- Turkkaya Ataov at Turkish Australian Seminars
- Armenian Genocide Program on ABC
- Letter To Peter On So-Called Armenian Genocide Versus 'Johnny Turks’ That Described By The Australians...
- Armenia / Turkey: Ghosts of the Past - ABC TV: Foreign Correspondent
Related Articles
Apr 28th 2008 Australian National Uni, Canberra Seminar by Turkkaya Ataov: Turkish Identity & Armenian Issue
Peter Balakian's Australian Conference and The Fallacious Armenian Genocide Allegations by Ataman Atlas
Turkkaya Ataov at Turkish Australian Seminars
The Turkish Australian Seminars Committee Cordially invites you to attend a conference By Professor Türkkaya Ataöv
Turkish Identity and The Armenian Issue, Coming to Terms with the Past
Australia Western Thrace Turkish Association of Victoria Building
103-109 Union St, Windsor (Melway: 58 C7)
Sunday 27th April at 2:30 pm
Followed by a Cocktail Reception
Professor Türkkaya Ataöv was born in 1932 in Gelibolu (Gallipoli), Türkiye. He has worked as Professor Emeritus of International Relations, at Ankara University, where he has taught, researched and published for over four decades. He conducted his graduate studies in the United States, earning an M.A. in International Relations from Syracuse University, M.A. in Economics from NYU, and Ph.D. in Political Science from Maxwell Graduate School Syracuse University. Professor Ataöv has published over one hundred books and a few hundred scholarly articles in over 20 languages. Most recently, he published Kashmir and Neighbours (UK, Ashgate, 2001), Discrimination and Conflict (Geneva, Eaford, 2001), and The Armenians in the Late Ottoman Period (Ankara, Turkish Historical Society, 2002). Professor Ataöv received presidential medals from Italy, Federal Yugoslavia and Hungary, as well as medals of honour from the Macedonian Historical Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, Bophuthatswana University (South Africa), and the Turkish Grand National Assembly.
He is the author of close to 130 books, a few hundred published academic treatises, a few thousand-newspaper articles, and is translated into of a total of twenty foreign languages.
His works are published in the Americas (in 3 countries), Europe (14 countries), Asia (9 countries), Africa (3 countries) and in Australia.
RSVP by 25th April, 2008 to lecturesinaustralia@gmail.com
Armenian Genocide Program on ABC Late Night Live Presented by Phillip Adams
Listen Now Download Audio
As Australians mark Anzac Day next week, Armenians around the world will be remembering a parallel event -- the Armenian genocide of 1915. As Allied troops landed at Gallipoli, the Ottoman government was rounding up Armenian intellectuals and leaders, who were later executed en masse. The expulsion and slaughter continued for two years, and many of the Australian POWs from Gallipoli bore witness to the terrible treatment of Armenians.
It was the first genocide of the 20th century but until recently it had little attention paid to it. Recognition is growing, and even within Turkey, where nationalists have fought bitterly to deny the genocide, a small group of Turkish scholars have challenged their offical Turkish account.
Guests
Peter Balakian: Writer and poet; Donald M. and Constance H. Rebar Professor of the Humanities and Professor of English at Colgate University.
Colin Tatz: Director of the Australian Institute of Holocaust and Genocide Studies.
Armenian Genocide Commemoration Events in Sydney
Western Region, Friday 18 April 2008, 7:30pm, 682 Cabramatta Road, Bonnyrigg
Sunday 20 April 2008, 6:00pm, University of Technology, Sydney (Kuring-gai Campus), Eton Road, Lindfield, Key Note speaker New York Times Best Selling Author Prof. Peter Balakian
An SOS Beyond Gallipoli, Monday 21 April 2008, 7:00pm, Sydney Mechanics School of Arts, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney
Genocide Outlook Lecture - "A comparison of genocides past and the consequences of future inaction", Wednesday 23 April 2008, 7:00pm, Shalom College UNSW, Barker Street, Kensington
Wreath Laying Ceremony & Armenian Genocide Commemorative Lecture, Thursday 24 April 2008, 7:00pm, NSW State Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney
Ryde Council Memorial,Sunday 27th April 2008, 1:30pm, Meadow Crescent, Meadowbank
An S.O.S. from beyond Gallipoli
The Australian Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies invites you to a photo exhibition on Australia's relief effort to save the survivors of the Armenian Genocide (1915 to 1929). Never before seen photos and ephemera on this forgotten humanitarian relief episode in Australian history.
21 April 2008 7:00pm, Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts (SMSA), 280 Pitt Street, Sydney, Located between Park and Bathurst Streets. Nearest train station is Town Hall.
www.sydneymsa.com.au
Armenian Genocide Commemoration Events in Melbourne
Commemoration Event, Saturday 26 April 2008, Time 7:30pm, St. Judes Community Centre, 49 George Street, Scoresby
Key Note speaker New York Times Best Selling Author Prof. Peter Balakian
Library Opening, Saturday 27 April 2008, 6:00pm, Armenian Cultural Centre, 8 - 14 Police Road, Springvale
Commemoration and Memory: The Culture of Forgetting, Monday 28 April 2008, 8:00pm, Exhibition Space H116 Building H Monash Caulfield Campus
Writings from a Denied Genocide, 30 April 2008, 7:30pm, Village Roadshow Theatrette, State Library of Victoria
Letter To Peter On So-Called Armenian Genocide Versus 'Johnny Turks’ That Described By The Australians...
April 17 2008
Hi Peter,
I listened your Late Night Radio conversation yesterday in regards to the Armenian allegations with a full of surprise and disappointment. I wish you had contacted or invited to the program one of Turkish historian in regards this controversial historical event.
How would you describe the Turks were genocidal towards to the Armenian whereas very kind, fair, gentlemen to towards to the Anzacs in 1915?
On the other hand, I am so surprise that despite of millions of innocent Turkish loss ( why ?) no one mentioned about Turkish loss during the war since 1911- 1919.( especially in 1915)
Allegation on the Turkish history is being going on years now and Turks are very deeply sadden not just false allegations but also respected intellectuals like you not usually seek any Turkish side of the historian view.
So, how would you describe the day as Genocide Commemoration Day despite even one person didn’t get killed?
How would you assumed that was a Genocide if who the citizens were armed and fighting against to your country?
How would you assumed that was a Genocide if who the citizens were cutting your country’s telecommunications during the war?
If there was so-called Genocide, other Armenian citizens who living other part of the Turkey would they collected to gain to the relocation journey?
Peter, assume that we are at war now in Australia and Australian men fighting in the East, West, South, North nearly seven fronts and the Turkish men armed say by Japanese and the Turkish rebels continuously killing many innocent and defenseless Australian women and children who left by their men during the war. ( Don’t forget assuming that say eastern part of Australia had a lot of oil and other natural resources. and Japan and it allies wanting to get the oil.)…. in such a case what the Australian government would do? Assume that Australian government decided to relocate the Tasmania ( which is still part of Australia ( same as the Armenians were relocated to the Syria which was part of Turkey( Ottoman) and even given some land to do farming).
- Do you know how many Turks killed at the war in1915? ( and in total in between 1911-1919)
- Do you know that even one Armenian didn’t get to killed on the 24 of April (which was supposed to happened so called Armenian genocide had happened?
(All it had being done was 2345 leaders of the Armenians send to the prison to be able manage and stop the current climate)
- Do you know how many fronts the Turks were fighting to defend for their country?
- Do you know what happened to the defenseless women and children in the Eastern Turkey when the Turkish men went to the at least 7 fronts to fight with the enemy?
( When the British, France and Anzac troops arrived to the Western part of the Turkey and all the Turkish men fight against to the enemy at the same year which is the allegation date 1915 the Armenians rebels /soldiers who had living harmoniously in Turkey [1] . Armenian rebels who were supported by Russians and France were killing innocent and defenseless women and children in the East.
I will leave it to the Anzacs to defend Turks;
l "Turks have treated our captured men and officers excellently" The diary of the Aus. Official Corres. C.E.W.Bean
l“You will hear extraordinary horrible stories practiced by Turks. Well, don’t believe a word of them. They are grossly exaggerated if not wholly false. You will be surprised at the gentlemanly way the Turks has fought us. Jim Haynes (Cobbers - Stories of Gallipoli 1915 p. 178)
l" I reckon the Turk respects us, as we respect the Turk, Abdul's a good, clean fighter - we've fought him, and we know" Lieutenant Oliver Hogue
l"The Turks have always proved themselves perfectly willing to have armistices and have actually asked for one at Helles which was refused by our General Staff. " Ashmead-Bartlett's Diary,1915
l" They (Turks) too were fighting for their country. Good and fair fighters. No. They fought very fair and honestly like us. Both sides lost their very valuable men.” [E.W.BARTLETT - was born in Australia , 1891. 11. Light Horse Regiment. One Hundred years old. He was one of last two hundred who left the Dardanelle.]
l"The Turkish sniper understood that we were searching for him. He shot once and the doctor got wounded. When he realized that he was a doctor, he didn’t shoot again.”
Exerted from Sydney Alexander Moseley, former war correspondent during the Gallipoli Campaign ”
l- “ After the terrible punishment inflicted upon the brave but futile assaults all bitterness faded … The Turks displayed an admirable manliness … From that morning onwards the attitude of the Anzac troops towards the individual Turks was rather that of opponents in a friendly game.‘[ Charles. E Bean, the Australian official historian, The Story of Anzac, Vol II, Sydney, 1924, p.162 ]
l"The Anzacs left Gallipoli without hatred in their heart for their enemy or bitterness at the incompetence of their own high command.” A.K. Macdouggall, Australian historian
TURKS AS FIGHTERS “One cannot conclude these reminiscences without paying a tribute to Abdul as a fighting man. All I know about him is in his favour. We have heard all about his atrocities and his perfidy and unspeakablenesses, but the men we met fought fairly and squarely; and as for atrocities it is always well to hear the other side of the question. At the beginning of the campaign it was commonly reported that the Turks mutilated our wounded. Now I believe that to be an unmitigated lie, probably given a start by men who had never set foot in the Peninsula—or who, if they did, had taken an early opportunity of departure. We were in a position to know whether any mutilation had occurred, and I certainly saw none. I believe that similar reports were existent among the Turks regarding us, and I formed that opinion from the attitude and behaviour of one of the prisoners when I went to dress his wound. He uttered most piteous cries and his conduct led me to believe that he thought he was to be illtreated. I have mentioned before the class to which most of the prisoners were. They were always most grateful for any kindness shown them.”Title: Five Months at Anzac/ A Narrative of Personal Experiences of the Officer, Commanding the 4th Field Ambulance, Australian ImperialForce Author: Joseph Lievesley BeestonRelease Date: May 24, 2005 [EBook #15896]
More collections can be found in the book called Johnny Turks – Memoirs on Gallipoli by Julia Gul Arslan
.
