435) Up to 200,000 Armenians fought with allied troops against the Turkish army during the first World War

Well-known Turkish historian Professor Turkkaya Ataov has brought forth two documents which he claims will undermine Armenian claims of genocide earlier in the century. The documents, say Professor Ataov, prove that up to 200,000 Armenians fought with allied troops against the Turkish army during the first World War. According to Ataov, "if I revealed the name of these documents, the Armenians would either destroy them or have them destroyed."

Noting the extremely high numbers of Armenian soldiers admitted to in these documents, Professor Ataov says "200 thousand is a serious number. It is atleast 65 thousand more than the American soldiers found in Iraq today."

Speaking about where he found the documents, Ataov said he had come across them in foreign libraries and archives. The professor noted that he could not reveal the exact locations where he came across the documents, as he feared Armenian sources would attempt to destroy them.

October 31, 2005
Hurriyet Newspaper

Read Full Post !

434) Armenian President Rejects Any Contact With Turkish PM

* An opportunity for a Erdogan-Kocharian meeting in Denmark next month is missed due to Armenian President Robert Kocharian’s refusal to attend NATO Parliamentary Assembly meeting. Erdogan will attend as guest of honor and give a speech in the meeting. . . .
* Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said yesterday he doesn't want to have symbolic talks with Turkey as there's been no progress in bilateral relations since he met with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul.

* Armenian side had not accepted Turkish PM’s invitation for Istanbul NATO Summit in 2003. Armenian President rejected Erdogan’s joint commission to discuss historical disputes in this year too

Emel TURANGOL - Armenian President Robert Kocharian has turned down an invitation by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly to attend its 51st annual meeting in Denmark next month due to the ‘Turkey factor’.
"An important opportunity for a meeting between Turkish and Armenian leaders is to be missed," one European diplomat told The New Anatolian, a Turkish daily. Many diplomats in Ankara had expected the assembly's meeting to bring together Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, providing them with a step towards normalizing relations between the neighboring countries. There is no diplomatic relations between two countries. Turkey closed down its territorial border gates when Armenian forces occupied 20 percent of neighboring Azerbaijani territories. Yerevan does not recognize Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s national borders. It is claimed that the Yerevan also supports Armenian separatism in Georgia.

Turkish PM Tayyip Erdogan will still attend the meeting as a "guest of honor" and will address the parliamentarians, Turkish sources said. Erdogan is expected to make a pointed reference to "good neighbor ties" in his speech. Turkey has solved its long-lasting problems with the neighboring countries except Armenia. The thorny relations with Bulgaria, Syria and Iran for instance are now smother than ever. Turkey-Syria trade has been increased and Bulgaria has become a gateway to the Balkans. Even Turkey-Iraq relations is better than Turkey-Armenia relations.

Relations between Turkey and Armenia, which do not have diplomatic ties, witnessed a major step when Erdogan sent a letter to Kocharian in April. In this letter, Erdogan suggested the establishment of a joint commission of historians to shed light on the issue of "Armenian genocide" claims. In his reply, however, Kocharian rejected the offer. Unofficial diplomatic contacts, whose contents remain mostly secret, have followed since then. Armenia uses its lobbies in the EU and North America to make pressure on Turkey. Yerevan called Turkey to open the territorial borders with no pre-condition though the air gates are open to business and other civilian relations. Turkey on the other hand argues that Armenia must recognize the international borders in the region and to withdraw its occupying forces from Azerbaijani provinces. Ankara says that Armenia should not put the historical disputes at the heart of relations.

Diplomatic sources indicate that Turkey has two expectations for the normalization of relations and the opening of its border with Armenia. The first is that Yerevan stops its drumbeat of genocide claims and the second is a partial Armenian withdrawal, or its commitment towards one, from its occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Dr. Nilgun Gulcan told the JTW that Turkey respects the Armenian approach about the 1915 events: “Armenians think that the 1915 events was a genocide. They make propagandas to convince the international community for the decades. They spent ten millions of dollars every year. All nations are free to think in a way and no nations has to agree on every issues. What Turkey want is not to force Armenians to shift their ideas about the genocide allegations. However, if you seek to develop your relations with Turkey, you cannot put the most thorny subjects at the heart of the relations”.

Dr. Sedat Laciner, head of the Ankara-based ISRO agrees with Dr. Gulcan. Dr. Laciner cannot understand the “Armenian snobbish” attitude towards Turkey. “Yerevan behave as if Armenia does not need relations with Turkey. If Armenia does not need any trade with Turkey, so Yerevan should not insist on opening of the borders. They even reject to speak anything with Turkey. If you cannot bear even to any dialogue, how can you make trade?” Dr. Laciner asks. “Armenia has to face the realities. Turkish PM has taken great steps to normalize the relations risking his popular support. Turkish people do not enthusiastically support Mr. Erdogan’s Armenia initiatives. Turkish PM risks his credibility in political life. He has a dream. He wants to solve all the problems with the neighbors during his term. However Armenia resists. Armenian approach is named ‘shut-up-and-accept-it’ approach. They do not listen, they do not try to understand the other side. It is unfortunate that Yerevan Government seems a past-obsessive government. They focus on the past problems instead of today’s issues. The politics is made for the living people, not for the deads” Dr. Laciner added.

ARMENIAN FM: NO SHOW TALKS WITH TURKEY

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said Thursday that he doesn't want to have ‘symbolic talks’ with Turkey as there’s been no progress in bilateral relations since he met with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul.

Speaking to German daily Suddeutsche Zeitung, Oskanian said, "There's been no progress in relations between Turkey and Armenia for one-and-a-half years. I don't want to have symbolic talks with Turkey aimed at persuading the international community that there's been progress in relations even though there hasn't been. Ankara is not ready to take concrete and serious steps; this is sad, but Turkey obeys the interests of a third country."

“TURKISH PROPGANDA GAME”

Asked about the Armenian rejection of the Turkish suggestion to establish a joint commission composed of Armenian and Turkish historians to investigate the Armenian claims of genocide, Oskanian replied, "This is a Turkish propaganda game. First of all the evidence is obvious. Secondly, such a commission could not work free from realities. Turkey should first open its borders and set up diplomatic relations with us. This initiative would be meaningful after a start to diplomatic relations."

Armenians argue that the 1915 Relocation Campaign was a genocide against the Armenians. However the Turkish Government has never accepted the allegations since 1923. According to the Turkish historians, there was an Armenian riot during the First World War and most of the Armenians were killed in the communal clashes and bad war circumstances. The Ottoman Government too had rejected the allegations. Turkey also says more than 500,000 Turkish and Kurdish people were massacred by the separatist armed Armenians during the same period. Armenian aimed to establish a separate country on the Eastern provinces of the Ottoman Empire though they had no majority in any of these provinces. Russia backed Armenian militants attacked the Muslim villages and killed many. With the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923, Armenians failed to establish an Anatolian Armenian state. The First Armenian Republic started a ‘revenge terror campaign’ and many Ottoman high-ranked officers and politicians were killed by the Armenian terrorist organizations. The Armenian terrorism was started during the 1970s and more than 40 Turkish diplomats were murdered since then.

JTW with, TNA and news agencies
Source:Emel TURANGOL, JTW
Copyright © 2005 Journal of Turkish Weekly turkishweekly.net

Read Full Post !

433) Regarding 'Ottoman Turco-Armenian War Tragedy’ presented at Edinburgh City Council

The Federation of British Turkish Associations and the British Turkish Committee for Dialogue

A symposium, jointly organised by the Federation of British Turkish Associations and British Turkish Committee for Dialogue, entitled 'Ottoman Turco-Armenian War Tragedy' has been presented at Edinburgh City Council on the 24th October 2005. . . .
In the symposium, the two-sided nature of the Ottoman Turco-Armenian War Tragedy has been presented to the participants, amongst whom were Edinburgh City Council leader Donald Anderson and Edinburgh Councillors.

Prof. Norman Stone (Professor of History) and Retired Ambassador Gunduz Aktan presented the incidents' historical, political and legal aspects to the audience.

In the symposium, it was explained that the clashes between the Turkish/Muslim community and the armed Armenian groups and resulting migrations in the declining stages of the Ottoman Empire, cost many lives to both sides. The speakers suggested that this should be called a tragedy in which both sides suffered.

Enforcing Turkey to define this tragedy as a genocide that only affected the Armenian population has been the main leverage to block Turkey's EU membership path by anti-Turkish factions in the past.

The speakers answered questions from the audience, including those from the City Council leader Donald Anderson.

As British Turkish Committee for Dialogue and the Federation of British Turkish Associations we declare that it was upsetting that the CDs and DVDs necessary to present the two-sided nature of the tragedy has been obstructed and delayed at customs, preventing that part of the symposium from taking place.

As BTCD and FBTA, we suggest that the vote on the declared motion by Edinburgh council aiming at defining this tragedy as 'genocide' should be cancelled, for the sake of preserving impartiality of Edinburgh Council as a third party. Both organisations have agreed that Edinburgh council has done enough to enlighten the true nature of this tragedy, allowing both parties to present their cases.

Sincerely,
The executive committees of BTCD and ITDF


Background:
The clashes between the Turkish/Muslim community and the armed Armenian groups and the resulting migrations in the declining stages of the Ottoman Empire cost many lives to both sides. (At least 523,000 Turkish lives - documented so far -, and hundreds of thousands of Armenian lives from among the 1,050,000 Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire at the time)

The Armenian Diaspora describes this two-sided Tragedy as genocide committed against them. However, many scholars, including Prof. Dr Bernard Lewis, Prof. Dr. Stanford Shaw, Prof.Dr.Heath Lowry support the view that in these clashes both sides suffered and it is scientifically wrong to call the tragedy as 'genocide'. There is no decision given by an International Court to this effect.

The Turkish Diaspora in-large maintains the opinion that giving precedence to any side of the victims is unhelpful and they propose to commemorate the victims of both sides. The Turkish government has recently proposed to set up a joint committee between Armenia and Turkey to investigate the events in more detail, based on historical archives.

The scholars that support the view that the incidents can be best described as a two-sided tragedy, in which both sides suffered, have been the target of extremist Armenian organisations in the past, which deny the two-sided nature of the war tragedy so far.

Read Full Post !

432) Genocide, or not? Lawsuit addresses topic of Armenian killings

BOSTON --Was it genocide or was it just a horrible consequence of World War I?

The killing of up to 1.5 million Christian Armenians by Muslim Turks has been debated for nearly a century.
Now the issue is at the center of a lawsuit over how students in Massachusetts should be taught in public schools. . . .

Two high school teachers, a student and the Assembly of Turkish American Associations are suing state education officials in federal court, challenging a law that set guidelines for teaching students about human rights violations. The law, which went into effect in 1999, specifically lists the Holocaust, the Mussolini fascist regime, the trans-Atlantic slave trade, and "the Armenian genocide."

But the people who filed the lawsuit argue that whether the Armenian killings constitute genocide has not been firmly settled by history. Students, they say, should also be exposed to a "contra-genocide" version of events espoused by Turkish groups who claim the Armenian deaths were one of the tragic offshoots of the war.

