3552) Armenian Forced Relocation: Putting An End To Misleading Simplifications

by Maxime GAUIN
Specialist at the Center for Eurasian Studies

Abstract: This paper studies three aspects of the Turkish-Armenian conflict. First of all, contrary to what the main Armenian and proArmenian affirm, there were hundreds of thousands, likely 500,000 Armenians, who were exempted of relocation, particularly in Istanbul, Western and Central Anatolia as well as in the Arab provinces. Then, the policy of the Ottoman government vis-à-vis the Armenian exiles was a protective ones, even if this protection failed in a considerable number of cases. The orders from Istanbul are clear. In particular, it is false to assert that the Ottoman government did not provide food and opposed the foreign relief. Such accusations are based on manipulation of evidence and neglect Ottoman as well as American and German . . . .

sources. The relocation of 1915-16 is also misrepresented if described as the only reason for the losses of the Ottoman Armenian community between 1914 and 1922. In fact, the Russian relocation and the flow of refugees have to be considered, as well as the direct responsibilities of the Armenian extremists in the emigration of Armenians from Cilicia during the French withdrawal and the Greek scorched earth policy in 1922, which included the forced exile of the Christians from Western Anatolia.

Keywords: Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Committee of Union and Progress, Greece, Social Democratic Hunchakian Party, Ottoman Empire, racism, Russia, Turkish War of Independence


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