[1] Few Peoples have known as many changes of fortune as the Armenians. Situated in eastern Anatolia and extending eastwards into what is now the U.S.S.R., Armenia was in ancient times a buffer kingdom between rival empires. Armenia was frequently invaded-by Assyrians, Persians, Arabs, Greeks and Romans. Withal, the Armenians retained their identity. In the 11th century, after still more invasions of their homeland, a number of Armenians established a new kingdom on the southern coast of Anatolia. This kingdom in its turn was destroyed in the 14th century by invaders from Egypt. Under the Ottoman Empire, Armenian merchants and financiers thrived. As the borders of the empire contracted in the 19th century, however, struggles broke out between Turks and Armenians for the possession of Anatolian lands. Many Armenians died; others fled abroad."
'Excerpts from a book called 'Life World Library' by Desmond Stewart and The Editors of LIFE which is published in 1965. Desmond Stewart is a British writer and graduated at Oxford in 1948....
Julia Gul Arslan
Readers Comments
Correction on: Mr. Stewart’s letter about “2345” Armenian ringleaders arrested. This figure appears in many places but should be, a typing or printing mistake! The correct number is 235 ring leaders, they have been all exiled to other places, none killed!
Reply to Philip Adams’ (excuse me) palavers, because:
1. See pages 324 – 325-326 attached from my book (ISBN 9789756516249) "The Genocide of Truth" about Australian Newspaper Headlines.
2. Also see Mr. Vahe G. Kateb research about old time papers relating to ANZAC! How is it possible, that he made no mentioning of “Anzac prisoners” seeing Armenian refugees? (about 1500 km away from Gallipoli)
3. For very simple reason, that the WAR front was so narrow, that battles were fought between trenches 40-60 meters apart. If you go and see, you will understand that there is no terrain to surrender and become prisoner! (very few exceptions may apply, that have not been worth to mention except bilateral human respect. "I know, because my uncle died there, I visited the front and read not to blunder").
4- Observe cover page of “Images of Gallipoli” P.A. Petersen. Show me but one photo of any prisoner, Turkish or Anzac? Almost None exist! Why? Because there were hardly any prisoners en masse... that would form prisoner columns !
5- The relocation decree is dated May 30, 1915 implying that emigration started in early June. At the end of July, Catholics and Protestants were excluded and permitted to return to their homes. Relocation was ended at the end August 1915, by that time the rear of the war front was evacuated. Movements may have continued few more months on foot. The first columns had settled for business in Zor by Autumns as reported by their patriarch to Morgenthau. Another palaver for 2 years!
CONCLUSION: Mr. Philip Adams, fabricated another IMPOSSIBLE story, exactly as explained by the Reno Evening Gazette, Oct.15, 1915. If interested to read that prophetic article, please watch attached PPS presentation’s last portion.
Reader’s comment: You are blatantly erring gentlemen; either PROVE your statements with documentary evidence, or apologize publicly for your mistake, if not a shameless lie again. My book was named in consideration of such acts of GENOCIDE of TRUTHS!
Sukru S. Aya (A Turkish citizen nearing his 80s and Someone who has been in Australia - NZ for over a month and reads because of such sloppy scholars).
Attachment
Pages 324 - 326
“…Some initiatives in the chain of decisions leading up to the deportations appear to have come from top members of the CUP central committee, others from the ranks of the military. None of the available evidence refers to a program of physical annihilation. … Magenta, who entertained Talat for dinner that evening, was told by the minister that the government was prepared to crush all possible attempts of revolution. They had arrested a large number of Armenians, and ‘they intended to put them among Turks in the interior’ where they can do on harm.” #26 *
“On April 24th, Minister of the Interior Talat also sent telegrams to the governors of provinces and districts where Armenian rebellious activities were underway, in which he ordered them to close down all Armenian revolutionary organizations and to arrest their leaders:.. All those arrested were to be turned over to the military courts. The order was not to be implemented ‘in such a manner as will cause mutual killings on the part of the Moslem and Armenian elements of the population’.” #27
“It is obvious that Morgenthau was a key source for Lepsius’ work. Given the fact that Lepsius spent only a month in the Ottoman capital during the war, and that the number of German missionaries in the interior of Anatolia was relatively small, it is not surprising that much of his material on the relocations should have been derived from American Protestant missionary sources. When Lepsius returned to Germany, he devoted himself to a campaign against the Ottoman Government. His various talks were not well received even by some newspaper executives. The charge that Lepsius was exaggerating the miseries of the Armenians was promptly repeated by a spokesman of the Foreign Office in Berlin, in a press conference. The official German view was that the moral responsibility for the Armenian troubles had to be borne by all three Entente Powers…The Turkish viewpoint is that Lepsius did not set foot in Anatolia; he did not talk to a single Armenian there. All the information he gathered consisted of what he had learned from the Patriarchate, and to some extent, from the reports which Ambassador Morgenthau had showed him, reports which were mostly based on hearsay.” #28 *
Before we elaborate on the reliability of Morgenthau’s views, let us examine some other examples of the echoes of British propaganda in Australia. The following excerpts have been taken from the thesis of Mr. Vahe G. Kateb, dated May 9, 2003, submitted to the University of Wollongong for a Master of Arts degree in Journalism. The writer has conducted extensive research through Australian papers and has come up with interesting charts of article titles and dates, some of which are given below to show the extent of the British propaganda, which was in need of new ANZAC recruits. Considering the distance and months needed for letters to travel back and forth, the fabrication of all news from one center becomes undeniable!
I think that so many examples of Christian bigotry, demagoguery, crude fabrications were all aimed to give credence to Britain’s Holy War, and force the U.S. to join this crusade to save Christianity! Never mind the biblical rules about lying etc… The end justified the means this time using name of God…Can you see much difference today or have such disasters caused by fanaticism, taught mankind any lessons of intelligence and compassion?
However, in 1994 (June 9th) the following letter was penned by Australia's former ambassador to Ankara, Mr. P. F. Peters, as a response to an anti-Turkish letter published in the daily The Australian. Should we believe the old papers or the Ambassador’s letter?
“Mr. George Karagiannakis's letter (2/6), making all sorts of incredible allegations against Turkey in regard to its domestic and foreign policies, should not be allowed to go unanswered…It is not possible in the space of a few lines to answer all of his allegations. However, in fairness to the truth, the following points must be made:
The 'facts beyond credible dispute' to which he alludes, are in fact based largely on fictions to justify unrealistic ambitions or failures in the past to achieve totally unrealistic goals…While it is true and sad that many Armenians lost their lives in their own bid for territory, what is not recognized is that the Armenians themselves inflicted as much damage as others in the hostilities of that time, goaded on by some Western powers for their own selfish and geopolitical objectives.
The Turks had no deliberate policy of genocide at any stage, only the removal of Armenians from the front line with Russia, where they were collaborating with the Ottoman Empire's enemies and were thus a threat to its security.”
Now, let us read and learn more about the ethics of Morgenthau, the missionaries and other actors:
Ambassadors are normally expected to provide factual, honest and unbiased reporting about the countries where they serve. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau stayed in Istanbul from Nov. 27, 1913 to February, 1916 for a total of 26 months. He was of Jewish faith, an active Zionist and was offered this position in return for his large donation in the campaign of Woodrow W. Wilson. His book Ambassador Morgenthau’s Story was first printed in 1918 in New York by Doubleday & Co. and is still referred to as a reliable source of information in U.S. Here are some of the phrases he used to describe Turks.
We start with a study of reputed historian Heath Lowry, with excerpts from his extensive studies about The Story Behind Ambassador Morgenthau’s Story - The Isis Press – 1990
“The Turk is ‘psychologically primitive’(pg. 236), ‘bully and coward who can be brave as a lion when things are going his way, but cringing, abject, and nerveless when reverses are overwhelming him’ (pg. 275). They are ‘like most primitive peoples, wear their emotions on the surface’ (pg. 195), and ‘basic fact underlying the Turkish mentality is its utter contempt for other races (pg.276), they are ‘inarticulate, ignorant and poverty-ridden slaves’ (pg. 13), ‘barbarous’ (pg. 147), ‘brutal’ (pg. 149), ‘ragged and unkempt’ (pg. 276), ‘parasites’ (pg. 280), ‘they do not hate, they do not love, they have no lasting animosities or affections, They only fear.’(pg. 99)!
Above, courtesy of Holdwater – Other compliments (!) from British Statesmen as below:
At the age of 86, Mr. Gladstone emerged from retirement at Liverpool to make a last speech against the ‘Unspeakable Turk’, whose empire deserved to be ‘rubbed off the map’
Sukru Server Aya
Dear Mr.Philip Adams and ABD radio producers
Continuing the same subject again,,,( rather not!), after listening to your program the interview with Mr. Balakian (14th of April2008) I feel extremely disturbed like many other Turkish Australians who have being living in Australia respecting Multiculturalism and Australian values. However, such this program/s supports give to the society the reverse impact. Especially this divisive program doesn't help/wont help to Australia to became fair go for everyone every nationalities to be able express their historical realities. Such a program was encouraging and sustaining the animosity.
Turks believe the notion of ' Animosity breeds animosity; it is a vicious circle ' and Peace and Harmony in Australia, Peace and Harmony in the universe.
Turks never supports hatred for any nation therefore Turkish people in Australia and Turkey never hate Australians for the Gallipoli War for their invasion ( which was happened same year in 1915) rather looks at the lesson and grow friendship and peace from the Gallipoli War since there are hardly any wars, which the past conflicted parties jointly commemorate. Gallipoli serves as a message of ' PEACE ' to the whole world. Lets celebrate friendships and peaceful acts not sick minds please!