"We are not taking sides on the ultimate issue of whether there was an Armenian genocide. We are simply insisting that both sides be allowed to have a place at the table," said Harvey Silverglate, a Boston civil rights lawyer who represents the plaintiffs.

"That is so students can look at historical resources and make their own decisions. That's what we call education," he said.

The debate has been going on since 1915, when Turkish Ottoman authorities began arresting and deporting Armenian leaders. Armenians say that over the next eight years, up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed as part of an ethnic cleansing campaign by the Turks.

Turkey acknowledges that large numbers of Armenians died, but says the 1.5 million figure is inflated and that the deaths occurred in civil unrest during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, when Armenians sided with invading Russian forces during the war.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday, alleges that the state is violating the free-speech rights of the plaintiffs by excluding the Turkish point of view.

Silverglate argues that state education officials effectively engaged in censorship when they removed certain references from a draft set of the guidelines. Those references gave teachers the Web addresses and other contact information for organizations that promote the Turkish point of view.

The lawsuit claims that education officials bowed to political pressure from Armenian groups who called the Turkish resources "racist," including one organization they said had engaged in a "disgraceful denial of mass murder and genocide."

But James Peyser, chairman of the state Board of Education, who is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, said that the resources and Web sites suggested by the Turkish groups "are not academic sites."

"If there were intelligent, credible works of history that provide independent and academically sound treatment of these events that did not necessarily characterize them as genocide, I would certainly be willing to include them in the guidelines, but I haven't received any such material at this point, and the Web sites don't qualify," Peyser said.

Bill Schechter, a history teacher at Lincoln-Sudbury High School, said he does "not know enough to know which side is correct" in the genocide debate. He said he became a plaintiff in the lawsuit because he believes students should have access to all points of view.

"I want the freedom to study different perspectives and to be able to teach different perspectives and to offer them to students in my classroom," he said.

Narguiz Abbaszade, executive director of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations, said the lawsuit is not meant to decide the genocide question.

"The courts in Massachusetts do not have the jurisdiction or the expertise to settle it," she said. "This is us saying the students in school should have access to both sides of the story, to have access to the full picture."

Education Commissioner David Driscoll said any change to the guidelines would have to be made by the Legislature.

"We are required to follow the law as currently enacted, so if they want to change it and indicate that there wasn't a genocide, then they need to deal with the Legislature," he said.

The U.S. government, which considers Turkey an important ally and military partner, does not use the term "genocide" to describe the Armenian deaths. Last month, the Bush administration disavowed two resolutions passed by a Congressional committee that urged the United States to classify the 1915-1923 killings as genocide.

By Denise Lavoie, AP Legal Affairs Writer | October 27, 2005
Denise Lavoie is a Boston-based reporter covering the courts and legal issues. She can be reached at dlavoie(at)ap.org
© Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Read Full Post !

431) Armenian Terrorism Joined PKK and Continues Its Attacks

ANKARA - Dr. Ercan Citlioglu, Bahcesehir University, says the Armenian terrorist organization ASALA has been transformed and existed inside the PKK terrorist organization. Citlioglu argues that there are many high-ranked Armenian terrorists inside the PKK. . . .

“ASALA is still active in the PKK organization� Dr. Citlioglu added.

Dr. Ercan Citlioglu has given an interview to Aksiyon news magazine and defended that Armenian terrorism is still existing under the name of PKK terrorism:

"FRENCH SUPPORTED THE ARMENIAN TERRORISM"

“Extremist and armed Armenian groups will not use the name of ‘ASALA’ again. If they come back, they would prefer a new name. ASALA attacked the Orly Airport (France) on 15 July 1983. As a result of this bombed attack, the Western public opinion about the Armenian terrorism was shifted to the reverse.The ASALA terrorist organization had been attacking the Turkish targets until that attack, and the Western people had a sympathy towards the Armenian terrorists. They perceived the Armenian terrorism as a revenge of the 1915 events. However 2 Turkish, 4 French, 1 American and 1 Swiss people were killed in the Orly attack. When the 4 French and other foreigners were killed in the Orly, this Armenian attack was categorized as massacre immediately. Because there was French citizens, who were supporting the Armenian terrorism, among the victims. Thus the sympathy towards the Armenian terrorists ended with the Orly Attack. That is why the Armenians will not establish a new terrorist organization under the same name.�

Citlioglu further argues that Armenians do not need to establish a new terrorist organization, because the Armenian terrorism did not end but continues inside the PKK terrorist organization:

“I don’t think that the Armenians will start a new terrorism wave. They have an ally like the PKK. If Turkey accepts the PKK demands, the Armenian demands will increase… The ASALA terrorism continues inside the PKK terrorist organization. Yet it has changed. It is different now. The PKK militant Ferhat Hassa who was killed in a clash with security forces in Macka was a Syrian Armenian. The ASALA was established in Sayda (Lebanon) in 1975. It is the same city where the PKK was established. The PKK’s and the ASALA’s high-ranked leaders followed similar policies during first years…. In 1980 4 ASAL representatives and 6 PKK representatives made a meeting in Lebanon in 1980 and they decided to act in co-ordination…. Similarly the Armenian Struggle journal (Washington, 1985) proves that the ASALA joined the PKK: The Armenian Struggle reports: ‘We with our Kurdish brothers entered the clashes against the Turkish soldier, and lost our 22 militant brother s and 1 high-ranked brother in these clashes. We withdraw for now. However our struggle (with our Kurdish brothers) against Turkish soldier will continue�.

Source: Aksiyon news magazine, 19 September 2005. Edited and translated by the JTW staff.

AMENIAN TERRORRISM
A Chronological List, 1973 - 1986

During a 16-year period from 1973 to 1986, various Armenian terrorist organisations claimed responsibility for about 200 attacks on Turkish diplomatic and non-diplomatic institutions and murdered 55 Turkish and 16 non-Turkish people and wounded hundreds of others. Armenians also targeted their own people who refused to make financial contribution to Armenian terrorism. Below is a chronological list of Armenian terrorist activities from 1973 to 1986.
January 27, 1973 Santa Barbara, California
The Armenian Gourgen Yanikian, a U.S. citizen, invites the Turkish Consul General, Mehmet Baydar, and the Consul, Bahadir Demir to a luncheon. The unsuspecting diplomats accept the friendly invitation. Gourgen Yanikian murders his two guests. He is sentenced to life imprisonment.

April 4, 1973 Paris: Bombings at the Turkish Consulate General and the offices of Turkish Airlines (THY). Extensive damage.

October 26, 1973 New York: Attempted bombing of the Turkish Information Office. The bomb is discovered in time and defused. A group calling itself the "Yanikian Commandos" claims responsibility. They want the release of the double murderer of Santa Barbara, Gourgen Yanikian, who insidiously murdered two Turkish diplomats.

February 7, 1975 Beirut: Attempted bombing of the Turkish Information and Tourism Bureau. The bomb explodes while being defused. A Lebanese policeman is injured. The "Prisoner Gourgen Yanikian Group" claims responsibility.

February 20, 1975 Beirut: The "Yanikian" group demanding the release of the double murderer of Santa Barbara strikes again. Extensive damage is caused by a bomb explosion at the THY offices. ASALA (Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia) also claims responsibility for the bombing.

October 22, 1975 Vienna: The Turkish Ambassador, Danis Tunaligil, is assassinated in his study by three Armenian terrorists. ASALA claims responsibility.

October 24, 1975 Paris: Ambassador Ismail Erez and his driver, Talip Yener, are murdered. The ASALA and the JCAG (Justice Commandos for the Armenian Genocide) dispute responsibility.
October 28, 1975 Beirut: Grenade attack on the Turkish Embassy. The ASALA claims responsibility.

February 16, 1976 Beirut: The First Secretary of the Turkish Embassy, Oktar Cirit, is assassinated in a restaurant on Hamra Street. The ASALA claims responsibility.

May 17, 1976 Frankfurt, Essen, Cologne
Consulates General in Frankfurt, Essen and Cologne are the targets of simultaneous bomb attacks.

May 28, 1976 Zurich: Bomb attacks at the offices of the Turkish Labor Attache and the Garanti Bank. Extensive damage. A bomb in the Turkish Tourism Bureau is defused in time. Responsibility is claimed by the JCAG.

May 2, 1977 Beirut: The cars of the Military Attache, Nahit Karakay, and the Administrative Attache, Ilhan Özbabacan, are destroyed. The two diplomats are uninjured. Credit is claimed by the ASALA.

May 14, 1977 Paris: Bomb attack at the Turkish Tourism Bureau. Extensive damage. The "New Armenian Resistance Group" claims responsibility.

June 6, 1977 Zurich: Bomb attack at the store of a Turkish citizen, Hüseyin Bülbül.

June 9, 1977 Rome: Assassination of the Turkish Ambassador to the Holy See, Taha Carim. He dies soon after the attack. The JCAG claims responsibility.

October 4, 1977 Los Angeles: Bomb attack at the house of Professor Stanford Shaw, who teaches Ottoman history at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA). Responsibility is claimed by an "Armenian Group of 28."

January 2, 1978 Brussels: Bomb attack at a building containing Turkish banking services. The "New Armenian Resistance" claims credit.

June 2, 1978 Madrid: Terrorist attack on the automobile of the Turkish Ambassador, Zeki Kuneralp. His wife, Necla Kuneralp, the retired Turkish Ambassador Besir Balcioglu die immediately in the rain of gunfire. The Spanish chauffeur, Antonio Torres, dies of his injuries in the hospital. ASALA and JCAG claim responsibility.

December 6, 1978 Geneva: A bomb explodes in front of the Turkish Consulate General. Extensive damage. The "New Armenian Resistance Group" claims responsibility.

December 17, 1978 Geneva: A bomb explodes at the THY Bureau. ASALA claims responsibility.

July 8, 1979 Paris: The French capital experiences four bomb attacks in a single day. The first is at the THY offices; the next at the offices of the Turkish Labor Attache; the third in the Turkish Information and Tourism Bureau. A fourth explosive, intended for the Turkish Permanent Representative to the O.E.C.D., is defused before it explodes. The JCAG claims responsibility.

August 22, 1979 Geneva: A bomb is thrown at the car of the Turkish Consul General, Niyazi Adali. The diplomat escapes unhurt. Two Swiss passers-by are injured. Two cars are destroyed.

August 27, 1979 Frankfurt: The offices of THY are totally destroyed by an explosion. A pedestrian is injured. The ASALA claims responsibility.

October 4, 1979 Copenhagen: Two Danes are injured when a bomb explodes near the offices of THY. ASALA claims credit.

October 12, 1979 The Hague: Ahmet Benler, the son of Turkish Ambassador Özdemir Benler, is assassinated by Armenian terrorists. The murderers escape. JCAG and ASALA claim responsibility.

October 30, 1979 Milan: The offices of THY are destroyed by a bomb explosion. ASALA claims responsibility.

