ARMENIAN HISTORIANS REJECT DIOLAGUE OPPORTUNITY AGAIN

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
March 15 2006

ISTANBUL – A scientific conference devoted to the Armenian Issue
started in Istanbul on 15 April 2006. The Istanbul University initiated
the conference. However all Armenian historians refused to participate
the conference.

According to the Turkish scientists, the conference should “throw
light on some problems referring to the Armenian issue”, Freedom
Radio Station reports.

Historians and experts from Armenia also were invited to the
conference; however, they refused to participate in the action.

“We received an invitation and turned down the proposal. The Armenian
scientists’ stand is the following: any scientific measure that casts
doubt on the fact of the Genocide is far from science, while a number
of the participants of the scientific conference at the Istanbul
University distort the historic realities”, stated Chief of Turkish
Department of the Institute of History of National Academy of Science
Ruben Safrastyan.

Dr. Davut Sahiner told the TW that the Armenian historians were not
historians but believers: “They reject to join any scientific gathering
questining their obsessions. If you accept their claims, so you are
scientific, if you question what they argue, so you are the evil,
you are the deniers. This is not the way we need in the issue”.

Many Turkish and foreign historians and international relations experts
including Dr. Sedat Laciner, head of the ISRO, will make presentation
on Armenians and Armenian issue.