Lest we forget the price of animosity ...
Gul Arslan
Armenia / Turkey: Ghosts of the Past
Broadcast: 22/04/2008
Reporter: Eric Campbell
LEAD STORY, SERIES 17, EPISODE 31
Synopsis
While the landings under fire at Gallipoli Cove on the western coast of Turkey in 1915 were seen to have helped forged Australian’s national identity, at the same time in Anatolia in central Turkey ethnic Armenians were being evicted, harassed and slaughtered.
Respected historians says as many as million people were killed and many more made refugees. (see extract*)
While in some countries such as France, it is a criminal offence to deny the Armenian genocide, successive Turkish governments refuse to acknowledge it.
Two years ago Foreign Correspondent broadcast a report featuring Orhan Pamuk, Turkey’s most famous author who dared to speak of the genocide. Pamuk was convicted of insulting Turkey and later was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature.
The report also featured an interview with Hrant Dink, the publisher of an Armenian newspaper in Istanbul. A few months later Hrant Dink was dead, allegedly shot by a teenage ultra-nationalist.
Turkey’s Prime Minister responding to news of Hrant Dink’s murder saying that “a bullet has been fired at democracy and freedom.”
Eric Campbell went to meet Fuat Turgut, the lawyer representing Yasin Hayal, accused of being the mastermind behind Hrant Dink’s murder.
Turgut acknowledges that his client provided the alleged killer with a gun and cash. Yasin Hayal’s father concedes in an interview with Campbell his son “might have been tricked because he loves his country and his nation.”
The Dink case epitomises the hostility of some Turks towards fellow citizens who happen to be ethnic Armenians. Armenians feel that little will change unless Turkey acknowledges the root of the problem – the slaughter and forced expulsions of 1915 and 1916.
Turkish MP Suat Kiniklioglu, a prominent member of his country’s Foreign Affairs Commission tells Campbell that any suggestion Turkey was responsible for genocide “my government finds very insulting.”
On the other side of the border, closed by Turkey, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian says the “genocide committed against the Armenian people was a huge tragedy and the sense of tragedy is being exacerbated with every passing day Turkey continues to deny.”
In Armenia Eric Campbell interviews Dr Verijine Svazlian who has conducted hundreds of interviews with genocide survivors. “Gradually people opened up to me and acquired enough confidence to share some of the most horrifying, brutal and disgusting episodes of the massacres they were a witness to,” she said.
Today there are a mere handful of survivors.
Mari Vardanyan, who is 102, remembers her grandfather being shot and the threat issued by Turks to the local priest. He was ordered to vacate his church or they would hang him and drink his blood.
Around the world political argument continues over the Armenian genocide. Late last year US President George W. Bush rebuffed a proposal before Congress to pass a resolution formally recognizing the genocide, for fear of jeopardizing relations with Turkey, which is a key ally. Democrat presidential contenders, Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama are committed to recognizing the Armenian genocide if elected President.
* Extract from The Middle East, by Bernard Lewis, an authority on Islamic and Middle Eastern history.
Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London 1995
In the spring of 1915 when Armenian rebels had gained control of Van, the British were at the Dardanelles, the Russians attacking in the East and another British force apparently advancing on Baghdad the Ottoman government decided on the deportation and relocation of the Armenian population of Anatolia – a practice sadly familiar in the region since biblical times. Some categories of Armenians, along with their families, were declared exempt from the deportation order; Catholics, Protestants, railway workers and members of the armed forces. But the great mass of Armenians in Anatolia extending far beyond the endangered areas and suspect groups, was included in both the deportations and its deadly consequences,
The deportees suffered appalling hardship. In an embattled empire desperately short of manpower, neither soldiers nor gendarmes were available and the task of escorting the deportees was entrusted to hastily recruited local posses. Estimates vary considerably as to the numbers of but there can be no doubt that least hundreds of thousands of Armenians perished, perhaps more than a million. Many succumbed to hunger disease and exposure; great numbers were brutally murdered either by local tribesmen and villagers, through the negligence or with the complicity of their unpaid, unfed and undisciplined escorts, or by the escorts themselves.
The Ottoman central government seems to have made some effort to curb the excess. The archives contain telegrams from high Ottoman authorities, concerned with the prevention or punishment of acts of violence against the Armenians. They include records of almost 1400 hundred courts martials at which the Ottoman civil and military personnel were tried and sentenced, some of them to death for offenses against the deportees. © 2008 ABC
Letter To ABC
Dear ABC Programmer,
I am a loyal viewer of many ABC programs including Foreign Correspondent. However, I would like to express my profound anger and disappointment over one of the stories you presented in the “Foreign Correspondent” program that broadcasted on 22 April 2008 at 9:30pm.
I truly found this program rather biased, distorted, and contained factual errors. I also found this program was totally one-sided and clearly favouring the Armenian allegations. You have presented the story as if you were telling the facts on the issue. But so-called Armenian genocide is quite controversial issue, which many historians believe otherwise. Armenian accusations are usually based on stories that has been told by either family members or falsely fabricated by the Armenian Diaspora. They always failed to back up their claims with evidence or any historical fact. I strongly suggest you to read independent experts on the field such as Justin McCarthy, Heath Lowry, and Stanford Shaw before you make such hostile remarks on the free-to-air network.
It is true that thousands of Armenians have lost their life due to starvation, disease and local rebel attacks during WWI. However, according to many international sources including Australian Foreign Ministry website, at the time, thousands of Turks, also, lost their lives due to same reasons as Armenians. But I guess, on the eyes of the Western world, Turkish losses are less valuable than Armenians.
I cannot go without mentioning the Armenian terrorism, which cost the lives of 42 Turkish diplomats. Armenian terrorist organizations such as Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) and the Justice Commandos of the Armenian Genocide (JCAG) started to operate in mid 1970's and they carried out approximately 200 attacks in 38 cities of 21 countries. One of these attacks took place in Australia on 17 December 1980 when Turkey's Consul General of Sydney Mr.Sarik Ariyak and his security guard Mr.Engin Sever were murdered. The Justice Commandos of the Armenian Genocide (JCAG) was responsible for this terrorist act. This vicious and cowardly attack considered being as one of the most significant terrorist events in the history of Australia by the ASIO.
My message to you is; please be fair and stop your biased coverage on Turkish history.
Halit SINDI
Visit Time 10:16:57 25 Apr, 2008 EST
Dear Mr Campbell
As an Australian-born Armenian, I cannot help but express my gratitude for your efforts in highlighting the tragedy of the Armenian Genocide this week on your program 'Armenia/Turkey - Ghosts of the Past.'
I appreciated very much the effort you went to in traveling to Armenia to see the genocide museum, meeting the old Armenian lady which was very touching, and journeying to the border with historic Mt Ararat centre stage.
Even more so I appreciated the manner in which you challenged the view of the Turkish MP in your interview, even going so far as to hold up those photos showing some of the atrocities. That was a brave thing to have done a country in which one can be locked up for recognising the Armenian genocide.
It is touching that Foreign Correspondent would make a program such as this, despite some of cynical politics around recognition of the Genocide.
Thanks again Mr Campbell.
Wishing you all the best with your future reports.
Visit Time 09:54:15 25 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks I have read the comments in regards to Eric Campbell's so called one sided interview. Yes,I am Armenian and both my grandparents come from Turkey, what was known then as the Ottoman Empire, the lands of my ancestors, Armenia.
One day, in April 1915, long time ago, both my grandparents, decided to take a nice long cruise on a ship and left their respective homes with all their belongings, homes, artifacts, photographs and loved ones behind.
In fact they decided to take nothing with them on this trip and rough it out with what they wore on their backs and take a long hike through the Syrian desert to Der Zor.
There were no food rations. Their staple diet was horse dung from the Turkish tour guides on horseback, grass and water from the morning dew that settled on dead leaves for a balanced diet. For desert, they feasted on dead bodies.
After their first round of survival test and arrival at their destination, they were rewarded by having to choose a mystery cruise aboard a liner of not their choice for destination unknown.
So once more loved ones were torn from the arms of mothers and grandmothers.. oh, did I forget to mention that most of the survival participants were women and young children?
Those who had perished on the survival run were the lucky ones.
How do I know these things? Because I sat on my granfather's knee who whispered in my ear .. never forget..and I was wrapped in the arms of my granmother who told me of a time long ago, when she was a young girl running and playing carefree with her sisters and brothers in a land far away called Izmir. (Smirna) Yes, we can change the map and rename cities and adapt new alphabet.
But we can not erase who we are.
To say sorry is just a word. but it means a lot to those have waiting a long time.
Our Prime Minister said sorry after it was long overdue.
Kevin Rudd did not kidnap the children of the Aboriginal people on whose land I now live with great respect. Yet, he said sorry in a very moving speech. I was moved to tears. It is evident the descendants of the lost children are in pain and so are the Armenians all over the world. We too want closure.
I wait for the day when the Turkish government of today will own up to its past and say Sorry.
Visit Time 10:13:48 25 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks GREAT PROGRAMME AND PRESENTER
WHY HAS THE PROGRAMME BEEN SHORTENED ??
BRIAN
Visit Time 22:55:10 24 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Congratulations on yet another sorry piece of journalism that not only acts as a biased jumping-board, but fills the pool with such polluted water that splashes mud and murk onto all spectators. Who can forget the massacres of Kurds, Jews, Turks, Azerbaijanis and Circassians carried out by Armenians? I'm sick and tired of watching the same old story every year - objectivity is a must when it comes to serious journalism. Otherwise, just don't bother. And please can Armenians actually produce a document proving Hitler made these claims and based his genocide program on this 1915 incident? You'd have to fabricate one because it doesn't exist; just like the so-called "orders" to massacre Armenians that were faked by the Armenian lobbyist Andonian to prove allegations. Now that requires a documentary all by itself!
Visit Time 19:27:56 24 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks How ironic, first you talk about the Armenian Revolt siding with Russia when the Turks were at war at four fronts then your view switches to so called Armenian genocide. A typical bought journalism with no substance or evidence to back up your journalistic biasness.