November 8, 1979 Rome: The Turkish Tourism Office is destroyed by a bomb. ASALA claims responsibility.

November 18, 1979 Paris: Bomb explosions destroy the offices of THY, KLM, and Lufthansa. Two French policemen are injured. Responsibility is claimed by ASALA.

November 25, 1979 Madrid: Bomb explosions in front of the offices of TWA and British Airways. ASALA, in claiming responsibility, states that the attacks are meant as a warning to the Pope to cancel his planned visit to Turkey.

December 9, 1979 Rome: Two bombs explode in downtown Rome, damaging the offices of PAN AM, British Airways and the Philippine Airways. Nine people are injured in the terrorist attack. A "New Armenian Resistance Movement" claims responsibility.

December 17, 1979 London: Extensive damage is caused when a bomb explodes in front of the THY offices. A "Front for the Liberation of Armenia" claims responsibility.

December 22, 1979 Paris
Yilmaz Holpen, the Tourism Attache at the Turkish Embassy is assassinated while walking on the Champs Ellipses. Several groups, including ASALA, JCAG and the "Commandos of Armenian Militants against Genocide" claim responsibility.

December 22, 1979 Amsterdam
Heavy damage results from a bomb explosion in front of the THY offices. ASALA claims credit.

December 23, 1979 Rome
A bomb explodes in front of a World Council of Churches Refugee Centre, being used as a transit point for Armenian refugees from Lebanon. ASALA claims credit for the attack and warns the Italian authorities to halt "the Armenian diaspora."

December 23, 1979 Rome
Three bomb explosions occur in front of the offices of Air France and TWA, injuring a dozen passers-by. ASALA claims responsibility, stating that the bomb was placed "in reprisal against the repressive measures of French authorities against Armenians in France" (ie., questioning suspects, carry out investigations, etc.)

January 10, 1980 Teheran
A bomb which explodes in front of the THY offices causes extensive damage. ASALA claims responsibility.

January 20, 1980 Madrid
A series of bomb attacks, resulting in numerous injuries, occurs in front of the offices of TWA, British Airways, Swissair, and Sabena. The JCAG claims credit for the attacks.

February 2, 1980 Brussels
Two bombs explode within minutes of each other in front of the downtown offices of THY and Aeroflot. The "New Armenian Resistance Group" issues a communique in which they claim responsibility for both attacks.

February 6, 1980 Bern
A terrorist opens fire on Turkish Ambassador Dogan Türkmen, who escapes with minor wounds. The would-be-assassin, an Armenian named Max Klindjian, is subsequently arrested in Marseilles and returned to Switzerland for trial. The JCAG claims credit for the attack.

February 18, 1980 Rome
The offices of Lufthansa, El Al and Swissair are damaged by two bomb attacks. Telephone messages give three reasons for the attacks: 1. The Germans support "Turkish fascism"; 2. The Jews are Zionists (ASALA); 3. The Swiss behave "repressively" towards the Armenians.
March 10, 1980 Rome
Bomb attacks on the THY and Turkish Tourism Bureau offices on the Piazza Della Repubblica. The blasts kill two Italians and injure fourteen. Credit for the attack is claimed by the "New Armenian Resistance of the Armenian Secret Army."

April 17, 1980 Rome
The Turkish Ambassador to the Holy See, Vecdi Türel, is shot and seriously wounded. His chauffeur, Tahsin Güvenç, is also slightly wounded in the assassination attempt. JCAG claims responsibility for the attack.

May 19, 1980 Marseilles
A rocket aimed at the Turkish Consulate General in Marseilles is discovered and defused prior to exploding. ASALA and a group calling itself "Black April" claim credit for the attack.

July 31, 1980 Athens
Galip Özmen, the Administrative Attache at the Turkish Embassy, and his family are attacked by Armenian terrorists while sitting in their car. Galip Özmen and his fourteen-year-old daughter, Neslihan, are killed in the attack. His wife, Sevil, and his sixteen-year-old son, Kaan, are wounded. Credit for the double killing is claimed by ASALA.

August 5, 1980 Lyon
Two terrorists storm into the Turkish Consulate General in Lyon and open fire, killing two and injuring several other bystanders. ASALA claims credit for the attack.

August 11, 1980 New York
An "Armenian group" hurls paint bombs at the Turkish House across from the United Nations, home of the Turkish Representations in New York.

September 26, 1980 Paris
Selçuk Bakkalbasi, the Press Consular at the Turkish Embassy, is shot as he enters his home. Bakkalbasi survives but is permanently paralysed as a result of his injuries. ASALA claims responsibility for the attack.

October 3, 1980 Geneva
Two Armenian terrorists are injured when a bomb they are preparing explodes in their Geneva hotel room. The two, Suzy Mahseredjian from Canoga Park, California, and Alexander Yenikomechian, are arrested. Their arrest leads to the formation of a new group called "October 3," which subsequently strikes at Swiss targets.

October 3, 1980 Milan
Two Italians are injured when a bomb explodes in front of the THY offices. ASALA claims credit for the attack.

October 5, 1980 Madrid
The offices of Alitalia are rocked by a bomb explosion which injures twelve individuals. The ASALA claims responsibility for the attack.

October 6, 1980 Los Angeles
Two Molotov cocktails are thrown into the home of the Turkish Consul General, Kemal Arikan. He survives with injuries.

October 10, 1980 Beirut
Two bombs explode near Swiss offices in West Beirut. A group calling itself "October 3" claims responsibility for these bombings as well as others on the same day against Swiss offices in England.

October 12, 1980 New York
A bomb placed in front of the Turkish House explodes. Four passers-by are injured. JCAG assumes responsibility.

October 12, 1980 Los Angeles
A travel agency in Hollywood, owned by a Turkish-American, is destroyed. JCAG claims responsibility.

October 12, 1980 London
The Turkish Tourism and Information Bureau's offices are damaged by a bomb explosion. ASALA claims credit.

October 12, 1980 London
A Swiss shopping complex in central London is damaged by a bomb blast. Callers claim the explosion was the work of "October 3."

October 13, 1980 Paris
A Swiss tourist office is damaged by a bomb explosion. "October 3" again claims credit.
October 21, 1980 Interlaken, Switzerland
A bomb is found in a Swiss express train coming from Paris. Luckily, it does not explode. "October 3" is believed to be behind the action, which could have caused a catastrophe.

November 4, 1980 Geneva
The Swiss Palace of Justice in Geneva is heavily damaged by a bomb explosion. Credit is claimed by "October 3."

November 9, 1980 Strasbourg
Heavy damage results from a bomb blast at the Turkish Consulate General. The attack is claimed by ASALA.

November 10, 1980 Rome
Five people are injured in attacks on the Swissair and Swiss Tourist offices. ASALA and "October 3" claim credit.

November 19, 1980 Rome
The offices of the Turkish Tourism Bureau and those of THY are damaged by a bomb explosion. ASALA claims responsibility.

November 25, 1980 Geneva
The offices of the Union of Swiss Banks are hit by a bomb explosion. Responsibility is claimed by "October 3."

December 5, 1980 Marseilles
A police expert defuses a time bomb left at the Swiss Consulate in Marseilles. "October 3" claims responsibility.

December 15, 1980 London
Two bombs placed in front of the French Tourism Office in London are defused by a Scotland Yard bomb squad. "October 3" claims the bombs are a warning to the French for assistance they have rendered the Swiss in fighting Armenian terrorism.

December 17, 1980 Sydney
Two terrorists assassinate Sarik Ariyak, the Turkish Consul General, and his bodyguard, Engin Sever. JCAG claims responsibility.

December 25, 1980 Zurich
A bomb explosion destroys a radar monitor at Kloten Airport, and a second explosive planted on the main runway of the airport is defused. "October 3" claims credit for these attempted mass-murders.

December 29, 1980 Madrid
A Spanish reporter is seriously injured in a telephone booth while calling in a story to his paper about the bomb attack on the Swissair offices. "October 3" claims responsibility.

December 30, 1980 Beirut
Bomb attack on the Credit-Suisse offices. ASALA and "October 3" fight over who gets the credit.

January 2, 1981 Beirut
In a press communique, ASALA threatens to "attack all Swiss diplomats throughout the world" in response to the alleged mistreatment of "Suzy and Alex" in Switzerland. On January 4, ASALA issues a statement giving the Swiss a few days to think things over.

January 14, 1981 Paris
A bomb explodes in the car of Ahmet Erbeyli, the Economic Consular of the Turkish Embassy. Erbeyli is not injured, but the explosion totally destroys his car. A group calling itself the "Alex Yenikomechian Commandos" of ASALA claims credit for the explosion.

January 27, 1981 Milan
The Swissair and Swiss Tourist offices in Milan are damaged by bomb explosions. Two passers-by are injured. "October 3" claims credit for the bombing in a call to local media representatives.

February 3, 1981 Los Angeles
Bomb-squad officials disarm a bomb left at the Swiss Consulate. The terrorists threaten in anonymous phone calls that such attacks will continue until Suzy Mahseredjian is released.

February 5, 1981 Paris
Bombs explode in the TWA and Air France offices. One injured, heavy material damage. "October 3" claims credit.

March 4, 1981 Paris
Two terrorists open fire on Resat Morali, Labor Attache at the Turkish Embassy, Tecelli Ari, Religious Affairs Attache, and Ilkay Karakoç, the Paris representative of the Anadolu Bank. Morali and Ari are assassinated. Karakoç manages to escape. ASALA claims responsibility.

March 12, 1981 Teheran
A group of ASALA terrorists try to occupy the Turkish Embassy, killing two guards in the process. Two of the perpetrators are captured and later executed by the Iranians. ASALA claims credit.

April 3, 1981 Copenhagen
Cavit Demir, the Labor Attache at the Turkish Embassy, is shot as he enters his apartment building late in the evening and is seriously wounded. Both ASALA and JCAG claim the attack.

June 3, 1981 Los Angeles
Bombs force the cancellation of performances by a Turkish folk-dance group. Threats of similar bombings force the group's performances in San Francisco to be cancelled as well.

June 9, 1981 Geneva
Mehmet Savas Yergüz, Secretary in the Turkish Consulate, is assassinated by the Armenian terrorist Mardiros Jamgotchian. The arrest of the ASALA terrorist leads to the formation of a new ASALA branch called the "Ninth of June Organisation," which will be responsible for a new series of attacks.

June 11, 1981 Paris
A group of Armenian terrorists, led by one Ara Toranian, occupies the THY offices. Initially ignored by the French authorities, the terrorists are only evicted from the premises after vehement protests from the Turkish Embassy.

June 19, 1981 Teheran
A bomb explodes at the offices of Swissair. The "Ninth of June Organisation" claims responsibility.

June 26, 1981 Los Angeles
A bomb explodes in front of the Swiss Banking Corporation offices. Again the work of the "Ninth of June Organisation."

July 19, 1981 Bern
A bomb explodes at the Swiss Parliament Building. "Ninth of June" claims responsibility.

