UNESCO CENSORSHIP ON OTTOMAN ARCHIVE CRITICIZED
By Mukremin Albayrak, Serbest Ozden, Istanbul
Zaman Online, Turkey
June 13 2006
Historians showed harsh reaction to United Nations Educational
Scientific and Cultural Education, UNESCO for censoring documents in
the exhibition of Ottoman Archives scheduled to be held in France’s
capital Paris.
Emphasizing that the attitude of UNESCO does not agree with its
real mission or historical realities, the historians supported the
ministry’s cancellation of the exhibition.
Terming the events as “a shame”, Turkish Institute of History (TTK)
President Professor Yusuf Halacoglu said, “It is nonsense for an
organization required to be effective on cultural dialogue and union
to strive to ban some documents.”
Reporting that the ones intervening with the exhibition continuously
called for freedom of expression and limitation of information,
Halacoglu continued: “Turkey acted in good faith to solve the Armenian
genocide. The cases never refer to science or honesty anymore. There
are some letters, which Armenians forwarded to the Ottoman Empire
from America and Canada to ask for help. We are face to face with
such a big shame.”
Said Ozturk from the Foundation of Ottoman Researches designated
the UNESCO’s request for a change on the historical documents as
sorrowful. It is of concern to sovereignty, Ozturk warned, “You will
accept the exhibition or refuse it.”