Maybe you should make the same afford to report on the French Genocide on the Algerians, American Genocide on the Native Americans, Armenians committing genocide on Azerbaijan and maybe on the killing of Iraqi?s by USA cowboys RIGHT NOW.
I would suggest that you collate all relevant documents on the alleged subject before passing any judgment. There will not be any peace when pathetic journalists like you are easily manipulated.
Visit Time 18:11:51 24 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Congratulations to Eric Campbell about the excellent documentary on the Armenian Genocide.
No sympathy to deniers of genocide.
Visit Time 16:40:45 24 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Previously I posted in ?have your say? but could not thank you as I was taken away with my posting.
To ABC TV and the Foreign Correspondent Group, I thank you and on behalf of my family for this excellent report by Eric Campbell about the truth of what has happened during 1915-1923 in the Ottoman Empire. Turkey says their history starts from 1923 onward, a time when the Armenian Genocide was almost over. Turkey being the heir of the Ottoman Empire I have a question to ask:
?The Ottoman history started when declared in 1453 AD. Armenians numbered about 2.6 million in Anatolia until 1870 - 1875 excluding the Greeks and Assyrians. What did really happen to the Armenians that by 1923 their number fell down to 100,000 only mostly in the Constantinople (Istanbul) area. Where did these people go all of a sudden in such a short time, did they evaporate?
Visit Time 16:35:08 24 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Remarks Thank you very much sincerely for the program you aired yesterday. I guess we should do more often such programs until to deport all those Turks.
And should go back what we left behind Gallipoli war. As an Armenian community and Greek community we sincerely thank you your contribution to our Australian life.
We will not forget what you favor to us.
Thanks
Visit Time 16:01:30 24 Apr, 2008 EST
If you haven't read the ancient Armenian history from western sources, at least what you can do is watch two very well known movies with great actors called "The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire" and "Alexander the Great". You will see the vast extent of Armenia shown on their maps. This is at a time when Anatolia or Turkey did not even exist.
Visit Time 15:10:01 24 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks This was a piece of well-edited, well-constructed and one of the most one-sided pieces of television journalism I have seen in a long time and seems only to have pandered to the sentiments of an anti-Turkish lobby (or alliance of lobbies). And to broadcast this during the ANZAC memorial week seems only to validate this opinion. I do not deny the fact that this human tragedy took place but I not believe your reporter undertook sufficient independent research prior to filing his report. This is a great pity as I have grown used to higher standards of reporting by the ABC
22:24:14 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks I am an Australian, neither being of Armenian or of Turkish descent. I viewed your program 'Ghosts of the Past' but simply couldn't understand one point about it.
If Turkey completely denies that they committed a Genocide against the Armenians, then why are they oppressing Armenians in Turkey today? Why are they so upset every time Armenians are mentioning, remembering or mourning about the Genocide? Shouldn't they accept them better and let them express themselves freely? It seems obvious that Turkey doesn't want the truth exposed.
As far as I can see, Armenians cannot freely express their culture, use their Armenian surnames or even speak in the Armenian language openly in Turkey. That's an example of pure oppression.
So, I conclude that actions of Genocide and anti-Armenian sentiment continues to exist today. An extension of Genocide occurred in my opinion in the murder of a prominent Armenian journalist, Hrant Dink.
It's clear to see which side justice is on- hands on- without a doubt!
20:41:50 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks The report by Eric Campbell on Foreign Correspondent dated 22 April 2008 re Armenia/Turkey: Ghosts of the Past was an excellent one in showing to the world the genocide that was perpetrated by the Turks on the Armenians in 1915. How can the Turks still deny this fact? Unless the Turks face their past and deal with their demons, how can they look to the future? The past will always haunt them.
Well done ABC for bringing this sad event to the attention of the world.
19:56:00 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Well, Greek tried to invade Turkey and failed. I understand their pain but unsure Armenians. They have lived on those land but hardly ever owned the land in history. Regardless their claims there is only one ever Armenian country,BC over 130 years. Another word Armenians never established a nation but lived under Romans, Arabs, Azerbaijan's, Russians and Turks more than 2000 years. Their claim of the land no different than claiming Melbourne as Armenian because they lived there 100 year. Again they were renting the house but never owned. Today they claim this is their land. Just like I would say to my landlord tomorrow I rented the house last 10 years so it should be mine now.... Sure he will give away the house to me like Turks would...
19:49:33 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks To the "Sorry Turk" who wrote a message on 09:17:08 23 Apr, 2008 EST, I was so touched by your message of sorrow, you an wonderful example to all of us. I am not Armenian, but I know many Armenians who will be deeply touched by your words. Good on you, the world needs more people like you!!
18:45:36 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks We like to say thank you behalf of Australian Armanian community. We couldn't this much good in Europe but here. Love you all. Turks are all same should go away. Don't forget Gallipoli. They killed thousands of fellow Australian and LA. We all should be together for Turkish aggression. Don't forget Anzac is day ahead. We should take our lines against aggressor
18:39:09 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Excellent story!
Its quality programs like this, that restore my faith in what I hope, is the "silent majority". All to often it's the voice's of a few knuckleheads that makes it's way onto TV.
Important stories like the Armenian Genocide need to be told, and having them told by mainstream, credible sources like your program is great to see.
Most Australians would be horrified at what the Turkish Gov. continues to deny, and I think its important that this part of history becomes as well known as the Jewish Holocaust.
16:59:51 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Thank you very much sincerely for the program you aired yesterday. I guess we should do more often such programs until to deport all those Turks.
And should go back what we left behind Gallipoli war. As an Armenian community and Greek community we sincerely thank you your contribution to our Australian life.
We will not forget what you favor to us.
I know Armenian army involved massacre but it was only 368 people who deserved to be killed anyway.
Thanks
16:55:43 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Why is it that Turks (majority) ALWAYS shun the truth when it comes the The Armenian Genocide and deny it so actively, with such propaganda? They come up with stories against it - there is no other side, face it Turks - GENOCIDE IS GENOCIDE and your government committed it. Admit it.
How can they expect to become part of the EU and democracy with blood all over their hands, and no free speech, etc etc.
Definition of "Turk", according to Dictionary.com:
"a cruel, brutal, and domineering man." Enough said.
16:50:26 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks I just want to convey to you all at Foreign Correspondent, in particular Eric Campbell and the entire team that worked on the "Armenia/Turkey - Ghosts of the Past" story, my heartfelt thanks and congratulations for a thought provoking, honest and truthful presentation of history and Turkeys denial of the 20th century's first genocide.
My grandfather and his family were forcefully deported from their village in eastern Turkey and were dragged through the Syrian desert without food or water. My grandfather was about 5 years old at the time and lost his entire family. He ended up in an orphanage in Syria, not knowing what his surname was. We can never know go back to discover our family tree, it stops with my grandfather.
Turkey was able to get away with it then, as the great powers of the world were busy at war. Hitler was quoted as saying, when he was giving his generals the orders to exterminate the Jews, " after all who remembers the Armenians today", thinking he too would be able to get away with it, while the world was at war, he succeeded in killing 6 million. At least Germany accepted responsibility. Genocide continues today, in Darfur, but the world is not at war and the great powers of the world are able to do something about it but choose not to. Maybe it's because there is no oil or any other rich resources available there, only humans living and dying in such indescribable fear. Years later, a compassionate journalist will one day report on the current genocide and wonder how could the world have allowed it to happen.
Thank you all once again and God Bless.
Kindest regards,
Ani Ohanessian
16:41:19 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks After viewing the report on Armenia/Turkey Ghosts of the Past - I wish to say a HUGE THANK YOU for a very accurate and truthful report - it was excellent and I write this short comment on behalf of at least 50 contacts who also watched the report.
Bravo Foreign Correspondent & Eric Campbell, bravo and humanity thanks you for portraying the truth.
16:01:27 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Mr de Barros, you wrote "perhaps the Nazis took a leaf out of Turkish methodology." That's true. The Nazis admitted they based their Final Solution on Turkey's Final Solution.
15:36:51 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Marl and Eric (wherever he is now),
A nicely balanced report. Great diplomacy to get the story without either side felling the are going to be victimized.
A couple of years ago there was a program about the Armenian genocide (might have been on SBS - As It Happened series?) which said that the genocide was initiated by 3 men who had virtually taken over the government from the weak Sultan. One of the early actions of the new republican government was to charge these men with the mass murders (genocide wasn't a common term then). They were convicted and sentenced to death. As far as I recall, 2 were hanged, and the other, who had fled before arrest, died while still on the run.
If that is correct, then the modern government and the Turkish people have no reason to feel ashamed about the actions of a few criminals. So why don't the Turks just say: "It happened. We did what we could. Sorry. That's in the past. Let's get over it."
14:58:24 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks As a non-Armenian, I was shocked to learn the truth about what the Turkish government did during the First World War.
Even more shocking was the murder of Hrant Dink. Until last night, I didn't know anything about him but this entire morning I've done nothing but research his life and accomplishments.
I've learned that he was an extremely intelligent and passionate man who wanted peace and solace for his people. This innocence and this passion was taken away abruptly by a cruel and vicious attack.
I hope that the Armenian people are able to gain justice and recognition, not only for the soul of Hrant Dink, but for the all those people that perished during The Armenian Genocide.
14:46:19 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Insensitive a few days before ANZAC day. Truth will never be as easy as you showed on TV.
I can not imagine your supportive comment to Armenians who bombed Melbourne 20 years ago and murdered Two Turkish consulate.
You are trying to stare 100 years old story but forget the mention Khojali only few years ago.
And do you call this is journalism? I think you are trying to fool Australian community. Be yourself. Armenians are the biggest lairs in history. They killed more than 20 million Jews in support of Nazi's.
This genocide never took place but sure Armenian guerrillas killed thousands of innocent Turks and Muslims during those years.
This will be remembered as SHAME to ABC foreign correspondent.
13:57:01 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Dear ABC,
I have been a long standing fan of ABC, and in particular of programs such as Foreign Correspondent. I am writing to thank you once again for making Australians aware of the atrocities committed by the Turks in 1915. It is important to also note that the Ottoman Turks, prior to 1915 engaged in many pogroms against ethnic minorities e.g. 1896 killings of Armenians ordered by Sultan Abdul Hamid. They also were responsible for the killing of thousands of Greeks.