July 20, 1981 Zurich
"Ninth of June" strikes again. A bomb explodes in an automatic photo-booth at Zurich's international airport.

July 21, 1981 Lausanne
Twenty women are injured as a bomb laid by Armenian terrorists explodes in a department store. "Ninth of June" claims responsibility.

July 22, 1981 Geneva
A bomb explodes in a locker at the train station. Authorities suspect "Ninth of June."

July 22, 1981 Geneva
An hour later, a second bomb explodes in a locker at the station. Police cordoned off the area following the first explosion, thereby preventing injuries from the second.

August 11, 1981 Copenhagen
Two bombs destroy the offices of Swissair. An American tourist is injured in the explosion. "Ninth of June" claims responsibility.

August 20, 1981 Los Angeles
A bomb explodes outside the offices of Swiss Precision Instruments. The attack is claimed by "Ninth of June."

August 20, 1981 Paris
Explosion at Alitalia Airlines. "October 3" is back in action.

September 15, 1981 Copenhagen
Two people are injured as a bomb explodes in front of the THY offices. Police experts manage to defuse a second bomb. Credit is claimed by a "Sixth Armenian Liberation Army."

September 17, 1981 Teheran
A bomb explosion damages a Swiss Embassy building. ASALA's "Ninth of June" claims responsibility.

September 24, 1981 Paris
Four Armenian terrorists occupy the Turkish Consulate General. During their entry into the building, the Consul, Kaya Inal, and a security guard, Cemal Özen, are seriously wounded. Terrorists take 56 hostages. Özen dies of his injuries in the hospital. The terrorists are ASALA members.

October 3, 1981 Geneva
The main post office and the city courthouse are hit by bomb explosions. An ASALA member is scheduled to go on trial for murder in the courthouse. "Ninth of June" claims credit for the attacks, which leave one person injured.

October 25, 1981 Rome
An Armenian terrorist fires at Gökberk Ergenekon, Second Secretary at the Turkish Embassy. Ergenekon is wounded in the arm. ASALA claims credit in the name of the "September 24 Suicide Commandos."

October 25, 1981 Paris
Fouquet's, the fashionable French restaurant, is the target of a bomb attack. A group calling itself "September-France" claims the attack.

October 26, 1981 Paris
The same group is behind the explosion of a booby-trapped automobile in front of "Le Drugstore."

October 27, 1981 Paris
"September-France" carries out a bomb attack at Roissy Airport.

October 27, 1981 Paris
A second bomb explodes near a busy escalator at Roissy Airport. No one is injured. "September-France" claims responsibility.

October 28, 1981 Paris
The same group is responsible for a bomb attack in a movie theatre. Three people are injured.

November 3, 1981 Madrid
A bomb explodes in front of the Swissair offices, injuring three persons. Considerable damage to nearby buildings. ASALA claims responsibility.

November 5, 1981 Paris
A bomb explodes in the Gare de Lyon, injuring one person. The attack is claimed by the Armenian "Orly Organisation."

November 12, 1981 Beirut
Simultaneous bomb explosions occur in front of three French offices: the French Cultural Centre, the Air France offices and the home of the French Consul General. The "Orly Organisation" claims responsibility. This organisation owes its name to the fact that the French police arrested an Armenian at Orly Airport in Paris because of forged papers. The idea now is to "bomb him free."

November 14, 1981 Paris
A bomb explosion damages an automobile near the Eiffel Tower. "Orly" claims responsibility.

November 14, 1981 Paris
"Orly" launches a grenade attack on a group of tourists disembarking from a sightseeing boat on the River Seine.

November 15, 1981 Paris
"Orly" threatens to blow up an Air France aeroplane in flight.

November 15, 1981 Beirut
Simultaneous bomb attacks are carried out against three French targets: the "Union des Assurances de Paris", the Air France offices and the "Banque Libano-Française". "Orly" is responsible.

November 15, 1981 Paris
A McDonald's restaurant is destroyed by "September-France."

November 16, 1981 Paris
A bomb injures two innocent bystanders at the Gare de l'Est. "Orly" claims responsibility.

November 18, 1981 Paris
"Orly" announces that it has planted a bomb at the Gare du Nord.

November 20, 1981 Los Angeles
The Turkish Consulate General in Beverly Hills suffers extensive damage. The JCAG claims credit.

January 13, 1982 Toronto
An ASALA bomb causes extensive damage to the Turkish Consulate General.

January 17, 1982 Geneva
Two bombs destroy parked cars. The ASALA "Ninth of June Organisation" claims credit.

January 17, 1982 Paris
A bomb explodes at the Union of Banks and a second is disarmed at the Credit Lyonnais. "Orly" claims responsibility.

January 19, 1982 Paris
A bomb explodes in the Air France offices in the Palais des Congres. "Orly" claims responsibility.

January 28, 1982 Los Angeles
Kemal Arikan, the Turkish Consul General in Los Angeles, is assassinated by two terrorists while driving to work. Nineteen year old Hampig Sassounian is arrested and sentenced to life.

March 22, 1982 Cambridge, Massachusetts
A gift shop belonging to Orhan Gündüz, the Turkish Honorary Consul General in Boston, is blown up. Gündüz receives an ultimatum: Either he gives up his honorary position or he will be "executed." Responsibility is claimed by the JCAG.

March 26, 1982 Beirut
Two dead, sixteen injured in an explosion at a movie theatre. ASALA claims credit for the attack.

April 8, 1982 Ottawa
Kani Güngör, the Commercial Attache at the Turkish Embassy in Ottawa, is seriously wounded in an attack by Armenian terrorists in the garage of his apartment house. ASALA claims responsibility.

April 24, 1982 Dortmund, West Germany
Several Turkish-owned businesses suffer extensive damage in bomb attacks. The "New Armenian Resistance Organisation" claims responsibility.

May 4, 1982 Cambridge, Massachusetts
Orhan Gündüz, the Turkish Honorary Consul General in Boston is assassinated. The murderer is still at large.

May 10, 1982 Geneva
Bombs explode at two banks. The attacks are claimed by an Armenian "World Punishment Organisation."

May 18, 1982 Toronto
Four Armenians are arrested for trying to smuggle money out of the country. The money was extorted from Armenians, a common practice throughout the world. In the course of the investigation, it is discovered that the terrorists firebombed the house of an Armenian who refused to make his contribution to Armenian terrorism.

May 18, 1982 Tampa, Florida
Attack at the office of Nash Karahan, the Turkish Honorary Consul General.

May 26, 1982 Los Angeles
A bomb damages the office of Swiss Banking Corporation. The suspects: four Armenians accused of involvement in ASALA.

May 30, 1982 Los Angeles
Three members of ASALA are arrested when planting a bomb in the Air Canada cargo-office.

June 7, 1982 Lisbon
The Administrative Attache at the Turkish Embassy, Erkut Akbay, and his wife, Nadide Akbay, are assassinated in front of their home. JCAG claims responsibility.

July 1, 1982 Rotterdam
Kemalettin Demirer, the Turkish Consul General in Rotterdam, is shot down by four Armenian terrorists. An "Armenian Red Army" claims responsibility.

July 21, 1982 Paris
Sixteen injured in a bomb explosion near a cafe in the Place Saint-Severin. Credit is claimed by the Orly Organisation. "Orly" complains that the French do not treat the arrested Armenian terrorists as "political prisoners," but rather as ordinary criminals.

July 26, 1982 Paris
"Orly" is responsible for injuring two women in an explosion in Paris' "Pub Saint-Germain."

August 2, 1982 Paris
Pierre Gulumian, an Armenian terrorist, is killed when a bomb he is making explodes in his face.

August 7, 1982 Ankara, Esenboga Airport
Two Armenian terrorists open fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the terrorists takes more than twenty hostages while the second is apprehended by the police. Nine people are dead and eighty-two injured; some seriously. The surviving terrorist, Levon Ekmekjian is arrested and sentenced.

August 8, 1982 Paris
A bomb is defused in time. "Orly" regrets the discovery.

August 12, 1982 Paris
Terrorists open fire on a policeman assigned to protect the offices of the Turkish Tourism Attache. Luckily, he escapes without injury.

August 27, 1982 Ottawa
Colonel Atilla Altikat, the Military Attache at the Turkish Embassy, is assassinated in his car. JCAG claims responsibility.

September 9, 1982 Burgaz, Bulgaria
Bora Süelkan, the Administrative Attache at the Turkish Consulate General in Burgaz, is assassinated in front of his home. The assassin leaves a message "We shot dead the Turkish diplomat: Combat Units of Justice Against the Armenian Genocide." An anonymous caller claims that the assassination is the work of a branch of the ASALA.

October 26, 1982 Los Angeles
Five Armenian terrorists are charged with conspiring to blow up the offices of the Honorary Turkish Consul General in Philadelphia. All belong to the JCAG.

December 8, 1982 Athens
Two Armenians on a motorbike throw a bomb at the offices of the Saudi Arabian Airlines. The bomb hits a power pylon, explodes and kills one of the terrorists. His accomplice, an Armenian from Iran named Vahe Kontaverdian is arrested. It is later revealed that ASALA ordered the attack because Saudi Arabia maintains friendly relations with Turkey.

January 21, 1983 Anaheim, California
Nine "sophisticated" pipe bombs are confiscated from an Armenian bakery after one of the detonators goes off and causes fire.

January 22, 1983 Paris
Two terrorists attack the offices of THY with hand grenades. No one is injured. ASALA claims credit.

January 22, 1983 Paris
French police defuse a powerful explosive device near the THY counter at Orly airport.

February 2, 1983 Brussels
The offices of THY are bombed. The "New Armenian Resistance Organisation" claims responsibility.

February 28, 1983 Luxembourg
A bomb placed in front of Turkey's diplomatic mission is defused. The Armenian Reporter in New York reports that the "New Armenian Resistance Organisation" is responsible.

February 28, 1983 Paris
A bomb explodes at the Marmara Travel Agency. Killed in the explosion is Renée Morin, a French secretary. Four other Frenchmen are wounded. A few minutes after the attack, ASALA claims responsibility.

March 9, 1983 Belgrade
Galip Balkar, the Turkish Ambassador to Yugoslavia is assassinated in central Belgrade. His chauffeur, Necati Kayar is shot in the stomach. As the two assailants flee from the scene, they are bravely pursued by Yugoslav citizens. One of the terrorists shoots and wounds a Yugoslav Colonel, and is in turn apprehended by a policeman. The second terrorist opens fire on civilians who are chasing him, killing a young student and wounding a young girl. The two terrorists, Kirkor Levonian and Raffi Elbekian, are tried and sentenced.

March 31, 1983 Frankfurt
An anonymous caller threatened to bomb the offices and kill the staff of Tercüman newspaper, a Turkish daily.

May 24, 1983 Brussels
Bombs explode in front of the Turkish Embassy's Culture and Information offices and in front of a Turkish-owned travel agency. The Italian director of the travel agency is wounded. ASALA claims credit.

