2565) Open Letter to Senator Barack Obama on the Armenian Issue

From: Yuksel Oktay
Subject: Open Letter to Senator Barack Obama on the Armenian Issue
To: senator_obama at obama dot senate dot gov
Date: August 17, 2008,

Dear Senator Obama,
Recently, a friend wrote to you about her concerns on your support of the myhtical Armenian genocide, which is rejected by those who know what happened during those terrible First World War years. Your response to her stated that "I share your view that the United States must recognize the events of 1915 to 1923, carried out by the Ottoman Empire, as genocide. As you know, this resulted in the deportation of nearly 2,000,000 Armenians, of whom 1,500,000 men, women, and children were killed." The above statement has been taken directly from the HR 106 (Item 1) which was shelved by the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2007 because it was full of distortions and lies and had no chance of passage in the House of Representatives. My friend did not state any of those false claims or that the Armenian genocide should be recognized. On the contrary, she asked you to reject the Armenian claims. As I also wrote to you in 2007 and early this year, what you have stated in your kind response are false and what happened in 1915 can not be categorized as genocide. What your advisors are telling you are lies and falsified propaganda stories, which are shown in historical documents that can be found in the US archives, especially in the Near East Relief Report. The Near East Relief Report is dated 22.04.1922 but gives the status of 1921 year-end, signed by James Barton. As of end of 1921, 200.000 to 300.000 refugees were alive in Syria and in need of housing (since they are alive).

Barton, approved with thanks by Armenian Patriarchs Bezdjian (Protestant) and Sayegiiyan (Catholic) confirmed the following:

P. 4 - It states that 300.000 Armenians returned to Cilicia after British-French occupation, but that they evacuated the region in 1921 after F. Bouillon's Treaty with Kemalist Turks.
P. 5 - The number of living people in Russian Armenia is 1 million and 500.000 of these need help of the Relief Organization. (This 1 million matches with Katchaznuni and Lalaian statements for 1918, before war - 200.000 who died of starvation until end of 1921 there.
It states that at the time 1.000.000 are alive in Caucasus Armenia,- 500.000 in need of help!

P. 8 - It gives account of 64.000 alive in 124 orphanages + 50.000 in the areas = 114.000 living.

P. 9 - Relief activities continued in full during Kemalist rule in all areas, since the US was not at war with Turkey. The following figures were given for some of the orphanages: Ankara 350, Kayseri 3190, Harput 5176, Konya 813, Sivas 1368, Maras 468 etc. It states that 500.000 persons migrated from Anatolia to Caucasus region. (Other sources had indicated this figure as 400.000). It lists various orphanages in occupied - unoccupied cities of the Ottoman Empire and Kemalists, showing that Turks never hindered their activities!

Throughout the report, there is not a word of Turkish atrocities or refusal of cooperation or attacks on relief goods protected by famished soldiers or Turks, and that only Christians received subject Relief! Generally there's NO mention of "grave;massacre-genocide or even LACK OF HELP" acute; of Turks! In fact, Ch.15 - "Population Controversy" proves that figures of Art. 1 of HS 106 and alike are all tall lies!

Unfortunaley, Near East Relief is continuing its activities at present as "The Near East Foundation" uner the influence of Armenian administrators and recognizes the mythical genocide despite the presence of the above report in their archives which proves otherwise. We are all aware of the new book that just came out "Obama Nation" which is also full of lies and your campaign has rejected the book in a 40 page "Unfit to Publication" rebuttal. This is exactly the way many Turks and Americans characterize "Ambassador Morgenthau"s Story", the mother of all anti-Turkish material published under his name but actually written by his Armenian secretray and Armenian translator with input from many anti-Turkish circles. This book too was unfit for publication and the suggestion to turn it into a movie was rejected by President Wilson even though he had no love for Turkey and wanted to divide the Ottoman Empire. And yet millions have read this book for over 90 years and have been exposed to a falsified history of Turkish-Armenian and Turkish-American relations.

"White paper: The Armenian Issue" prepared by a group of professionals and intellectuals living in Holland, Germany, France, Turkey, the United States, etc., who would like to see this issue resolved. I am sure, if you and your advisors and supporters also read this document, your false and unjustified attitude will also change, the cornerstone of your campaign.

Regards.
Yuksel Oktay
16 August 2008 New Jersey