Unfortunately Armenia is not on the favourable side of world politics, otherwise the genocide would have been recognised by all countries enjoying freedom of speech (such as Australia).
As an Australian, of Armenian background, I applaud your factual, non-biased presentation and use of first hand evidence, such as photographs, transcripts from the Turks and accounts from genocide survivors.
No doubt you will face severe criticism, from Turks, for airing this program. Let us all be thankful that there is no "article 301" in THIS country.
Keep up the good work!
Regards,
Philip
13:47:40 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Whilst I am Australian born I must state up front that my back ground is Turkish. I grew up in typical Turkish household and recall whenever Armenians were mentioned, it always followed a hush - I suppose Turkish children the world over listened to the stories told by their elders of how the Armenians sided with Turkey's WWI foes to displace and murder tens of thousands of Turkish villagers living in Eastern Turkey. As an adult I have researched these events and have found ample evidence to support this view.
Their aim, was to create an autonomous Armenian area carved out of Eastern Turkey. On the promise of this great prize, in WWI, the Armenians were given arms and trained primarily by Russia and ordered and unleashed on an unsuspecting and unarmed civilian Turkish population. Your story failed to provide this context and therefore failed to provide a balanced view of this history.
Even if we look at some events prior to the hostilities of WWI - What should one make of the multiple assassination attempts made on the life of various Ottoman Sultans toward the end of the 19th Century by organised Armenian Terrorist groups - using these tactics to compel the Ottomans to give up land in Eastern Turkey. What should we make of the global campaign of terrorism inflicted by a more recent Armenian terrorist group against Turkish diplomats throughout the 1980's - over 7 diplomats were murdered in cold blood. What of the botched explosion of the Turkish Consular office right here in Melbourne also during the '80's. The building was demolished and only because of the mishandling of the explosives by one of the Armenian Terrorists did the bomb go off whilst the building was empty.
Your story speaks of some bizarre plot in which the Turks are accused by Armenian "historians" of trying to rid the country of Christians - what absolute nonsene. The Ottoman Empire is recognised by a wide body of evidence presented by historians as one of the most tolerant and accepting of different religions, cultures, races than any other great empire throughout history. Eric Campbell ought to have noticed the legacy of this civilised form of Ottoman governance during his visit to Istanbul - there is so much of the former Byzantine Christian Empire preserved throughout the city. The former Saint Sophia Church is one example. Istanbul also boasts one of the oldest operating Christian monestaries any where in the world. Your interview with individuals on the fringes of Turkish society including the junior MP "of nothing" was a disengenius attempt to offer some balance.
So much to say, too little time.
In short, Foreign Correspondent, you've let yourselves down. Your story wreaked of subjectivity, almost as if you were doing one mate a very big favor. I expect so much better from you. Bring back George Negus!
13:42:38 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Dear ABC Programmer,
I am a loyal viewer of many ABC programs including Foreign Correspondent. However, I would like to express my profound anger and disappointment over one of the stories you presented in the ?Foreign Correspondent? program that broadcasted on 22 April 2008 at 9:30pm.
I truly found this program rather biased, distorted, and contained factual errors. I also found this program was totally one-sided and clearly favouring the Armenian allegations. You have presented the story as if you were telling the facts on the issue. But so-called Armenian genocide is quite controversial issue, which many historians believe otherwise. Armenian accusations are usually based on stories that has been told by either family members or falsely fabricated by the Armenian Diaspora. They always failed to back up their claims with evidence or any historical fact. I strongly suggest you to read independent experts on the field such as Justin McCarthy, Heath Lowry, and Stanford Shaw before you make such hostile remarks on the free-to-air network.
It is true that thousands of Armenians have lost their life due to starvation, disease and local rebel attacks during WWI. However, according to many international sources including Australian Foreign Ministry website, at the time, thousands of Turks, also, lost their lives due to same reasons as Armenians. But I guess, on the eyes of the Western world, Turkish losses are less valuable than Armenians.
I cannot go without mentioning the Armenian terrorism, which cost the lives of 42 Turkish diplomats. Armenian terrorist organizations such as Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) and the Justice Commandos of the Armenian Genocide (JCAG) started to operate in mid 1970's and they carried out approximately 200 attacks in 38 cities of 21 countries. One of these attacks took place in Australia on 17 December 1980 when Turkey's Consul General of Sydney Mr.Sarik Ariyak and his security guard Mr.Engin Sever were murdered. The Justice Commandos of the Armenian Genocide (JCAG) was responsible for this terrorist act. This vicious and cowardly attack considered being as one of the most significant terrorist events in the history of Australia by the ASIO.
My message to you is; please be fair and stop your biased coverage on Turkish history.
13:19:56 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Thank you ABC and Eric Campbell for reporting on the challenging issues like in modern Turkey and Armenia. It seems that parallels between Australian Aboriginals and Armenians can be drawn in their yearning for recognition of past events. As we have seen in both cases, denial over the past only exacerbates problems and past wrongs -however painful- must be acknowledged. As in Australia, it seems to me that the only way forward in this situation is a formal, unqualified apology by the Turkish state to the Armenian peoples. G. K. Chesterton quotes on apology. "The injured party does not want to be compensated because he has been wronged; he wants to be healed because he has been hurt."
13:01:41 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Foreign Correspondent has highlighted the genocide of the Armenian people 1915/16 like I have never before come across. Good work. Whoever denies the Armenian genocide in preference to the genocide of the Jews by the Nazis is because the Jewish propaganda is far more powerful and widespread than the Armenian. The images shown are reminiscent of the holocaust perhaps the Nazis took a leaf out of Turkish methodology.
12:10:18 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Thank you to the Foreign Correspondent for raising Turkey?s terrible human rights record which disgracefully continues today. In the civilised word we live, where the right to live without persecution and the right to free speech are basic institutions, how can we ignore Turkey?s actions?
Some of these comments on this forum stating that ?there was no genocide? completely confuses me. We as Australians need only to look at our own historical records for the facts and the shared relationship we share with this great tragedy:
1) It was ANZAC POW?s that recorded some of the first eye witness accounts of Armenian massacres ? documents held to this day at the Australian War Memorial
2) The Armenian Relief Fund of Australia ,which was established by prominent Australian individuals and politicians almost 90 years ago to raise funds and clothing for orphans of the Armenian Genocide ? one of Australia?s first major humanitarian relief efforts
Australia should embrace with pride the efforts we made to save these innocent peoples on the other side of the world. Something we continue to do to date?who can forget the enormous response by all Australians to the Tsunami just years ago?
12:01:20 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks There never is two sides of the story when it comes to Genocide. Did the Germans have there side of the story or any justification of the slaughter of six million Jews? This documentary is portraying the reality in Turkey and is the beginning of sound Multiculturalism in Australia as it opens the doors to reconciliation and helps heal the wounds for Armenians just as Kevin Rudds apology did. It does not in any way bring hatred because it merely speaks the truth. As Turks in a multicultural society they need to accept there past and learn the Australian way, to say sorry and acknowledge there mistakes. In no way the current attitudes of Australian Turks who have had there say in these posts portrays an Australian manner. If they choose to live in this society they need to change and understand the Australian ways.
12:00:04 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Thank you to the Foreign Correspondent for raising Turkey?s terrible human rights record which disgracefully continues today. In the civilised word we live, where the right to live without persecution and the right to free speech are basic institutions, how can we ignore Turkey?s actions?
Some of these comments on this forum stating that ?there was no genocide? completely confuses me. We as Australians need only to look at our own historical records for the facts and the shared relationship we share with this great tragedy:
1) It was ANZAC POW?s that recorded some of the first eye witness accounts of Armenian massacres ? documents held to this day at the Australian War Memorial
2) The Armenian Relief Fund of Australia ,which was established by prominent Australian individuals and politicians almost 90 years ago to raise funds and clothing for orphans of the Armenian Genocide ? one of Australia?s first major humanitarian relief efforts
Australia should embrace with pride the efforts we made to save these innocent peoples on the other side of the world. Something we continue to do to date? who can forget the enormous response by all Australians to the Tsunami just years ago?
10:56:46 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Yesterday night I watched the program about Armenian-Turkish issue. First of all as a liberal person I believe the freedom of speech and the only way to sort out the things btw Turks and Armenians is 'talking'. But when I read even this forum, it s full with angry Turks and Armenians who hate each other. Was it the aim of this program? just making people more angry and filling with hate?!
Obviously it was a one sided program but also the thing bothers me was; I know many Turks who feel sympathy and shares the feelings of Armenians for history. But last night it was just extremely nationalist Turks who were on the program. Thousands of Turk join Hrant Dink's funeral, but you even present it like it s only Armenians who joined the funeral. As it is mentioned before, the reason why Turkey closed the borders to Armenia is not genocide arguments, it is just the mass killing happened in Hocali in 90's.
It s really hard to heal the things from both side, just recently some people with common sense and responsible start to elevate their voice to stop this hate. And this kind of programs are not helping it, it s just making the things more complicated.
Good on you?!?!
10:28:43 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Hi there,
I would just like to sincerely thank your team for your "Armenia/Turkey Ghosts of the past" report which aired last night.
The report effectively displayed the troubles facing the region, caused by the continual denial of genocide.
I am Armenian, born and raised in Australia, and like many of my friends, have the deep desire to see justice served. The genocide has impacted every Armenian, we all have family members and relatives who were directly affected be the deportation. My own grandfather, the youngest of 12 children, lost all his siblings and was forced to walk to a foreign country and deny his race. Thank God he survived.
But for the 1.5 million who perished, we all have hope that one day their souls will find peace when Turkey accepts their past.
Through programs like yours we are able to continue our efforts in making the world see the devastating affects of genocide but in particular the denial of it. It's not just the denial of the Armenian Genocide in 1915, but many others that took place around the world soon after and yet again have been "covered up", in particular the genocide in Darfur, which is still occurring.
However, truth always prevails, and justice will be served.
Thankyou once again, particularly Eric Campbell, who did a fantastic job in presenting both sides of the issue.
Your program is regularly watched in my house and when we heard of this report we knew you guys would do a great job.
All the best with future projects.
Cheers.
10:11:44 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Great story. Sometimes it takes courage of conviction to assert the truth.