June 16, 1983 Istanbul
Armenian terrorists carry out an attack with hand grenades and automatic weapons inside the covered bazaar in Istanbul. Two dead, twenty-one wounded. ASALA claims responsibility.

July 8, 1983 Paris
Armenian terrorists attack the offices of the British Council, protesting against the trials of Armenians in London.

July 14, 1983 Brussels
Armenian terrorists murder Dursun Aksoy, the Administrative Attache at the Turkish Embassy. ASALA, ARA and JCAG claim responsibility.

July 15, 1983 Paris
A bomb explodes in front of the THY counter at Orly airport. Eight dead, more than sixty injured. A 29 years old Syrian-Armenian named Varadjian Garbidjian confesses to having planted the bomb. He admits that the bomb
was intended to have exploded once the plane was airborne.

July 15, 1983 London
A bomb, similar to the one that exploded at Orly, is defused in time. ASALA claims responsibility for both attacks.

July 18, 1983 Lyon
A bomb threat is made by ASALA against the Lyon railroad station.

July 20, 1983 Lyon
Panicky evacuation of Lyon's Gare de Perrache following a bomb threat from ASALA.

July 22, 1983 Teheran
"Orly" carries out bomb attacks on the French Embassy and Air France.

July 27, 1983 Lisbon
Five Armenian terrorists attempt to storm the Turkish Embassy in Lisbon. Failing to gain access to the chancery, they occupy the residence, taking the Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) and his family hostage. When explosives being planted by the terrorists go off, Cahide Mihcioglu, wife of the DCM and four of the terrorists are blown to pieces. The DCM, Yurtsev Mihçioglu, and his son Atasay are injured. The fifth terrorist is killed in the initial assault by Turkish security forces. One Portuguese policeman is also killed and another wounded. The ARA claims responsibility.

July 28, 1983 Lyon
Another bomb threat on Lyon-Perrache railroad station. ASALA claims responsibility.

July 29, 1983 Teheran
A threat to blow up the French Embassy in Teheran with a rocket attack causes Iranian officials to increase security at the facility.

July 31, 1983 Lyon and Rennes
Bomb threats from Armenian terrorists force the emergency landing of two domestic French flights carrying 424 passengers.

August 10, 1983 Teheran
A bomb explodes in an automobile at the French Embassy. ASALA claims credit for the attack.

August 25, 1983 Bonn
A whole series of bomb attacks against offices of the French Consulate General claim two lives and leave twenty-three injured. ASALA claims responsibility.

September 9, 1983 Teheran
Two French Embassy cars are bombed. One of the bombs injures two embassy staff members. ASALA claims credit.

October 1, 1983 Marseilles
A bomb blast destroys the U.S., Soviet and Algerian pavilions at an international trade fair in Marseilles. One person is killed and twenty-six injured. ASALA and "Orly" claim credit.

October 6, 1983 Teheran
A French Embassy vehicle is bombed, injuring two passengers. "Orly" claims responsibility.

October 29, 1983 Beirut
Hand-grenade attack on the French Embassy. One of the ASALA terrorists is arrested.

October 29, 1983 Beirut
The Turkish Embassy is attacked by three Armenian terrorists. One of the assailants, Sarkis Denielian, a 19 years old Lebanese-Armenian is apprehended. ASALA claims responsibility.

February 8, 1984 Paris
Bomb threat on an Air France flight to New York.

March 28, 1984 Teheran
A timed series of attacks is carried out against Turkish diplomats: Two Armenian terrorists shoot and seriously wound Sergeant Ismail Pamukçu, employed at the office of the Turkish Military Attache; Hasan Servet Öktem, First Secretary of the Turkish Embassy, is slightly wounded as he leaves his home; Ibrahim Özdemir, the Administrative Attache at the Turkish Embassy, alerts police to two suspicious looking men. They turn out to be Armenian terrorists and are arrested; In the afternoon of the same day, Iranian police arrest three more Armenian terrorists outside the Turkish Embassy;
An Armenian terrorist is killed when a bomb he is attempting to plant in the car of the Turkish Assistant Commercial Consular explodes prematurely. The dead terrorist is later identified as Sultan Gregorian Semaperdan (ASALA).

March 29, 1984 Los Angeles
ASALA sends a written threat, saying they will assassinate Turkish athletes who take part in the Olympics.

April 8, 1984 Beirut
ASALA issues a communique warning that all flights to Turkey will be considered military targets.

April 26, 1984 Ankara
The Turkish Prime Minister, Turgut Özal, receives a threat warning him that if he goes ahead with a planned visit to Teheran, ASALA will schedule a major terrorist operation against his country.

April 28, 1984 Teheran
Two Armenian terrorists riding a motorcycle open fire on Isik Yönder as he drives his wife, Sadiye Yönder, to the Turkish Embassy where she works. Isik Yönder is killed, and ASALA claims credit for yet another senseless murder.

June 20, 1984 Vienna
A bomb explodes in a car belonging to Erdogan Ozen, Assistant Labor and Social Affairs Consular at the Turkish Embassy in Vienna. Ozen is killed and five others seriously wounded, including a policeman. ARA terrorists claim credit for the crime.

June 25, 1984 Los Angeles
A news agency office in France receives a letter threatening to attack all governments, organisations and companies that assist, in any way whatsoever, Turkey's team at the Los Angeles Olympics.

August 13, 1984 Lyon
A bomb explodes in a Lyon train station causing minor damage. ASALA claims credit.

September 1984 Teheran
Several Turkish owned firms in Iran come under attack after receiving warning letters informing them that they are to be targeted. The first victim is the Sezai Türkes Company. A Turkish employee is injured while fighting the fire caused by the explosion. A chain of smaller scale acts of intimidation follows.

September 1, 1984 Teheran
Iranian authorities expose a plot to assassinate Ismet Birsel, the Turkish Ambassador to Teheran.

September 3, 1984 Istanbul
Two Armenian terrorists die as one of their bombs goes off too soon. The ARA claims credit.

November 19, 1984 Vienna
Evner Ergun, Deputy Director of the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations, Vienna is assassinated while driving to work. The assassins leave a flag with the initials "ARA" on his body.

December 1984 Brussels
Authorities are able to thwart a bombing attempt at the residence of Selçuk Incesu, Turkish Consul General.

December 29, 1984 Beirut
Two French buildings in East Beirut are bombed. ASALA claims credit.

December 29, 1984 Paris
Following an ASALA threat to blow up an Air France plane, police increase security at the Charles de Gaulle Airport.

January 3, 1985 Beirut
The offices of Agence France Presse are extensively damaged when a bomb explodes.

March 3, 1985 Paris
An anonymous caller to Agence France Presse threatens to attack French interests throughout the world upon the indictment of the three terrorists who participated in the Orly attack.

March 12, 1985 Ottawa
Three heavily armed terrorists storm the Turkish Embassy, killing a Canadian security guard in the process. After blowing up the front door, the gunmen enter the building. Ambassador Coskun Kirca manages to escape but suffers extensive injuries. The wife and daughter of the Ambassador, who were taken hostage, are later released, and the terrorists surrender. ARA claims responsibility.

March 26, 1985 Toronto
A threat to blow up the city of Toronto's transit system leads to chaos during the rush hour. An "Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Our Homeland" claims responsibility for the threat.

November 1985 Brussels: A special anti-terrorist security squad of the Belgian police exposes and arrests three Armenian terrorists with Portuguese passports. They were planning an attack on Turkish officers at NATO headquarters.

November 28, 1985 Paris: French police arrest the leader of the terrorist organisation the "Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia-Revolutionary Movement" (ASALA-RM) Mr. Monte Melkonian, a U.S. citizen. In Melkonian's apartment, police confiscate weapons, explosive devices, arrival and departure information on Turkish ships scheduled to visit France and a picture of Turkey's Ambassador to France, Adnan Bulak.

December 1985 Paris: Forty-one shoppers in two of Paris' leading department stores (Gallerie Lafayette and Printemps) are injured (twelve seriously) when nearly simultaneous bomb explosions rip through the stores. In the ensuing panic, some 10,000 Christmas shoppers flee into the street. The Armenian Reporter, published in New York, reports in its December 12th issue that French law enforcement authorities are concentrating on ASALA as the most likely perpetrator. ASALA later takes credit for the two bombings.

November 23, 1986 Melbourne: At 2:15 a.m. a bomb explodes in front of the Turkish Consulate General. One dead -presumedly the perpetrator- and one Australian injured.


Source:Armenian Terrorism Continues
Copyright © 2005 Journal of Turkish Weekly turkishweekly.net

Read Full Post !

430) Armenian Academics in US: Conference in Turkey was Encouraging

A conference titled “Ottoman Armenians during the Decline of the Empire: Issues of Scientific Responsibility and Democracy� held at Istanbul Bilgi University recently had many repercussions both in Turkey and abroad. Although some circles in Turkey interpreted the conference with reference to “high treason� both before and after its conduction, thanks to the government’s stance that “every kind of issue should be discussed freely� the result was a plus in Turkey’s democratic development. . .

What are the impressions of the subject at issue then? We interviewed two Armenian academicians living in the United States to find an answer. Result: There is still hope. American Armenian academicians described the initiative by Turkish intellectuals as a bold step aiming to eliminate taboos between Armenian and Turkish societies.

Professor Dennis R. Papazian from Armenian Research center at University of Michigan-Dearborn says determinacy by Turkish academicians to discuss problematic events during Ittihat ve Terrakki (Union and Progress) Party era promises well for the future. Papazian stresses the events in 1915 was prompted not by the Ottomans but some ideological streams in Europe that inspired the Young Turks. Terming the conference and Turkish government’s support for it as an indicator of consolidation of democracy and academic freedom in Turkey, Professor Papazian notes even though the issue discussed was a significant one, its discussion by academicians was a more important factor.

Unfortunately, Turkish and Armenian cultures that were once very close do not understand each other nowadays, Papazian complains. He attributes this to the fact that Armenians perceive the past tragedy with great sorrow and to the unawareness of what really happened by Turks. Papazian arguing that what was experienced has been excluded from the collective memory of Turks expresses his belief that such conferences will bridge the gap between the two cultures. Reminding that the Ottoman Empire collapsed a century ago, Papazian asserts that what happened at that time and polices of the Young Turks should be openly discussed with constructive suggestions today. According to him, the problem between the two societies might be settled through an in-depth scientific research that Turks will conduct based on their free will. Papazian also draws the attention to an ideological risk: If both societies remain stuck in an old fashioned nationalism of the 19th century, they will both miss the fruits of our present day and age!

American University of Armenia (AUA) President Dr. Haroutune Armenian also describes the conference “as a first encouraging step of a highly difficult journey�. We shall provide our cultures to understand each other based on ideas we develop through discussing our taboos, Armenian says. He reminds Armenian satirist Agop Baronian’s verse of “Look behind you so that you can see where you can go� and calls on Turks to embrace the past bravely. Armenian concludes his remarks by reading verses of a poem he wrote after the death of his daughter, who died from leukemia 12 years ago. “Life is sometimes a pathway resulting in dead ends… May be it is this pathway that would take us to flowery paths and happiness… We all, either Turk or Armenian should try to reach flowery paths,� he comments.

