ARMENIANS COMMEMORATE OTTOMAN EMPIRE MASSACRES
Radio Free Europe, Czech Rep.
April 24 2006
Victims of the Ottoman-era deportation and killing of ethnic Armenians
(file photo) (epa) April 24, 2006 — Armenians around the world are
expected today to take part in events held each year to honor the
victims of killings by Ottoman Turks between 1915 and 1923.
Armenians believe 1.5 million Armenians were systematically killed
in an act of genocide by the Ottoman Turks.
While more than 20 countries now officially describe the killings as
genocide, the present-day Turkish government rejects use of the term
genocide, saying the deaths were the result of the turmoil of war. It
puts the number of dead at several hundred thousand, with most dying
from hunger and illness when they were deported to another part of
the empire.