TANER AKCAN: IT IS NOT EASY FOR A NATION TO ADMIT THAT ITS NATIONAL HEROES WERE CRIMINALS AND LIARS
arminfo
2008-04-18 14:41:00
ArmInfo. The book ‘A Shameful Act – Armenian Genocide and the Question
of Turkish Responsibility’ by Turkish writer Taner Akcan was presented
in the former building of the Greek Parliament in the Athens.
Armenian Foreign Ministry press-service told ArmInfo the book contains
Turkish facts on Genocide of Armenians in 1915 in Ottoman Turkey.
The source reports the book was published and translated into
Greek in cooperation with HayDat Commission in Greece and Papazisis
Publishers. The author Taner Akcam, Greek parliamentarian Evangelos
Venizelos and Pandio University Professor Marios Evriviats spoke at the
presentation ceremony. In his speech, Turkish writer in particular said
he was often asked why Turkey denies Genocide of Armenia and whether
it takes such a stance not to face the necessity of compensation? The
author believes that Turkey denies Genocide only for moral reasons
since every nation has its heroes and leaders building the nation. It
is often very difficult to realize the lacks of these heroes and
admit that they were criminals and liars. Descent of national heroes
may have irreversible effect.
Armenian Ambassador to Greece Vahram Kazhoyan, Greek parliamentarians
and local Armenian community representatives participated in the
presentation ceremony. The book was presented also in Saloniki.