By Ali Cimen
Published: Sunday, October 16, 2005
zaman.com
[TURKUAZ]

Read Full Post !

429) UK Prepares Reply for Turkey's Blue Book Letter

The British House of Lords is preparing a reply for the letter about the “Blue Book� sent by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Republican People’s Party (CHP) to the British Parliament. . . .

The British answer claims that the “Blue Book�, which deals with the Armenian genocide, is reliable. British Parliament Human Rights Group Co-Chair Lord Avebury said that the Turkish Parliament was not informed sufficiently about the issue. Therefore, he offered that British and Turkish deputies should hold a joint meeting with academicians. The answer defends that “Blue Book� nourishes from sufficient sources. “One point, which is not taken into consideration in the letter, is the fact that documents supporting the book can be easily accessed. On the contrary to what the letter claims, Arnold Toynbee did not say that the “Blue Book� is inaccurate,� it was told. The Blue Book was written by the British historian Arnold Toynbee and was published with the approval of the House of Commons in 1916. Turkey wants the UK to accept that the book is not telling the truth and apologize to Ankara.

By Zaman
Published: Sunday, October 16, 2005
zaman.com

Read Full Post !

428) Feeding Prejudices - Turkey’s image problem did not start with Armenian issue in 1915 or Kurdish . .

BBC’s former Turkey correspondent Chris Morris, in his recently published book “The New Turkey,� rightly indicates that Turkey’s image problem did not start with the Armenian issue in 1915 or the Kurdish issue in the 1980s and the 1990s, but that its roots lay much deeper and older. . . .

His example dates back 500 years. Ogier de Busbecq, ambassador of the Habsbourg Dynasty during the reign of Suleiman The Magnificent, in his letters to Vienna, could not refrain from highly praising the Ottoman system and very often stressed the futility of daring to challenge the Ottomans. As Morris aptly remarks, same Busbecq did not also refrain from occasionally reinforcing the prejudices in Europe, despite his thorough acquaintance with the Ottomans. In one of his letters he wrote, “You can hardly expect elegance of style from such an utterly barbarous country as Turkey.�

In spring, a British parliamentarian known as a “friend of Turkey,� blurted out in a conference on women in Turkey at the European Parliament that Turks were the first nation to systematize torture and also the inventors of the tools of torture. As soon as the conference concluded, I asked this MP with a baroness title where she received that piece of information. She in return asked for my contact information and promised she would send me a message immediately. In fact, the message came very soon, but it just contained her speech texts that showed the support she had lent for Turkey’s future EU membership.

Breaking the accumulated prejudices of centuries, after being labeled the “other,� is difficult, even in the case of those who are known as friends of Turkey. Nor can we say that Turkey is free of such prejudices. That the Treaty of Sevres is being remembered and reminded at every new stage reached in relations with the EU, is not without reason.

Naturally, what is expected from Turkey in the post-October 3 period is to struggle wisely against these prejudices. Wisely, because before us there are two big files that could further ignite Europe’s accumulated prejudices. The first is the judicial process launched in response to Orhan Pamuk’s statements, which he himself acknowledges, had consequences beyond his original intention. The other is the letter sent by the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) to the British Parliament asking for invalidation of the book entitled, “The Treatment of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire 1915-1916,� also commonly known as the “Blue Book,� written jointly by James Bryce and Arnold Toynbee.

Already deplored and condemned in the Turkish public conscience by an overwhelming majority for what he said to a Swiss daily, the legal case against Pamuk now runs the risk of turning into yet another defamatory campaign against Turkey.

The European Parliament has already formed a delegation to follow the legal proceedings. The US Congress condemned the prosecution, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn who is a great admirer, paid a personal visit to the writer in his residence. Even Salman Rushdie has joined the controversy. Pamuk’s prosecution deserves as much condemnation as what Pamuk said to the Swiss newspaper. If the trial, scheduled on the day the EU summit will be held, actually takes place on January 16, then the first summit Turkey will attend as an acceding country will turn into a “Turkey has no place in Europe!� meeting.

The second issue is being able, at last, to be on the verge of turning Britain against us on “genocide�, which so far has been “the� country that has stayed close to Turkish views in letting the issue to be discussed by historians. Apparently, the Armenian lobby in Britain is galloping nonstop towards that target after Turkey passed the ball to its court, something it had been waiting for long. Lord Avebury, Lord Archer of Sandwell and Lord Biffen, members of the House of Lords, and historian Ara Sarafyan have launched a campaign to respond to the TBMM’s letter. Their aim is to defend Toynbee’s book and stir up British public consciousness about what took place in 1915.

Morris says it is difficult to give a “no� answer in response to whether the prejudices Busbecq had 500 years ago still haunt the EU corridors. If only we do not strive to further ossify these prejudices!

October 17
Brussels

e-mail:s.gultasli@zaman.com.tr
SELCUK GULTASLI
10.24.2005 Monday - ISTANBUL 10:44

Read Full Post !

427) Armenians of Taskopru Living Proof that Genocide Allegations are False

A conference titled “Ottoman Armenians during the Decline of the Empire: Issues of Scientific Responsibility and Democracy� held at Istanbul Bilgi University was the number one issue on the agenda recently despite the efforts by some groups to prevent it going ahead. Following this eventful conference, we have turned to Kastamonu city in Turkey, where many Armenian citizens live. . .

Armenians living in the Tutenni neighborhood of Kapanca village in Taskopru township of Kastamonu for 300 years react to the so-called Armenian genocide allegations. Armenian villagers living in the same village for 300 years say, “These are conspiracies and allegations broached to divide our country.� Armenians, who have been living in Kapanca village for many years without facing any problems or exclusion, note that they do not understand why there has been such a dispute. Some Armenian villagers hold positions in Kapanca’s forest cooperative office, while others are either founding members of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) or members of the village council. There are even those among them, who read each and every line of an AKP periodical because of their admiration for Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Also reacting to the so-called Armenian genocide allegations, Serkis Durak, 82, an Armenian living in Kapanca village, says, “We have neither faced genocide, nor any form of discrimination. We have been living here for many years. Neither we nor our grandfathers have been subjected to any form genocide. If there had been a genocide or any discrimination, could have I been elected as one of the top members of the village council? We have been living peacefully together with our Turkish neighbors.�

“I am Armenian but also a party member of the AKP since the day it was founded and I am also a delegate of the party. I cast a vote in the conventions. No one can talk about genocide or discrimination against Armenians in this country. There is no such thing. We are happy with our life in this country. We love our country. No one has discriminated or oppressed us so far,� he stressed.

‘We dance together at weddings and weep together at funerals’

Seventy-five year old Arman Kaya, who lives in the same neighborhood, says the following regarding the so-called Armenian genocide allegations:

“No discriminations have occurred so far. Nor any oppression…Grandfathers of my grandfathers have never told us anything negative about Turks. We have been here for many years. They even told us good things about Turks. We have no problems regarding our belief. We benefit from all the opportunities and services provided by our state. Our state pays us an aged pension. We have green cards for medical treatment in hospitals and we receive food aid during Ramadan. The gendarmerie regularly comes and asks us every week whether we have any problems or not. We, Turks and Armenians, dance together at weddings and weep together at funerals. These so-called Armenian genocide allegations are part of a game by some interest seekers to divide our country. We are pleased with our government and state. We can practice our own prayers.�

Kara, expressing his appreciation for Prime Minister Erdogan, continued: “I always watch him. I have no connection with his party but I always read about our Prime Minister’s polices in the party periodical. He works day and night for our country.� AKP Taskopru County Deputy President Husni Yilmaz, confirming Durak’s party membership, notes: “Our Armenian citizens have faced no problems. Those promoting discrimination among Turks, Armenians and Kurds are the ones, who covet our country.�


By FEHMI MENTES
Published: Thursday, October 20, 2005
zaman.com

Read Full Post !

426) Armenian and Russian Exercise

Interesting Exercise

It is a known fact that relations between Armenia and Russia are very strong and close.

Military relations between these two countries are so strong that they have been conducting planned military exercises just beyond our borders since the past ten years. . . . We have been informing our readers about these exercises in this column. Finally, we handled the last one of these exercises in this column a month ago today.

Today, we will discuss a new development in the Armenian and Russian relations. This new and interesting development regards the police. According to recent news, Armenian and Russian special police forces exercised new plans and techniques on how to struggle with demonstrators or protestors and how to disperse and suppress them during a series of military exercises that began on September 24 and ended on October 12.

Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev, Armenian police chief Hayk Harutinian and some other senior security officials observed and directed these important exercises that were held in Krasnodar, the prominent Russian city in north Caucasus. A total of 1,500 police officers from both countries participated in the exercises. The last exercise resulted in the arrest of about 50 demonstrators, who seized a government building and demanded their salaries to be paid immediately and wanted related authorities to resign. The special police forces organized a round up to the building and arrested the demonstrators.

According to the Armenian media, methods implemented during the former Soviet era, such as violent techniques to disperse the crowd and the use of arms were also tried during these exercises. Statements made after the exercises indicate parties were satisfied with the results and even Nurgaliyev said Russian and Armenian special police forces were ready to perform the task they were ascribed.

These exercises obviously show both Russia and Armenia have derived different results from government changes in Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan following mass demonstrations and they have been determinant to be ready and guarded against any similar demonstrations that might occur in their territories. Armenia seems especially sensitive and concerned about such future demonstrations. Indeed, Armenia had been shaken by opponent protests that lasted for several months last year. But, it was finally dispersed, as everyone knows, with the use of force by the Kocharian government. Moreover, it appears Armenia is already trying to take precautions for possible opponent demonstrations that may occur due to a constitutional referendum that will be held on November 27. It is already apparent that the so-called referendum will stir Armenia once again. The opposition in Armenia already expresses they will make use of this referendum to overthrow the Kocharian government and calls people to vote "no". In this respect, this referendum should be mentioned today and that is why I am writing about it.

The Armenian and Russian police exercises that we have mentioned today have the above connections with Armenia's political agenda. Looking to neighbor Armenia only from the perspective of the 1915 events is never sufficient to apprehend this country and its people. Rather we need to learn more things about this country, watch it more closely from every perspective, learn and study its history and make judgments based only on knowledge and observation. That is what we aim for and try to accomplish.



FIKRET ERTAN
10.24.2005 Monday - ISTANBUL 10:39
e-mail:f.ertan@zaman.com.tr

Read Full Post !

425) Now, Let’s Talk About The Armenians During the Collapse of the Ottoman Empire Conference

The conference, “The Armenians During the Collapse of the Ottoman Empire,� which was banned, postponed and finally took place through an act of civil disobedience on the part of the three most prestigious universities in the country, has almost never been discussed since it materialized, compared to the row that erupted on the eve of the gathering. . . .

