“Peace at home, Peace in the World”

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

 

Q & A on

the so-called Armenian Genocide

 

April 2005

 

We are aware that further research and study are necessary for further clarification of the issue and for everybody’s sake. However, it is not fair at all to obstinately insist Republic of Turkiye, Turkish community and international community to acknowledge the incidents as genocide.

 

Please be informed that we have no intention of defaming any society or people from any background. However, the point where we are today is unacceptable. Turkish society has been continuously accused at various platforms at various times of genocide to Armenians during First World War. A war during which Ottomans were fighting at many fronts against the armies of British, French, Italian, Greek, Australian and Russian. Those who had been living in peace and harmony under the Ottoman Empire for centuries were fighting together regardless of their ethnic background to defend their lands and finally establish Republic of Turkiye, whereas some Armenians preferred to join Russian forces during the war and continued their crimes by murdering innocents and fighting a bloody war against friends and neighbors.

 

We deeply apologize from any individuals or people whom are reminded of the tragedy of such sad experiences as millions were affected. However, we expect your understanding in this matter considering Turkish and international community have been overwhelmingly and unfairly disturbed so much with this issue which shelters countless tragic stories from all sides. Regardless of our backgrounds, we all have to manage to stand still with strength and be able to achieve to move on with peace, respect and love! Time to make a difference…

 

 

 

Q1. What did the first Armenian Prime Minister of Armenia say concerning the war between the Armenians and the Turks of the Ottoman Empire?

A1. The war with us was inevitable... We had not    done all that was necessary for us to have done to   evade   war. We ought to have used peaceful     language with the Turks...We had no information about the real strength of the Turks and relied on ours. This was the fundamental error. We were not afraid of war because we thought we could win.  Our army was     well fed and well armed and   [clothed] but it did not fight. The troops were   constantly retreating and deserting their positions; they threw away their arms and dispersed in the villages.  ...In spite of the   fact that the Armenians  had better material and better support, their armies lost......the advancing Turks   fought only against the regular soldiers; they did not carry the battle to the civilian sector ....the Turkish

soldiers were well-disciplined and there were not  any massacres.  

The Manifesto of Hovhannes Katchaznouni,
First Prime Minister of the Independent Armenian Republic 
Published by the Armenian Information Service 
Suite 7D, 471 Park Ave.  New York 22 – 1955

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q2. Has there been any sort of an International Trial concerning the Armenian allegations of massacres and genocide?  If so what was the outcome?

A2. There was an international trial led by the then occupying powers, the British.  The British      controlled Istanbul and many other regions within   the fallen Ottoman Empire, and had full control of      the Ottoman archives.  As such, the British led an in depth investigation against 144 highly placed    Ottoman officials including ministers, who were charged with war crimes against the Armenians.  Subsequently, 56 out of the 144 were deported to        the Island of Malta to stand trail.  After a wide scale search of all the archival material, Sir Horace Rumbold, the British High Commissioner in Istanbul wrote to London that the “Evidence against the deportees are very few. Under these circumstances the prosecution finds itself under grave     disadvantage.”  All of the accused were acquitted of all charges.

 

 

Q3. Armenians Allege that 1.5 million Armenians were massacred in 1915.  However according to census figures as well as other reliable sources do you know what the entire population of Armenians within the Ottoman Anatolia is?  

A3. Zarceshi, French Consul in Van 1,300,000
 
Francis de Pressence (1895)……..1,200,000 
 
Torumnekize (1900)……………… 1,300,000
 
Lynch (1901)……………………….1,158,484 
 
Ottoman Census (1905)…………..1,294,851 
 
British Blue Book (1912)…………1,056,000 
 
L.D. Conterson (1913)……………1,475,000 
 
French Yellow Book………………1,475,000

 

Armenian Patriarch Ormanian…..1,579,000

 

 

Q4. Do you know how many Ottoman Turks perished within the same time period in the same geography? 

A4. 3 Million Turks and other Muslims within Ottoman Anatolia perished during the same time period and same geography.

 

 

Q5. Armenians claim that this is an undisputed historical fact, and that there is no historian who would dispute that this was the first “Genocide” committed in the 20th century.  This being said, are there any historians who dispute this alleged genocide?  If so, who?

A5. 69 Historians (from reputable schools like Princeton, UCLA, NYU and more) in the United States alone have signed and published a statement testifying that according to historical evidence, the situations surrounding the Armenian Question did not amount to Genocide of any kind.  This was published in the New York Times. Prof. McCarthy of the University of Louisville, Prof. Bernard Lewis of Princeton, and Prof. Sandford Shaw of the University of California in Los Angeles testified in 1988 in front of the House International Committee that there was no genocide of Armenians.   

 

 

Q6. Under United Nations definition does the United Nations accept that the tragedy which befell Armenians of the Ottoman Empire a Genocide?  What is the United Nations official position concerning the Armenian allegations of Genocide?

A6. The United Nations’ official position concerning Armenian allegations is as follows; UN Spokesman Farhan Haq confirmed that the UN position on October 5th, 2000, that the United Nations has not approved or endorsed a report labeling the Armenian experience as Genocide. 

 

 

Q7. Under International treaties and law does Turkey occupy any Armenian territory?  Does Turkey recognize Armenia’s borders as recognized by international treaties and laws? 

A7. Turkey recognizes all Armenian borders, and does not occupy any Armenian territories

 

 

Q8. Does Armenia recognize Turkey’s borders as recognized by international treaties and laws?

A8. Armenia does not recognize the internationally recognized borders of Turkey. 

 

 

Q9. Does Armenia recognize its other neighbor, Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized borders?

A9. Armenia does not recognize the international recognized borders of Azerbaijan, its other bordering neighbor. 

 

 

Q10. Under the United Nations and international treaties and laws, does Armenia occupy any nation’s land?

A10. Armenia under United Nations security council resolutions 822(1993), 853 (1993), 874 (1993) and 884 (1993) is currently occupying 20% of Azerbaijan territory.  Which has displaced 1 million Azerbaijani Turks, and created a refugee crisis where some 1 million Azerbaijani Turks now live in refugee camps. Many were murdered in a genocide that occurred in 1992.

(http://www.khojaly.net) 

 

 

Q11. How many murders have been committed by Armenian terrorists in order to pass laws and bills   like M-377 and M-380 in Canada? Do these  laws which passed with the blood of innocent lives not  make you uneasy about changing laws due to        blood murder and violence in your homeland?

         A11. There have been over 230 armed attacks, killing 71 innocent people, including 31 Turkish Diplomats, and seriously wounding over 520 people in a campaign of terror and murder. Two of these victims were murdered in Canada and none of the terrorists were caught.  Can we allow terrorism and murder to change the laws of Canadian society?  This is a question we all must ask ourselves.