TURKISH INTELLECTUALS SAY GENOCIDE IS THEIR PAIN

news.am
April 20 2010
Armenia

Renowned Turkish intellectuals urged to get together in Istanbul and
mourn for 1915 victims on April 24 (Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day).

The statement reads: "In 1915 Turkish population was estimated at
13 million with 1.5-2 million Armenians in Frakia, Aegean Region,
Adana, Malatya, Van, Kars, Samatya, Sisli and other places. They
were our friends from the blocks: our tailors, jewelers, shoemakers,
millers, classmates, teachers, officers, soldiers, MPs, historians and
composers. They were our akin neighbors, facing same challenges as we
did. They were displaced since April 24, 1915 and we lost them. They
are no more with us. The majority is gone, not even their grave sites
are known. But our heart sores for 95 years for that pain and great
catastrophe. We call on all Turks feeling this pain deep in the heart
to pay tribute to 1915 victims, wearing black, silent and with lighted
candles and flowers. As this pain is OUR pain. This is our sorrow. So
we meet April 24 at 7:00 p.m. local time in Taksim square of Istanbul."

The statement was signed by Turkish intellectual Baskin Oran, lawyer
Fethiye Cetin, historian — Nese Duze, Chairman of Human Rights
Association Ozturk Turkdogan, Turkish MP Ufuk Uras and others.