The reason for this silence seems to be Turkey’s perception of the issue in question in an entirely political context and having no desire to understand its past. The ignorant, bigoted and ridiculous objection that the conference would advocate the genocide thesis was in fact a sign that discussions moved away from the so-called “national� view, and this could not be tolerated. Whereas the conference engendered a pluralistic platform that perhaps even went beyond the expectations of the organizers. We once again realized how prosaic, scrubby and superficial the Turkish and Armenian national views were in the face of the erudition that was manifested. Those who maintain that the conference was not scientific because the proponents of the Turkish view were not invited, appear to be altogether ignorant of what science is about. Because science is not an area for a clash of political positions, but an endeavor to grasp the truth in all aspects of its plurality. Above all, this in turn requires those who stand up and speak up in the name of science to present what they say within the criteria of scientific discipline and also respect scientific moral in the face of truth. To be more explicit, the spokespersons for both national views do not satisfy these criteria… Nationalism in its historical perspective that grants privileges to “national interest,� to the extent that it legitimizes the distortion of truth, does not develop the texts produced beyond mere brash demagogy. In other words, supporters of an ideology should change their attitudes in order to be regarded as “historians,� in a scientific sense.

The attitude of those who expected an “outcome� at the end of the conference was another proof of our inability to perceive history as a politics-free realm. Because scientific conferences do not produce “outcomes� as political ones do. On the contrary, if they are good ones, they bring the subject they are dealing with to the edge of new unknowns by deepening it. The Turkish society expecting an outcome is an indicator of how superficially we regard ourselves and our issues and how we are afraid to go deeper… On the other side, the conference in fact produced two outcomes. Firstly, it established that one section of the academic community and the intellectual circle in Turkey had the courage to openheartedly confront their past. This solemn and self-confident stance that emerged from a society that has not been speaking, that has regarded non-speaking as normal, and that has become timorous to speak for more than 80 years, is a move which would block low-level manipulations that would come from the West. Secondly, the high scientific level of the conference evinced Turkey was the right place to discuss this issue. The scientific content, which has been ignored so far because the public had not heard of it, has been discussed in an almost “ordinary� debate habitude with all the diversity and philosophical background that belong to it. Consequently, the conference established the differences in level between scientific people who respect their profession and the proponents of the official view, in a way that it cannot be ignored.

Finally a few words about the protesters… Naturally, there will be a few protesters in a country where the past is not known but is produced on the basis of an imaginary identity, and made the subject of “nationalism.�

What is surprising is the scantiness of their number… Maybe, even those who describe themselves as “nationalists� sense that what was experienced in the past is quite different from what we have been told. Otherwise, how we can explain the rumor that some of the protesters who throw eggs receive daily allowances.


ETYEN MAHCUPYAN
10.24.2005 Monday - ISTANBUL 10:35
e-mail:e.mahcupyan@zaman.com.tr

Read Full Post !

424) Armenian writer Dabayian: I am more Turkish than most

People in the audience at a seminar on the Armenian genocide question rose to their feet in applause when Armenian writer Levon Panos Dabayian, a guest on the panel, said "We are all Turks here. I am more Turkish than most even. If there were a war with Armenia today, "elhamdulillah" I would fight against them." . . . The seminar's title was "Historical Truths and the Armenian Problem from Every Angle," and it was held at the General Headquarters of the Turkish Metal Industry buildings.

A Turkish citizen, Dabayian also noted that there was in fact no real Armenian problem, but that it had been imported as an issue. The writer ended by saying, "We are all Turks here. The pain in me is Turkish pain."

Hurriyet, 22 September 2005

Read Full Post !

423) Armenian Diaspora is Egoist

Armenian people is one of the ancient tribes. They created a great civilization and contributed to the humanity and other civilizations a lot. They established kingdoms and states as well. However as they settled mainly on the crossroads of the civilizations, religions, sects, races and great kingdoms, they could not maintain their independence. As a result they have generally lived under the other nations’ sovereignty. . . . Iranian Empire, Byzantium Empire, Russian Empire, Arab Kingdoms, Seljuk and Ottoman Empires and Soviet ‘Empire’. They enjoyed great freedom under Seljuk and Ottoman Empires however many Armenians were tortured and deported by the Byzantium Emperors due to the religious disputes. Most of the time, they could not become soldiers or governors. In short the main problem for the Armenian peoples was lack of a state. When the French Revolution triggered the nationalist movements in the world, the Armenians were not ready for such a radical change:

The Ottoman Armenians were enjoying a great religious freedom and they were among the most wealthiest class in the empire. Many Armenian bankers, businessmen, doctors and intellectuals were very close to the Palace. The Ottoman Armenians in the towns and rural areas were mostly bankers, businessman or craftsmen. The Armenians with the Ottoman Greeks dominated the Ottoman export and import. Moreover the Ottoman Armenian population was not majority in any region. About 1 million Armenians were scattered around the huge Ottoman territories. In another word the Ottoman Armenians were not ready for a separatist nationalist revolt. They were actually happy with the existing system. The Church in particular had great privileges before the Ottoman State and a great power over the Armenian citizens.

Under these circumstances, the Armenian nationalism was developed in diaspora: In Switzerland and Georgia. Tashnak and Hnchak ‘parties’ were established in Tbilisi and Geneva. The leading Armenians were very young and inexperienced in politics. They had no enough power and financial support to struggle against the Empires. Apart from these, the young Armenian idealists set a formidable task for the Armenian nationalism: To unite all Armenians in the Ottoman, Russian, Iranian Empires and other Armenians in the region under a separate Armenian State. So, they needed foreign assistance, and the great imperial powers were very eager to ‘undermine’ the Ottoman Empire. The British, French and Russian Empires gave a great encouragement to the Tashnaks and other Armenian groups. However they did not fully keep their promises and when they reached agreements with the Istanbul Government the Armenian nationalists failed. Furthermore the Armenian nationalists were encouraged but not fully supported when needed. Another problem was that the Ottoman Armenians did not strongly join the Armenian nationalists. Many Armenians in the Ottoman towns were against the Armenian militants. Therefore the first target to be destroyed was seen as the Ottoman Armenian leaders. Many Armenian leaders were murdered by the Tashnak and other Armenian militants. They accused all Armenian opposition of being traitor. The Armenian terrorism killed more Armenians than the Muslims in the beginning of the 20th Century. The Armenian businessmen were threatened and forced to give ‘tax’ to the illegal Armenian groups. The Tashnak militants transferred a huge amount of weapons, provided by Russia and Britain, to the Ottoman towns. They were preparing a war and revolt against the Istanbul Government. They organized many terrorist attacks against the politicians and institutions. In 1876 the Armenian militants attacked the Ottoman Bank and exploded bombs before the bank. They further organized an assassination against the Sultan (Head of State) II. Abdulhamid.

When the First World War erupted, the Armenian extremists saw the war as an opportunity and the co-operation between the Armenians and Allied States increased. The Russian, British and French Empires who were in war against the Ottoman Empire, Germany and Austrian Empire, considered the Christian minorities as a tool against the Ottomans. Thus the Armenian nationalists were encouraged for more terrorist attacks, revolts and weapon transfers to Anatolia. The Van Revolt was one of the most vivid examples for the Armenian Revolts. The Tashnaks in the Van Revolt aimed to ‘clean the region from the Muslims’. Thousands of Muslims were killed or forced to leave the region. At the end the Armenians declared their independence in Van province and then handled the city to the Russian occupying forces.

The Armenian nationalist ‘adventure’ ended with a tragedy which cost 500.000 Muslim and more than 110.000 Armenian lives. About Thousands of Armenians were relocated, and many died due to the war circumstances. The Armenians rioted against the Government in many towns and attacked their Muslim neighbors with the French, Russian and British encouragement. However the occupiers did not keep their promises and with the end of the war the Armenians could not return their homes. Many immigrated to the European and North American states. The cost of the revolt was very high for the Armenian nationalism. Nevertheless they could establish a tiny state in Caucasus under the Tashnak rule. It is unfortunate that the Tashnaks could not learn anything from the Ottoman Armenian experience and they started a ‘revenge campaign’ (NEMESIS) against the newly-established Turkish State. As a matter of fact that the last thing Independent Armenia needed was a ‘revenge conflict’ with the Turks. Armenia was a ‘country of dead’ at that time. Armenian population was suffering from famine and epidemic diseases, and more than 200.000 Armenians died under these circumstances in the Tashnaks’ Independent Armenia. However the Armenian ‘leaders’ did not focus on the economic development, social and cultural problems and political relations with the neighboring countries while the newly Turkey’s Government sole dealt with the political and economic problems. The Armenian terrorists killed many former Ottoman ministers. But the Tashnak attacks not only killed the Turkish targets but also ended the independence of Armenia. Armenia lost its independence and became a Soviet Republic under Moscow rule.
Armenians once more had to immigrate to the West. They suffered a lot from lack of an independent state. They had no reasonable leader who could lead them under the realistic and pragmatic principles instead of purely naïve emotional motivations.

Under the lack of leadership, Armenians were exposed the great powers national interests. Moscow, Washington, Paris and London abused the Armenian issue.

Armenia gained its independence in 1991 after the decades when the Soviet Empire collapsed. It is unfortunate that the Diaspora Armenians and Tashnaks just focused on their own interests instead of saving the newly-established Armenia. Tashnaks played a crucial role in declaring war against the Azerbaijanis. The Diaspora encouraged more wars to capture the ‘lost territories’ in Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan. While the other former republics tried to decrease their dependency on Russia, Armenia more and more became a ‘Russian orbit’ in the region. When Russia lost its military bases in Azerbaijan and Georgia, Armenians invited the Russians to their country.

The new Armenian nationalists and Diaspora saw Turkey the most deadly enemy, though Turkey was one of the first states who recognized Armenian independence. Actually Turkey considered Armenian State as an opportunity to normalize the Turkish-Armenian relations. However Armenian Diaspora seriously reluctant in normalizing the relations because it established the Armenian identity on anti-Turkishness. The 1915 Legacy and anti-Turkish accusations have been the only uniting factor in the diaspora. They feared that if Turkey and Armenia normalized the relations, the assimilation of the Armenians in the West could be accelerated. The Church and the political parties used the Turkish-Armenian problems in cementing the non-homogenous Armenian society. Moreover anti-Turkish Armenian Case was financial and prestige source for many Armenians and Diaspora institutions. In another word the Diaspora Armenian abused the problem with Turks for their personal and institutional interest at the cost of Armenia. Their priority was not State of Armenia but the Diaspora. They knew that the land-locked and relatively poor Armenia had to solve its disputes with Turkey in order to survive. However they sacrificed Armenian state once again as they did in 1918.

To conclude, the foremost priority for the whole Armenians must to protect and survive the young Armenia, instead of strengthening the Armenian diaspora. Armenia should not be part of the adventurous games of its Diaspora and Russia.

turkishweekly.net
by Dr. Sedat LACÄ°NER

Read Full Post !

