermordet hat, dass das heutige Armenien seit Jahren gegen UN-
Konventionen verstößt und weiterhin Teile von Aserbaidschan besetzt
hält, dass bei der Besetzung (von der UNO festgestellte) Massaker an
der aserbaidschanischen Bevölkerung mit Tausenden von Toten und
Verstümmelten verübt worden sind. Das türkische Volk bedauert
zutiefst alle Menschen, seien es Armenier, Türken oder andere, die den
machtpolitischen Interessen der Großmächte geopfert wurden. Wir
Türken und türkischstämmigen Deutschen sind uns aber auch einig, dass
wir uns nicht den machtpolitischen Interessen von heute beugen werden.
Wir werden gegen Meinungsmanipulation und Geschichtsverfälschung mit
allen uns nicht vorenthaltenen demokratischen Mitteln kämpfen. Wir
werden mit allen legitimen Mitteln gegen die Anmaßung kämpfen,
internationale Gerichtshöfe zu umgehen, die allein über Schuld und
Unschuld über ein Völkermord urteilen können. Wir fordern
öffentlichkeitswirksame Foren, wo auch die Gegenposition zur
Völkermord-These mit Belegen dem öffentlichen Publikum zugänglich
gemacht werden kann. Politische Foren, wo Briefe und Zeitungsartikel
mit Berichten von deutschen Offizieren, Diplomaten und Missionaren,
die diese These eindeutig widerlegen, vorgetragen werden können;
Foren, wo über diese Thesen diskutiert werden kann.
WIR PROTESTIEREN
gegen Geschichtsverfälschung und einseitige Meinungsmache.
Seit Jahrzehnten werden von der armenischen Diaspora die Ereignisse
von 1915 im Osmanischen Reich vor der Weltöffentlichkeit in
einseitiger Betrachtungsweise mit Mitteln der Manipulation
ausgebreitet. Diese These, die den Hergang des Konflikts wissentlich
verschweigt, der aber für die Bewertung entscheidend ist, ob es sich
um die systematische Vernichtung der armenischen Bevölkerung handelt,
wird als einzig wahre Geschichte dargestellt. Viele deutsche,
österreichische, russische, amerikanische, türkische und armenische
Quellen belegen unwiderlegbar den Aufstand von Armeniern lange vor der Zwangsumsiedlung. Sie belegen die Gegenposition zur Völkermord-These.
Sie belegen, wie sich die Ereignisse mitten im Ersten Weltkrieg zu
dieser Tragödie entwickelt hatten. Es kann von einer beabsichtigten,
geplanten Verfolgung und Vernichtung des armenischen Volkes aus
rassistischen, religiösen oder nationalistischen Gründen nicht
gesprochen werden. Die Geschichte des Osmanischen Reiches widerlegt dieses anhand von vielen Beispielen, wo Völker sich dem Schutz dieses Reiches unterstellt haben. Gar einen Vergleich zum von langer Hand geplanten und industriell organisierten Holocaust an den europäischen Juden zu ziehen, wäre eine große Beleidigung des jüdischen Volkes.
Wir protestieren in diesem Zusammenhang auch gegen Versuche, diese
Tragödie als Wegweiser zu den nationalsozialistischen Gräueltaten zu
deuten und damit diesen einen Vorwand zur Schulderleichterung zu geben.
JETZT REICHT`S !
Es ist ein vierzigjähriges Ziel der armenischen Diaspora, Parlamente
und Regierungen für ihre Zwecke zu instrumentalisieren, mit
Beschlüssen und gar Gesetzen einen angeblichen “Völkermord” an der
armenischen Bevölkerung im Osmanischen Reich im Jahre 1915 zu
manifestieren, Jahre vor Ausrufung der Türkischen Republik. Das Ziel
ist nicht nur die moralische Verurteilung der Türkei zu erreichen. Es
sollen später auch Schadenersatzansprüche hieraus abgeleitet werden.