Let's not forget also the important contribution of the Australian humanitarian relief to help Armenians at the time. For example, Edith Glanville from Haberfield, Sydney. She lost her son Leigh, from the First battalion, who died in battle at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915.
Edith was the first woman Justice of Peace in NSW and founded both the Quota and Soroptimist clubs in Australia. These organisations are a global voice for women working through awareness, advocacy and action.
Most notably, she was honorary secretary of the Armenian Relief Fund of NSW from 1922, and became a major driving force in raising more than $100,000 worth of supplies, (millions in today?s value) within months. Other members of the relief fund included Charles Lloyd Jones, first chairman of the ABC; and Oscar Lines, the general manager of the Bank of NSW, and many others.
09:17:08 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks
I would like to thank ABC for broadcasting such a well-thought documentary that links the past with the present.
I am a Turk, and I am deeply sorry and very ashamed about what happened to Armenians in 1915 and onwards. What my nationalistic fellow Turks cannot, or do not want to see, is the simple and very-well documented historic fact. It is the fact that the Armenians had been deported, and then killed or starved to death in the inhabitable Syrian desert of Dei-Zor, simply because they were Armenians. The deportation policy was a well-organised policy of ethnic cleansing, and I am so sorry to say that it was a successful policy.
I agree some of messages here saying that there may still be hope for a Turkish and Armenian reconciliation.. It might be possible if and when my fellow citizens are ready to be 'sorry' for the killings of hundreds of thousands Armenians - child, old, men, women, rich, poor, educated, illiterate...
And here my few words to the Armenians; genocide survivors, their children and grandchildren... Please accept my sincere personal apology for what your ancestors had gone through during and after 1915... I came to Australia, because I wanted to do so, but being here had hot been your grandparents' choice... I know and I am deeply sorry for this. I wholeheartedly share your pain, grief, and sorrow and also the mourning for those lost their lives in 1915 and for those who scattered all across the world after then and lived and died far away from their homeland.
My hope is that my country will one day face darkest pages of its history and a reconciliation process would commence... My dream is that my children or grandchildren will share their best and worst times together with their Armenian friends as their ancestors did for many centuries...
Armenians, I am sorry, so sorry...
00:42:33 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Duped again! what have you achieved by biased reporting other then becoming a tool for the Hate-Mongering displayed by a minority of Armenians, its become such an annual repetition that it can be dubbed the "Armenian Hatred Month" . For every story told there is yet another side twofold or threefold. We tend not to repeat it in order not to plant the seed of hatred within our children!
00:28:06 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks I was very happy to see your program , Should be a lot more on Armenian genocide, I would like to see Australia give Recognition of the Armenian Genocide , And Push America to do the same . One of our Family gave his life at Gallipoli an Armenian Killed by the Turks , Turkey must accept that they were responsible for this Act of Genocide , Stop the cover up and the brainwashing and let the people hear the truth of what really happened . Thanks A.B.C.
00:06:54 23 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks As a proud Armenian-Australian, I have to firstly congratulate the ABC and reporter, Eric Campbell for his outstanding research and presentation of this very sad, sensitive and difficult story of the Armenian people.
It gave me great relief to see exposure of the truth about the very sad Armenian past.
Having seen the program it's quite plain, clear and obvious to see which side justice is on.
I couldn't imagine how anyone on Earth could try to destroy such a beautiful race as the Armenians. Let the public viewers be the judge of this.
Anyway it doesn't matter- we the Armenian Nation- a very strong willed and determined race HAVE survived, DO survive and WILL CONTINUE to survive- NO MATTER WHAT!
23:55:41 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Thank you for such a powerful and most impressive program on the Armenian Genocide. This is high quality journalism. Memorable, indeed.
23:30:07 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks I am writing to thank you for the edition broadcast on the night of 22nd April 2008. It was balanced, well presented and to the point. I wish ABC had done this earlier, but better late than never. Thank you for your good work and your courage and determination, in particular.
23:28:23 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Congratulations on a very well presented segment about the relations between Armenia and Turkey.
It is imperative that the Turkish Government acknowledges the murder of 1.5 million Armenians. Continuing to deny this fact and contaminating the minds of their citizens with distortions of the truth will only impede any attempt of Turkey becoming a "European Democracy".
How can a nation claim to become a democracy if they find the need to silence their citizens against voicing their views about Turkey which do not conform with the Government??? Speaking against Turkey is apparently against the law (they need to check their definition of democracy!!)
Turkey will never move forward to become the "European Democracy" they aspire to become whilst they continue to harbour a criminal past.
23:23:01 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks RE: Erric and Mark's comments
Well said ABC should be shamed
23:15:37 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks My previous comment should have read, Why is ABC bias towards Turkey ?
23:11:00 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks It takes courage and maturity for a nation to admit its wrongs then evolve to the next step which is to apologise for its misdeeds. I guess Turkey is not quite there yet!
23:03:34 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Wow, the Turkish denialist movement has reached new heights (or is it lows).
Maybe Rudd should give them a lesson in facing up to ones past and accepting responsibility for the policies and actions undertaken under previous governments.
I guess there's one major difference - I have the right to criticize and remember the policies of the past. If I were in Turkey now, I'd be on my way to prison.
Thank you Eric Campbell for that very interesting story.
23:03:10 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Dear Eric,
My grandmother died this morning, she was 90 years old. She too was one of thousands of Christians who fled her native land: Turkey as it?s called now. She was not Armenian, but Assyrian. Her family fled their land and headed to Urmia, on Lake Urmia. The Turkish killed three-quarter of Assyrians and Armenians (not to be confused with Armenians) yet, no one has reported their stories, and I do not understand why you did not at lease mentioned them. In late 1915, Djeudet Bey, Military Governor of Van Province, upon entering Siirt ( Seert) with 8,000 soldiers whom he himself called ?The Butchers' Battalion? (Kasap Taburu), ordered the massacre of almost 20,000 Assyrian civilians in at least 30 villages. Many of which fled either to Urmia, and the Syrian Desert During. During the winter of 1915, 4,000 Assyrians died from disease, hunger, and exposure, and worst about 1000 were killed in the village of Urmia by the Turkish authorities, who advanced on them. Today I am her legacy, I shall always remember her, as wonderful ?nana Mariam?, this not about, a triumph of good over evil, I do not think my people are good nor that Turks are evil. Nevertheless, I?m sadden that no one will ever know what she went through as child. The Assyrians and the Arameans are scattered all over, living in slums of great cities of the world. We too have Hrant Dink, his name is Dr. Fuat Deniz. He too was killed by young Turk, for speaking out against the denial of the Assyrian and Aramean genocide, not in turkey but in Sweden. Another was, Father Yusuf Akbulut, a Syriac Orthodox Assyrian priest from St. Mary's Church in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Turkish authorities arrested him after stating in an interview that he believed Armenians, Assyrians, Armenians and Greeks have been victims of genocide by Turkey. I?m writing this not to provoke violence, or anything sinister but to tell you about nana Mariam?s legacy: Love and Peace, that was her motto. Love and Peace.
23:01:05 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks As always all you hear is the one side of the story and always putting Turks down. As you can see from all the comments, you gave the whole nation one side of the story and not the full story...You can see how brain washed Armenians enjoyed every bit of it.
I haven't met one Armenian so far that likes Turks, shame to media for giving false information...We could be trying to build a friendship instead you are doing the right opposite!!
22:59:19 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks As Turkey & Armenia are neighbours,sharing a common border,not many realize that they both pray to the same God( God of Abraham). If religion is the dividing factor in reconciliation,next time they face their God and pray,they should remember who they are praying to. For God to answer their prayers, both parties must understand the deep and most basic common human need, and that is to live in peace & harmony.
22:57:03 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Dear Sir or Madam,
Referring to your program "Armenia/Turkey: Ghosts of the Pasts" published on the night of 22 of April is unfortunately serving to promote Armenian Diaspora's campaign against Turkey. It has been prepared in a way that Turkey is such as country to cover its past.
I REGRET to watch such a program in a country that has a very special historical ties with Turkey. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's historical message to Australian mothers who lost their suns in Gallipoli should today prove at least one big fact, that is that nation has had no event in its history to lead a genocide to its any minority and does not deserve to be seen as a nation with genocide past.
Could you please show me a historical reason why Turks had to deliberately kill a million people? Armenian people have always been part of Ottoman Empire for centuries and the empire had enough time to sweep all Armenians if there was a particular historical reason.
Your programme focused on Hrant Dink's murder which is not acceptable in any way. But your programme did not mention about the root cause of the move of the Armenian population, such as murders and slaughters done by Armenian gangs which were supported by Armenian politics, or ASALA Armenian terrorist organization that killed many Turkish diplomats around the world, or recent Armenian financial support to PKK (terrorist organization).
On international platforms, Turkey is not opening discussions on these and many hostile events. However, in your programme, keeping its border closed is tried to be shown as closing the doors to discussions with Armania. We know Armenian economy is collapsing and it needs that border is open. For an objective programme, I would expect you to talk about how Armenian Diaspora prevents open-discussions on this matter in the USA and Europe(especially in France). And expect you to mention about why Armania does not accept Turkey's suggestion to search for Ottoman archives to prove any genocide. And a recent confess made by Armenian Diaspora indicating that getting a genocide recognized is a gateway to claim compensations and eventually land from Turkey. And a small-scale genocide done by Armenians in Hocali (an Azerbaijan village) in 26-Feb-1992.
Your programme was not objective at all and serving completely for Armenian propaganda when looked at the subjects reviewed.
When eventually Turkey has enough and Turks speak up, the world will see the real face of Armenian strategy. Then, the world will turn its back to those people for a longtime.
David Whitman
22:53:47 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Thank you ABC for presenting such a well researched and enlightening segment on the Armenian Genocide. Many Australian POW's in Turkey during WW1 witnessed the killings and deportations. The memoirs of these POW's are housed in the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. There were approximately 2.5 million Christian Armenians (indigenous from atleast 2000BC) in Turkey at the beginning of WW1 and 18 million Turks (originally from central Asia 14th century AD). There are now approximately 80 million Turks and approximately 60,000 fearful Armenians (mainly in Istanbul and practically none in their ancient homeland of Eastern Anatolia). I wonder which one of these groups committed the Genocide!!!