422) Reinstitution of Turkish - Armenian Friendship

The crux of my speech at the panel on “The Armenian Problem and Turkish Democracy� in the “Ottoman Armenians� conference was the following: I am not a historian. As a political scientist and public commentator, my interest is focused on the current issues and problems of Turkish politics. . . .

I believe that the resolution of the “Armenian problem� is indispensable for consolidation of liberal and pluralist democracy, and for peace culture to prevail in Turkey. Consequently, I am interested more in the future than in the past. My problem is: What can be done to reinstitute Turkish - Armenian friendship? There certainly are people, among both Turks and Armenians, who want to reach conciliation and resolve the problem. These today constitute a minority, but they may well become the majority in the future. To this end, those who favor a solution need to reach a consensus on some basic points.

Regarding history: What was experienced at the end of the19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries is the story of the dissolution of the multi-religious and multi-ethnic Ottoman Empire as a result of conflicting religious and ethnic nationalisms backed by imperialist European powers. It is the story of millions of people who were subjected to ethnic cleansing, deportation and massacres. Almost all of the ethnic and religious which made up the Ottoman Empire had their share of this tragedy. The Union and Progress Party government decided to put Anatolia fully under its control, and to cleanse this region of ethnic and religious elements whose loyalty it did not trust. When in 1915 – 16 the Unionists in order to punish Armenian separatists who sought to establish an independent Armenia by cooperating with the Russians deported Armenians living in all parts of the country to Syria (Zor province), Armenians became the religious and ethnic group which suffered most during the course of the dissolution of the empire. Not only those living in the war zone but all Armenians, except those living in Istanbul and Izmir were subjected to the forced deportations. In the process hundreds of thousands of them were killed or died as a result of famine or illness. Some escaped deportation by converting to Islam, others managed to survive by converting to Islam after being rescued by Muslims. Some of those who managed to reach Syria alive settled there, while many emigrated to France and the US. Turkish people know very little about the tragedy of the Ottoman Armenians, and a solution to the “Armenian problem� is not possible until they are sufficiently informed about it.

Neither is it possible to reach a consensus on the claim that Armenians were subjected to genocide. Some will continue to insist on this claim, while others will never accept it. It is, however, clear that this claim hinders Turkey from discussing freely what really happened in history. Holding all Turks then and now accountable for the crimes committed by the Ottoman Unionist government, and using the genocide allegation to fan racist hatred and enmity against all Turks, is surely unacceptable. If a broad consensus on the above facts is achieved, it is possible to move forward towards a solution.

Our tasks as those in Turkey who favor of reconciliation are obvious: We must first of all exert our utmost efforts to ensure that our Armenian citizens enjoy equal citizenship rights and that their minority rights are secured. Historians should, with courage and determination, work to shed light on what really happened and on those who were responsible. We should try to win over the public opinion in favor of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia, and opening of the borders between the two countries. Ankara can thereby even contribute to peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We should also try to enhance the links and dialogue between the Turkish and Armenian civil societies. If we can do all these, it will one day be possible to erect a monument in Anatolia in memory of the great suffering Ottoman Armenians lived through.

SAHIN ALPAY
10.03.2005 Monday - ISTANBUL 10:08
e-mail:s.alpay@zaman.com.tr

Read Full Post !

421) National Geographic - Armenian Editorial Staff

At the time of this writing, National Geographic Magazine has an Armenian on board its editorial staff. When it's time to do a piece on Armenia, the old propaganda, like 1.5 million victims, mysteriously surfaces. Let's see what the magazine wrote in the "old days." . . .

Oct..1909 – P.146: … is inhabited largely by Kuzzilbash Kurds, who are neither good Mohammedans, good Christians, nor good pagans. Nominally they belong to the Shiah sect of Mohammedans, who are looked upon with great aversion by orthodox Sunni Mohammedans, such as the Turks. In practice the Kuzzilbash are very cosmopolitan in their religious observances. When away from home they readily join in the prayers at either Shiah or a Sunni mosque. If they happen to be in an Armenian village where there are no Turks, they often go in and join in the Christian service, kneeling and bowing with congregation. At home they are said not to pray except when led by one of their sayids, or holy men, who are supposed to be descendants of Mohammed. As a matter of fact they, like the rest of the Kuzzilbash, are probably descended, in part at least, from Armenians whose conversion to Mohammedanism was not exactly a matter of conviction. One of the most peculiar customs of the Kuzzilbash is an ancient rite which is apparently of Christian origin. No European has seen it, but according to trustworthy Armenians, the Kuzzilbash men gather at the mosque on solemn feast days and one by one they advance to the front of the sacred building — on their knees, it is said by some. As each man comes forward a sayid takes a bit of meat, dips it in wine, and puts it in the man’s mouth. Such ceremony can scarcely be anything but a relic of Christianity.

In many places Turks, Kurds, Armenians all reverence the same shrines — places which have probably been sacred since the far-off days of the pagans who fought with the Assyrians or opposed the march of Xenopohon. One of the most notable of such places is located in Mushar Dagh, Mushar Mountain, inside the point of sharp bend to the to the westward made by Euphrates River.

Jan. 1912 – P.53 – "The Young Turk" by Colby Chester.

The great educational system is founded by these Americans ... comprises at present more than 300 common schools in the Empire. 44 high schools, 8 colleges, 1 normal school and 5 divinity schools. This scholastic work is spread out all over this former "garden spot of the world" and has leavened the masses with high ideals of living, knowledge of free institutions, and longing for better government. Such an authority as Gladstone has placed upon record a statement that "American missionaries in Turkey have done more good to the inhabitants of that country than has all Europe combined". And Mr. James Bryce, the British Ambassador to Washington, goes even further and states: "I cannot mention the American missionaries without a tribute to the admirable work they have done. They have been only good influence that has worked from abroad upon the Turkish Empire". The people of Turkey as body have long since passed from the pale of the "unspeakable Turk" and many of them stand out as peers of any people in the world in general intelligence, character, and all qualities that go to make good citizens; but of course as yet they are wanting in sufficient experience to guide without assistance the ship of state to the high plane at which they are aiming. During my stay among these people I have found men of sterling character and unswerving integrity, men well fitted to lead their country through crises similar to those through which our own nation passed in its struggle for birth.

While we Americans have done much toward the enlightenment of the Turk, I should say in all fairness to them that they have earnestly sought education through following the percepts of the Koran (their Bible). A short selection, reads:

"The duty of every Mussulman is to acquire science. Science is the life of the heart. The learned shine in the world like stars in the sky. Knowledge is the immortal soul of man."

And that the Turks are apt scholars no one can doubt who has lived among them. One of the younger classmen of the Beirut American University, presented me, when I was there with a copy of a speech made by Dr. Bliss, its president, on the responsibilities of popular government, which this young student had taken down stenographically and typewritten himself. This young man, a Syrian by birth, spoke English well, and more than a dozen other languages. Yet he was but an average scholar in the college. At Constantinople on more than one occasion I have witnessed the presentation of some of Shakespeare’s play by the young men of the American College for Girls that would compare with any similar representation in my own country. The Turkish people are reaching out to other civilizations for help to recover from the tyranny and stagnation that has bound them so long in slavery. They look to America particularly as the one nation of the West that has no political ambition to subserve in its action toward…

Oct. 1915 – P.329 : "Armenia and the Armenians" By Hester Donaldson Jenkins.


Armenia is a word that has widely different connotation for different peoples. To us, Americans, it means a vague territory somewhere in Asia Minor: to the makers of modern maps it means nothing: there is no such place; to the Turk of a few years ago, it was a forbidden name; smacking of treason and likely to bring up that bugaboo "nationalism" than which Abdul Hamid II feared nothing more, unless it were "liberty"; but to nearly two millions of Russian, Persian and Turkish subjects, it is a word filled with emotion, one that sends the hand to the heart and calls up both pride and sorrow. Armenia is not easy to bound at any period of history, but roughly, it is the tableland extending from the Caspian Sea nearly to the Mediterranean Sea. Its limits have become utterly fluid; the waves of conquering Persians and Byzantines, Arabs and Romans, Russians and Turks have flowed and ebbed on its shores until all lines are obliterated. Armenia is not a State, not even a geographic unity, but merely a term for the region anywhere the Armenians live.


P.330: The Armenians export silk and cotton, hides and leather, wine, dried fruits, raisins, tobacco, drugs and dyestuff. In minerals too the country is rich. Coal, silver, copper, iron and other minerals lie beneath the surface, but the Turkish government has not allowed them to be exploited. James Bryce thus speaks of the land: "Here is a country blest with every gift of Nature; a fertile soil, possessing every variety of exposure and situation; a mild and equable climate; mines of iron, copper, silver and coal in the mountains; a land of exquisite beauty, which was once studded with flourishing cities and filled by an industrious population. But now from the Euphrates to the Bosphorus all is silence, poverty, despair. There is hardly a sail on the sea, hardly a village on the shores, hardly a road which commerce can pass into the interior. You ask the cause and receive from every one the same answer — misgovernment or rather no government; the existence of a power which does nothing for its subjects, but stands in the way when there is a chance of their doing something for themselves. The mines, for instance, cannot be worked without a concession from Constantinople".

Armenian feels behind him this vast antiquity, giving him personal dignity and great national pride. They begin their history with the Garden of Eden, which they claim was in Armenia, basing the claim on the naïve statement that the land is beautiful enough to have included Paradise, and also laughingly asserting that the apples of Armenia were worthy to tempt a most Epicurean Eve. Their first recorded ancestors they find in the book of Genesis.

P.347: The Ottoman Empire was organized into millets, a religious division. There being an Orthodox millet, and a Gregorian millet, a Catholic millet, and in the nineteenth century a Protestant millet. Each of these millets has its head, who is its representative or ambassador at the Porte. This is not a purely ecclesiastical position, like that of the Catholicos, but is really a diplomatic and political office, and the demands intellectual rather than spiritual qualification. Therefore that patriarch of the Armenians is not necessarily nor by any means always a religious man, although an occasional patriarch like Ismirlian, is worth of great reverence.

It is in this entanglement with politics, and its ancient ritual in dead language that lie the dangers to the Gregorian church, namely formality and lack of application to daily living. One of the best things that Protestant missionaries have accomplished in Turkey is rectifying this ancient and noble institution. It will be readily seen that when an Armenian leaves the Gregorian to join a Catholic or Protestant Church, he in some sense loses touch with his nation, for nation or millet and church are practically one in Turkey. For this reason, if no other, all missionary work within the church is better than that done outside. Turkey governed very well, as governments went, in the first centuries of her rule, and Armenians were not unhappy. They were not admitted to the army, but paid a head tax instead; but many of their men, cleverer than the Turk in finance, became advisers to royalty. The Armenians formed a body of industrious farmers in Asia Minor and were useful business men in the coast cities, where they won respect and envy. There is little, if any, racial antagonism between Armenian and Turks, Had religion and politics never come to antagonize them, they could live together in essential harmony.

The above comes courtesy of Sukru S. Aya

---

© Holdwater
tallarmeniantale.com/national-geographic.htm

---

Read Full Post !