AZG Armenian Daily #067, 15/04/2005
Armenian Genocide
ERDOGAN OFFERS KOCHARIAN TO CREATE ‘COMMITTEE FOR HISTORIC FACT RESEARCH’
Special Sitting at Turkish Parliament on ‘Armenian Allegations’
On April 13, the issue of the Armenian Genocide was discussed at the Turkish
parliament. Two resolutions “On the Armenian Allegations” were submitted to
the parliament. The first is “On Creating National Objective and
Unprejudiced Historical Relations between the Turks and the Armenians,”
submitted by Ramazan Toprak, member of Justice and Prosperity party. While
the second resolution is “On Finding Facts against the Armenian Statements
on the Armenian Genocide” submitted by Ali Topuz, member of the Republican
Democrat Party.
Ara Kochunian, editor-in-chief of Istanbul-based Armenian Zhamanak
newspaper, said in the interview to Azg that the chairman of the sitting
united these two resolutions, after which discussion was unfolded. Abdullah
Gul, Turkish deputy PM and foreign minister, held speech on behalf of the
government.
Ara Kochunian informed that Gul emphasized “the importance of unfolding a
united struggle against the Armenian accusations.” “Turkey is ready to face
its history. We will not allow to play upon the wounds of the past,” he said
and added that they should begin a struggle in the external world to reveal
the truth.
Gul said that till now Turkey was on defensive and carried out no “archive
works” against “the Armenian allegations.” The foreign minister stated that
“there are lies among the Armenian statements, exaggerations, false
accusations and violations,” adding that the Armenians “will unfold many
anti-Turkish activities” in connection with 90th anniversary.
Kochunian stated that the press conference of Vartan Oskanian, RA foreign
minister, that “most likely coincided with the discussions at the Turkish
parliament” aroused large-scale interest in Turkey. Vartan Oskanian said
during the press conference: “Turkey tries to reconsider its history without
any shame.”
Besides, Kochunian informed that the General Chairmanship of Turkish
Officers held a press conference and announced that they are going to open
the archives on the Armenian events. These archives are expected to be
published in two volumes, soon.
The site of the Turkish NTV posted an extract from the speech of Abdullah
Gul, acceding to which “Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish prime minister,
applied with a letter to Robert Kocharian, RA President, suggesting to
create a committee of the Armenian and the Turkish Parliamentarians, in
order to study the historical facts. If Armenia wants to have natural
relations with Turkey, Kocharian should immediately response to the letter
of Erdogan.”
Victor Soghomonian, press speaker of RA president, informed in the interview
to Azg that “the president’s staff hasn’t received any letter of the like.”
It was expected that a letter concerning “the Armenian Allegations” and “The
Blue Book” should be prepared and sent to the Great Britain. It’s worth
mentioning that the Armenian Genocide of 1915 was characterized as “a
massacre of a whole nation” in the book published during the years of the
World War I.
Anatolu agency published a statement on April 13, according to which, PM
Erdogan and Baykal, leader of the Republican Democrat Party signed the
letter addressed to the government of the Great Britain. In particular, the
letter demands from the British government to give explanations concerning
“The Blue Book” to the publicity. It is also demanded in the letter that the
Great Britain should announce that the book was published for propaganda.
It’s worth mentioning that the book was published by the British Military
Ministry at the Wellington House publishing house.
By Tatoul Hakobian