22:52:29 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Wonderful programme on Armenian genocide !
22:51:53 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks What a professional piece of journalism. Thank you for providing an insight to the world of the Armenian Genocide and Turkeys denialist machine.
For those who question the need for governments to recognise these events as genocide are only fooling themselves. Genocide is not a political tool. The Armenian Genocide has been acknowledged by various nations around the world. Even in the US today, the issue of the Armenian Genocide is no longer a question. The question, surrounds threats and accusation by the Turkish government. The question, is when Turkey will finally own up to this horrific part of their history and join the civilised world.
22:51:53 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks When will ABC ever show the Turkish,or even better, other historian's view from around the world when it comes to "Turkish Genocide" by the Armenians ?
If you are ever interested in real facts, I can provide a DVD produced by an American historian.
22:39:35 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks As an Australian of Armenian descent, I was proud of ABC TV and Foreign Correspondent for broadcasting this sensitive topic of the Armenian Genocide. I would like to say that my great grandmother used to relate stories of how her people were massacred and tortured around her. How can modern Turkey still keep it?s population in the dark about the atrocities committed during the genocide? Shame..shame?shame!
22:39:23 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks I can ask Eric Campbell the same question as he asked during his program regarding the so called Armenian genocide to the Turkish MP, how can he be so sure this genocide had happened ? He was extremely bias in the way he presented both sides of the argument. He made himself judge and jury and convicted a nation with a proud history with so called genocide. Eric Campbell tried to link the killing of the Armenian journalist in Turkey with the treatment of the Armenian minority in Turkey in the past. What about linking the killing of many Turkish Ambassadors all around the world by the Armenian terrorist group, ASALA. Obviously that would not go well with Eric's superiors who are influenced by the powerful Armenian lobby. I wonder why he chose to make a such a program just before ANZAC day.
22:37:40 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks I watched your show tonight and I didn't like one bit!! Reason for that is, you have shown one side of the story as usual and not the full story. Why don't you show the Turkish side of the story and the photos from our side and the museums showing our side of the story and so on...This is not fear when you are using Government TV channel to promote such a thing called Armenian genocide. I wander if there is a Armenian director in this team?? Anyway have a nice life and good luck with everything you do and I hope you do the right thing next time because I like watching your show.
22:32:42 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks I am neither Armenian nor Turkish, but after having traveled to both countries, and meeting not only ancestors of Armenians who experienced the horrific ordeal of the Armenian Genocide, but also Turkish intellectuals who have spoken about their sad history, I can only applaud Foreign Correspondence and Eric Campbell for your story about the Armenian Genocide. Just as the Australian Government has apologized to the indigenous people of this country, so too must the Turkish government acknowledge it?s past history. The only path to peace and justice is by the Truth. There is an abundance of proof of the genocide, which is sadly ignored by governments such as the USA, as it will jeopardize diplomatic relations with Turkey.
22:32:09 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks I CONGRATULATE FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT FOR ITS FRANKNESS IN PRESENTING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE. PERHAPS TURKEY& TURKISH-AUSTRALIANS CAN LEARN A LESSON OR TWO FROM OUR PRIME MINISTER'S HUMBLE EFFORTS TO SAY "SORRY" FOR PAST ATROCITIES AND DEEP HURTS. THERE MAY BE HOPE FOR RECONCILIATION BETWEEN ARMENIANS & TURKS.
22:29:57 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Dear Eric and Foreign Correspond producer
For the segment due to be shown on 22 April. ?
This program will let down many Turkish-Australians? by reading of your program?s synopsis, this film again one of those ones that turning the history upside down with full of biased emerging statements in order convey to inform with false and misleading report given to the Australian people sadly on the week of ?the Friendship? between Australia and Turkiye.
Turkish Australians who have being living in Australia harmoniously by respecting multicultural Australia and Australian values for more than 40 years now. However, such this program supports to give immerse reverse impact. Your report and ABC TV should already know that such a divisive program doesn?t and won?t help Australia where supposed be a fair go country for everyone, every nationality unless an opportunity should have been provided for every nation to be able express their story and their historical realities. Otherwise, such one sided and bias program encourages and sustains animosity nothing else! Is that what you want?
Turks believe the notion of ' animosity breeds animosity; it is a vicious circle ? therefore Turks support the idea of ? Peace and Harmony in Australia, Peace and Harmony in the Universe?.
Turks never supports hatred for any nation consequently Turkish people in Australia and Turkey never hate Australians for invasion of the Gallipoli War. They rather focus on the lessons from history and try to grow friendship and peace in Australia out of the Gallipoli War because they know that their heritage values require supporting peace, not war!.
They also believe that there are hardly any wars, which the past conflicted parties jointly commemorate. Gallipoli serves as a message of ' PEACE ' to the whole world.
Lets celebrate friendships and peaceful acts not to support sick minds please! Otherwise you and your like minded people have to chose imperialistic ideas to grow in Australia or not
Lest we forget the price of animosity!
22:26:53 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Thank you for the balanced report on the Armenian Genocide.
I hope over time nationalists in Turkey will come to realise that their denialist views simply do not make sense.
The Justice Party MP obviously does not know what constitutes Genocide under the UN convention. According to him forceful removal of Armenians from their homes to 'relocation' centres in the Syrian Desert does not seem to fit in this definition. Nor the fact that they were not simply moved from 'the war zones' but from all over the empire.
I believe the Australian public should be made more aware of this fact and come to realise that while a nation like Australia was being born at ANZAC cove in Gallipoli another nation was being matched to its death. One can not commemorate one without the other. I applaud the NSW Parliament for being the first in Australia to do this with a unanimous resolution passed in 1997.
Once again thank you.
22:25:17 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Just watched your program about Turkey and Armenia. We are really disappointed with your biased coverage of this highly sensitive matter. It is such an important subject for both nations and instead of bringing the information from the historians, you gave coverage to an extreme nationalist - very one sided. It looked like you planned what you wanted to cover before starting your research. We were in Turkey recently and we had the privilege to discuss this subject with historians lecturing at the unis and also providing info to the foreign historians. Their knowledge could provide more insight to such a sensitive topic. We found your program very irresponsible...
22:25:09 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Eric Campbell's report "Ghosts of the Past" tells of a truth that is a wound in Turkish history - not only does it holds it back as a nation but it continues to hurt the ancestors of its victims. A well chosen report on a topical issue.
22:24:44 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Care to mention Armenian terrorism? Their endless assaults on Turkish diplomats?
http://armenians-1915.blogspot.com/2006/04/605-armenian-terrorism-ethnic-terror.html
Care to mention Armenia's still ongoing invasion of the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan? Azeri genocide?
http://www.azerigenocide.org/hist/hist02.htm
You mentioned in your program that Armenians sided with Russians during WWI towards their independence. Were the Ottomans to embrace them and cry with tears of joy? At a time when the empire faced threats from every side, it would not tolerate attacks from its own citizens or any revolts.
I find your effort sincere, but I would like to see you walk in the same shoes with the military leaders of that time. Middle East is not a peace heaven, and it takes lives to guard your own land and country.
Armenia has been invited to participate in a council of historians several times now, and it has refused every offer. Wondered why? Put the prejudice and the bias aside, Armenian people were killed, but did you see any hint towards a plan that was aimed to kill all Armenians? As was Hitler towards Jews? Or did you see an army/country trying to protect itself from backstabbing?
Did your apologies soothe and save the Aboriginal people? Did the Americans lend a helping hand to the Indians? (Care to look for massacres there as well?) I like brave journalists, but a journalist has the responsibility to tell the story fully.
One last remark, I laughed at your comment saying Turks were afraid of Armenians capturing eastern provinces and Ararat. Get real ;)
22:23:00 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks In regards to you story Armenia/Turkey - Ghosts of the Past, it is a shame that only 1 side has been betrayed, especially considering the factual inconsistencies such as:
-Turkey closing the borders when Armenia achieved independence. This is incorrect as the border was closed due to the Armenian annexation via military force of Azerbaijan territory
-Armenia having a state that extended to included Mount Ararat. This is incorrect as no state existed and all territories were under Ottoman command.
-The government of Turkey has constantly asked for an independent inquiry into the events that occurred, yet the Armenian government has continued to drag its heels on the issue.
Although at least you mentioned that the events were due to the Armenian's living in the eastern Anatolian uprising, you fail to understand that the word genocide is a systematic approach which does not apply in this situation, as the Armenians living for centuries I might add in the other parts of the Ottoman Empire were not affected. Although I am sure that there will be Armenians and other ethnic minorities who will say they suffered for centuries under Ottoman rule despite evidence that points to the contrary.
Still you cant help those with sour grapes trying to gain what they can, even if that is by going to other parliaments around the world to except there claims, circumventing historians. Good luck to the Armenians, maybe they will get the eastern part of Turkey....good luck also to the Kurds.....maybe they will get the southern part of Turkey....good luck to the Greeks....maybe they will get the western part of Turkey...I am sure that will happen when Australia gives its land back to the Aboriginals, America to the Native Indians, New Zealanders to the Kiwis...but keep on the great reporting Foreign Correspondent....
22:20:51 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks As the grandchild of survivors of the Armenian Genocide it was empowering to view such a balanced piece of journalism. It was also intriguing that an MP could admit to deportation and starvation as part of a policy of deportation, and yet claim the absence of Genocide. Now I'm no scholar, but when you force people to march through the desert with no food or water, when you rape them, torture them, hang them, murder them, all because they are a part of a Christian ethnic minority - well, surely that constitutes genocide.
22:19:05 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Dear Eric,
You're very brave man, thank you for telling the truth!
That is what I called professionalism.
THANK YOU!!!!
22:17:24 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Well, about time the real side of the story has been shown to the Australian public. But not enough was shown on this segment. Why weren't other prominent historians interviews? Historians such as Richard Hovanessian, Vahakn Dadrian, Karl Bardakjian?
