ZARAQOLU: 1915 HAS DEEP ROOTS THAT STIPULATE TURKISH DENIALISM
By Hakob Chakrian

AZG Armenian Daily #156, 02/09/2005

Turkey

The hubbub in Turkish society over the decision of the Bosphorus
University of Istanbul to hold “The Ottoman Armenians at the
Decline of the Empire” workshop postponed because of the state
authorities’ opposition is as great as it was while postponing the
workshop. Interestingly, the initiative of holding the workshop came
from Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who personal asked
Prof. Ayse Soysal of Bosphorus University about it.

Though the uproar poses the organizers to attacks and stirs
anti-Armenian moods, it still contributes to unearthing the issue of
the Armenian Genocide in Turkish reality and to revealing all bareness
of Turkish denialism. This is happening thanks to tenacious Turkish
scientists. One of such is Ragep Zaraqolu. Akos Armenian newspaper
of Istanbul published in its July 8 issue the article of Zaraqolu
titled “1915 has its deep roots” that was previously published in
Zaraqolu’s Uzun Yuruyus magazine in spring. To prove the historicity
of the Armenian Genocide, the author bares the hidden reasons why
the Turkish Republic takes a firm hold of denialism.

Here is what Zaraqolu writes: “There is an impression that the
tragedy will not look that horrifying, everybody will come down and
the elimination of a whole people will be seen as something natural
once the term ‘genocide’ is eschewed.

“If it is not so, what’s the point of sticking to disgusting
denialism? The point is, of course, distortion of the issue and
prevention of discussions over the essence of the things, over the
scale events and over the historic continuance. But there is one
more point to be mentioned, it is the tendency of keeping the truths
concerning the foundation of Turkish Republic under wraps.

“The state does not want the names of those who occupied high positions
in the mechanism that organized mass killings of the Armenians
come into light. It is attempting to keep this sphere sealed
off. Everything is being done to erase the period from 1915 till
the republic from memory. Those doing the opposite are immediately
accused of dishonoring the republic created by “heroic efforts” and
“honest” purposes. Yet, without examining the official ideology it
is impossible to create a democratic state.

“If you take a look at the group photo shot on occasion of opening the
session of the Turkish National Assembly in 1936, you will notice two
officials right behind the president (Ataturk) who occupied important
posts in 1915. One of them, Mustafa Helik Renda, was the chairman
of the National Assembly in 1936. The second figure was Mustafa
Abdulhalik who was the governor of Bitlis in 1915. I played major
role in uprooting Armenians from Bitlis and Mush. Then he tracked
down those who miraculously escaped to Syrian deserts and killed
them. Abdulhalik was meanwhile one of the chief advisers of Taleat.

“It was greatly thanks to his efforts that Ismet pasha was elected
president after Ataturk’s death. The first thing Ismet pasha did
was granting pardon to members of Ittihat Party and making part of
the authority. In 1943, he signed an agreement with Nazi Germany to
convey remains of Taleat pasha to Turkey.

“Suqru Qajan, interior minister, is another political figure form
the 1936 photo. He was the chief coordinator of the Armenians’
deportation, i.e. annihilation. Qajan, secretary general of People’s
Republican Party in 1927-38, rebuilt the party a la Italian fascistic
organization.

“Prof. Tevfik Salim, rector of Istanbul University in 1943-46, was a
military doctor in 1915. According to a letter published in Alemdar
newspaper on 1919, he carried out medical experiments on Armenian
soldiers injecting them a virus of typhoid. A clinic at the Istanbul
University bearing his name still functions today.

“One of the regions of Van province is named after Qyazm Ozalp,
chairman of the National Assembly in 1924-35. He was elected deputy
from the province of Van. Yet, he also was a member of Ittihat ve
Terakki Party and the commander of the 36th platoon that cleared Mush
off Armenian soldiers. Nurin, brother Enver pasha who quenched the
Commune of Baku in 1918 slaughtering local Armenians, used to trade in
drugs with Germany during the WW II. In 1945, he disappeared together
with his factory of weapons.

“As you can see, events go as deep as the year of 1915. Perhaps that’s
the reason why discussion of such issues is cut immediately.”