Turkish opposition leader denies Armenian genocide claims

Anatolia news agency
15 Mar 05

ANKARA

[Opposition] Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal has
stated today (Tuesday [15 March]) that CHP expects the Turkish
government to launch an initiative in the parliament this week on the
Armenian allegations. “Unfortunate and sad incidents took place in
both sides. Yet describing such incidents as ‘genocide’ is a big lie
that would deeply hurt our nation and its friends. Claiming that a
‘genocide’ took place is an unjust allegation and must get the
appropriate legal, political, cultural and social response,” stressed
Baykal.

Baykal indicated that a planned move to exterminate a single ethnic
group during the Ottoman era never took place. “Just look at the
Ottoman archives. During the period when Armenians claim that a
‘genocide’ took place, historians note that there were Armenian
ambassadors, bureaucrats and advisers to the Ottoman Sultan. The fact
is that a portion of the Armenians got re-located due to the ongoing
war against Russia during which some died due to famine, poverty,
hunger and poor health conditions. Armenian bandits allied with the
Russians massacred hundreds of innocent Muslim Ottomans in eastern
Anatolia. There was a re-location due to war but absolutely no
genocide. If we want to talk about ‘genocides’ how about elaborating
on the transfer of thousands of Tatars from Crimea to Siberia during
World War II…? [ellipses as received]