Armenien erkennt die bestehenden Grenzen zur Türkei ebenso nicht an,
wie es auch zum Ende des 20. Jahrhunderts die Grenzen zu Aserbaidschan nicht anerkannt und Teile davon kriegerisch besetzt hat. Wir fordern den Bundestag und seine Abgeordneten auf, die auch mit Stimmen von türkischstämmigen Wählern gewählt wurden, zukünftig die Interessen und Empfindungen von nahezu 2,8 Millionen Menschen dieses Landes zu berücksichtigen und Ihre Pflicht, jede Provokation gegen das friedliche Zusammenleben aller Bürger zu bekämpfen, einzulösen.
Berlin, 19. Juni 2005
V.i,S.d.P.: Türkische Gemeinde zu Berlin e.V.
A letter to non-Turkish participants of the so-called Armenian Genocide seminars
Stay alert!
Dear Friend,
Are you someone who is pushed to judge by force? You are not aware of that but maybe you are. Force meaning abusing the natural character of an average human being and psychologically injecting some arguments in a way that the judgment is already an approved one which is not even allowed to debate on by the owners of the argument. Stay alert, don’t let yourself brainwashed…
Don’t let them abuse your humane values and judgment; analyze, search, ask, discover…Before you judge: make sure there is no blanks left to fill in; make sure you were objective; make sure you listened to all parties and thoroughly observed everyone’s standpoint; and make sure you did whatever you could, not to become a contributing part of the game created to defame a whole nation for various purposes that have no benefit to you, but to those who have created this campaign.
Show them that you are cleverer than they think and you are an analyst, you are an inquisitive, you are a fair player, you are peace maker, and, you are intellectual. Don’t just go with the figures and arguments they are trying to inject to your brains…Investigate! Listen to what 69 American academicians stated to U.S. Congress in 1985; search what Gunter Lewy argues; check on historian Justin McCharty’s researches; take a look at the documentary called ‘Armenian Revolt’ produced by Marty Callaghan of Third Coast Films; try to understand what Sam Weems, former District Attorney and Judge from Arkansas, was arguing in his book which he wrote before he passed away in 2003.
We are not only trying to stop defamation of our past and identity, but also trying to help you have a broader and stronger understanding of the issue. We believe that defaming and feeding hatred against a person or a community, and passing these thru generations, is a major obstacle to enhance global peace. We are not saying that the past and the sad experiences have to be forgotten; but we are inviting you all to be fair, smart, and comprehensive if dealing with such sensitive matters. Only then we can learn from each other, complete each other and learn our lessons to really prevent similar troubles in the future.
Thank you for your close attention and sensitivity.
They say that the Turkish archives are closed. Absolutely not!
Turkish archives along with the Ottoman archives are all open and available to researchers. We have been saying that a comprehensive study of all archives in Turkiye, Armenia, Russia, Britain, France and other countries who were involved is a MUST. We are all open with all our heart and yet have been accused of hiding something. We are not! But some others do…
They say that the Turks escape from their past and don’t want to face it. Absolutely not!
We are always ready to discuss and face the facts; including some facts like the armies of British, French, Italian, Russian, Greek, Australian, New Zealander, Arabs, and colonial powers attacked the Ottomans in a well-written systematic way with all details considered. While Armenians were cooperating with the invading powers and hitting the Ottoman army from the back, killing innocent civilians; the other inhabitants and citizens of the 700 years old Ottomans gave a liberation war together which led to establishment of the Republic of Turkiye. A brand new nation and Republic was born with a unique national motto: ‘Peace at home, Peace in the World’. That is because of this motto that we prefer not to remember all these hostilities, and face them as they may have negative impact on strengthening peaceful relations among new generations.
We have to remind you all that during these difficult war times millions of people died or resettled; we are ready to do our part in analyzing every single detail and examine who were responsible from all these, what stand point each party had, what kind of expectations they were carrying.