Armenians everywhere still suffer the consequences of the cruel last days of Ottoman Empire. How dare anyone, Turk or otherwise, deny such an event even occured? Shame on you!! The evidence is not just for the historians of 1915 but even after that in 1923 burning of Smyrna and the pogroms of the 1950's. If it wasnt genocide, what happened the Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians? Did you get shipped off into outer space? And if they return, they still be second class citizens on their indigenous lands. It is the Turks who are the foreigners and just so happen through fate to be have bcome the more dominant ethnic race. Give a break you deniers. Its clear who has more to lose. It is clear who are liars and racist.
22:17:00 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Congratulations to FC for a wonderful presentation on the Armenian Genocide. Turkey is a country with a great and promising future but it must deal with its history in a mature and sensible way. Using Germany as an example Turkey can only benefit as it faces history in its complexity and not through the delusion of continuous denial. The ultra nationalists are fighting a battle already lost. No doubt, in time, Turkey will chose a European democratic and liberal future and leave behind the paranoid and dictatorial fears of the Kemalist state.
Andrew Campbell
22:16:55 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks Eric Campbell managed to present a program on the Armenian Genocide without once mentioning that Armenians are Christians, and that a key issue in the genocide is their faith and not only their ethnicity. There were multiple shots of Armenians in churches and the historian at the Armenian Genocide museum mentioned the Christian connection, but Eric did not. Eric has become complicit in an aspect of the Turkish denial.
22:16:29 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks I suggest you read this website and do your journalism proffesionally before accusing Turks of false lies.
Where was the balnaced reporting where was the interview with the Turkish victims from the armenian gangs tashnaks etc etc?
http://www.tallarmeniantale.com/
we are ready to sit down with the armeninas when ever they are to sort this historical lie out.
BUT we cannot find partners such is the lies and hate fed.
Here this man is brave and he is not even Turkish have a good read to get a TRUTH and BALANCE
http://www.tallarmeniantale.com/
Thank god for the internet otherwise the people would believe anything they see on TV
http://www.tallarmeniantale.com/
22:13:09 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks It is so important for the world to recognise atrocities against minority groups. Systematic killings should never be forgotten. Turkey must face up to its past and be brought to justice just as Germany was for it's Genocide of Jews in the 1940's. Germany still pays... why is Turkey getting away with Mass murders and Genocide???
Thank you ABC for covering this story as it should be. Ask yourself why is Turkey trying and lobbying so hard for it to be forgotten?
22:12:19 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks I applaude the ABC for their potrayel of the events perpentrated by the Ottoman Empire during and after 1915 against the Armenians.
For the archaic Turks blindly swearing false accusations in this guestbook, wake up. A sizebale portion of the world has recognised these events for what they were- those that haven't merely fear political retribution. Enjoy it while it lasts- these tactics can only last so long.
..and to the laughable comments made on the program by the lawyer..implying that Turkey is on the cusp of becoming a "European Democracy"..dream on.
???
22:10:56 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks I felt that the program shown on 22.04.08 about the genocide was onesided and only shown to show the slaughter to the armenians which was rediculous and 1 sided i strongly believe that a turkish muslim person to say to a priest that we will hang you and drink your blood! I am outraged and disgusted and it just goes to show how false all these alagation are.
21:51:51 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks I thought it may help for everyone to check this internet site aswell ..
http://www.armenian--genocide.com/
Unfortunately, the issue has never reached a properly constituted court. If the Armenians were convinced of their own case, they would have taken it to one. Instead, they lobby bewildered or bored parliamentary assemblies to "recognize the genocide."
Congress should not take a position, one way or the other, on this affair. Let historians decide. The Turkish government has been saying this for years. It is the Armenians who refuse to take part in a joint historical review, even when organized by impeccably neutral academics. This review is the logical and most sensible path forward. Passage of the resolution by the full House of Representatives would constitute an act of legislative vengeance and would shame well-meaning scholars who want to explore this history from any vantage point other than the one foisted upon the world by ultranationalist Armenians.
16:25:49 22 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks It is a shame that those Armenian Genocide denialist on this guest page continue to bury their heads in the sand despite the irrefutable documentary evidence and long-standing findings of genocide scholars.
On 13 June 1997 the Association of Genocide Scholars passed the following resolution:
June 13, 1997
Resolution
That this assembly of the Association of Genocide Scholars in its conference held in Montreal, June 11-13, 1997, reaffirms that the mass murder of Armenians in Turkey in 1915 is a case of genocide which conforms to the statutes of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide. It further condemns the denial of the Armenian Genocide by the Turkish government and its official and unofficial agents and supporters.
On 7 March 2000, at the 13th Anniversary of the Scholars' Conference on the Holocaust and the Churches Convening at St. Joseph University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,USA, 126 Holocaust Scholars, holders of Academic Chairs and Directors of Holocaust Research and Studies Centers, participants of the Conference, signed a statement affirming that the World War I Armenian Genocide is an incontestable historical fact and accordingly urge the governments of Western democracies to likewise recognize it as such. The petitioners, among whom is Nobel Laureate for Peace Elie Wiesel, who was the keynote speaker at the conference, also asked the Western Democracies to urge the Government and Parliament of Turkey to finally come to terms with a dark chapter of Ottoman-Turkish history and to recognize the Armenian Genocide. This would provide an invaluable impetus to the process of the democratisation of Turkey.
The very "father" of the UN Genocide Convention, and who coined the word "genocide", Raphael Lempkin, was the first to characterise the mass extermination of 1.5 million unarmed Armenian men, women (including elderly) and children by Ottoman Turkey during WWI as the "Armenian Genocide".
The Turkish State, and its apologists, who continue to deny this dark chapter of Ottoman Turkish history do no service to the Turkish nation.
Dear John
15:47:44 21 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks How dare you imply that Turks do not have any idea of their history. The Turks are very proud of their history.
Let me ask you and the presenter of this show.
why are Turkish dead are mentioned? Who will cry for the thousands of Turks murdered by the Armenians during the material times.
Who murdered Sarik Arayak and Engin Sever ? Where are the murderers now ?
I feel extremely disturbed like many other Turkish Australians who have being living in Australia respecting Multiculturalism and Australian values. However, such this program/s supports give to the society the reverse impact.
Turks believe the notion of ' Animosity breeds animosity; it is a vicious circle ' and Peace and Harmony in Australia, Peace and Harmony in the universe.- This is what ATATURK has taught the TURKS and we carry this notion always.
Lest we forget the price of animosity ...
23:30:53 18 Apr, 2008 EST
Remarks For the segment due to be shown on 22 April. Most likely condemn and bombarded from Turkish viewers which unfortuanetly many of them had no prior knowledge or any idea that this happened in their history. For many it will come as a shock. I lived in Turkey for 20 years and I experienced the suffering of the Christian people through the history although there are some wonderful Turks who understand the issue and silently try to pursue the government to accept the fact and be honest about the past. I really congratulate to be so brave to even expose the story. My grandmother saw the most horrible things in her childhood and miraculously survived. I thank you for your time and effort to produce this documentary. And hopefully one day all nations will not live in the past and forgive and forget. Thanks again for your courage.
15:44:55 17 Apr, 2008 EST
This so called genocide has not been recognised by Turkey or the world. Turkey has opened its archives for the Armenians but to date all the Armenians are doing is lobbying. Please do not tell one sided stories. I saw the preview of your story and very dissapointed.
When are you going to do your investigation to come up with both side of the coin.
Response From ABC To Halit Sindi
Dear Halit Sindi
Thank you for your email.
While noting your comments, the ABC cannot agree that this report was one-sided or biased. The report contained a range of views from both sides of the issue and having reviewed the broadcast, the ABC believes it to be in keeping with its Code of Practice.
http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/documents/codeprac07.pdf
The report included the views of the MP, Suat Kiniklioglu, a member of the ruling Justice Party whose grandfather was killed by Armenians fighting with the Allies. He acknowledged that there had been a mass explusion of Armenians in 1915 and that a great many died. He presented the argument that these killings did not amount to genocide because they were not pre-planned.
Mr Campbell also spoke to Fuat Turgut, a lawyer representing the man accused of the murder of Hrant Dink, was also given an opportunity to deny the claims of genocide made by various Armenians. The report also clearly noted the view of the Turkish government and the outlawing of comments regarding an Armenian genocide.
The ABC also notes the following excerpts of histories on the issue by renowned historians Norman Davies and Bernard Lewis. Please be assured that your comments have been brought to the attention of the program makers.
Yours sincerely
Kieran Doyle
Audience and Consumer Affairs
Europe, by Norman Davies, Professor Department of History, School of Slavonic and Eastern European Studies, University of London. Publisher Oxford, 1996.
"On 27 May, 1915, the Ottoman Government decreed that the Armenian population of eastern Anatolia should be forcibly deported. The Armenians, who were Christians, were suspected of sympathising with the Russian enemy on the Caucasian Front, and of planning a united Armenia under Russian protection. Some two to three million people were affected. Though accounts differ, one third of them are thought to have been massacred; one third to have perished during deportations; and one third to have survived. The episode is often taken to be the first modern instance of mass genocide. At the Treaty of Sevres (1092) the Allied Powers recognised united Armenia as a sovereign republic. In practice they allowed the country to be partitioned between Soviet Russia and Turkey."
The Middle East, by Professor Bernard Lewis, an authority on Islamic and Middle Eastern history.
Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London 1995
"In the spring of 1915 when Armenian rebels had gained control of Van,the British were at the Dardanelles, the Russians attacking in the East and another British force apparently advancing on Baghdad the Ottoman government decided on the deportation and relocation of the Armenian population of Anatolia - a practice sadly familiar in the region since biblical times. Some categories of Armenians, along with their families,were declared exempt from thew deportation order; Catholics,Protestants, railway workers and members of the armed forces. But the great mass of Armenians in Anatolia extending far beyond the endangered areas and suspect groups, was included in both the deportations and its deadly consequences,
The deportees suffered appalling hardship. In an embattled empire desperately short of manpower, neither soldiers nor gendarmes were available and he task of escorting the deportees was entrusted to hastily recruited local posses. Estimates vary considerably as to the numbers of but there can be no doubt that least hundreds of thousands of Armenians perished, perhaps more than a million. Many succumbed to hunger disease and exposure; great numbers were brutally murdered either by local tribesmen and villagers, through the negligence or with the complicity of their unpaid, unfed and undisciplined escorts, or by the escorts themselves. "
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