Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 26 2008

Turkish historian: `No genocide was committed on April 24, only 556
Armenian terrorists were arrested’

[ 26 Apr 2008 16:04 ]

Ankara. Mais Alizadeh-APA. Head of the Armenian studies unit of
Turkish Institute of History, Professor Kamal Chichek’s interview with
APA.

-On May 27, 1915 Interior Minister Talat Pasha signed resolution on
the movement of Armenians to other areas for prevention of their
treason against Ottoman Empire. Why Armenians mourn April 24 every
year?
-The historic documents show that the resolution on the Armenian
movement was signed not on April 24. On that day leaders of Armenian
gangs, who committed treason against Ottoman Empire were arrested and
sent to the Chankir and Ayash prisons near Ankara. 235 leaders of
Armenian terrorist gangs were arrested in Istanbul and 321 arrested in
other provinces on April 24. One of them well-known terrorist Komitas
was released 13 days later and interior ministry allowed him to leave
for Vienna and later he died in Paris. We have the historic documents,
which show that 556 Armenian gang leaders were arrested, but some
foreign historians lie that 2500 were arrested and most of them were
executed. The arrested terrorists were accompanied by 75 police
officers on their way to prison for their security. Most of the
arrested persons were allowed to walk in the city and to visit police
office for confirmation of their presences. If the history of April 24
contains these facts, why Armenians mourned it as a day of so-called
genocide? It is a scenario written by Vahakin Dadriyan. He wrote that
1915 events should meet the UN `Genocide Convention’ adopted in 1948.
Ottoman Empire declared mobilization in August, 1914 and Armenians
were also involved in the Army. Therefore more Armenian gangs remained
without their leaders. According to the second part of Dadriyan’s
scenario, Armenians’ legs were broken when their leaders were arrested
and after the May 27 resolution of movement the defenseless Armenians
took the way of death. Were the people arrested on April 24 innocent?
No, they were members and leaders of `Dashnak’, `Hnchak’, `Ramgavar’
and other terrorist organizations. A lot of weapons were confiscated
in their places. They were rebels against the war-involved country and
Ottoman Empire like every country undertook preventive measures. They
were not killed after the arresting. They were taken to prisons under
the strong control and 55 of them were released in a short time. 57
persons were deported and many of them exiled to other cities. The
Government aimed not to kill the gang members and leaders, but to make
them passive. For that Armenians symbolically mourn on April 24.
– Prime Minister Erdogan sent a letter to Armenian president Robert
Kocharyan on May 8, 2005 and suggested to establish joint commission
for researching of historical realities, but he didn’t receive
positive respond. Do Armenians refuse to establish the joint
commission because they know that they falsified the historical
realities?
-Yes, they know. Kocharyan said in his respond that `they cannot
accept this suggestion, which opens discussions on the `Armenian
genocide’ and as it was a historical reality, it couldn’t be
discussed’. Kocharyan intended to establish intergovernmental
commission, but not the commission of historians. In fact the events
turn into history and Kocharyan intended to politicize the issue.
Armenia said it intended to improve relations with Turkey. Armenia,
which occupied the lands of our Azerbaijani brothers, has no right to
make a condition before Turkey. Only Turkey can make the conditions.
Our main demand is the withdrawal of Armenian forces from the occupied
Azerbaijani lands. Unfortunately no country except Turkey makes remark
for Armenia, which occupied Azerbaijani lands. All over the world
imposed sanctions against Saddam Huseyn because he occupied
Kuwait. The world countries should impose embargo against Armenia
too. If Armenia intends to be our friend, it should leave history for
historians and recognize our borders ` it is our other demands.
Armenian should leave their claims for recognition of so-called
`genocide’ and Anatolian lands. It is unserious policy.