HURRIYET- Columnist Emin Colasan writes on the so-called genocide allegedlyperpetrated by the Ottoman Empire. A summary of his column is as follows:
Every year on 24 April, and before and after this date, Armenian outcries are heard throughout the world and the 'Armenian genocide' is denounced. They claim that Turks tried to massacre them and wanted to eradicate their race! Armenians are depicted as a poor, victimized nation, Turks as cruel and ruthless! Let's remember: It is the year 1915. We are fighting on many fronts during World War I. Citizens of Armenian descent have once again rebelled against the state again. This is the umpteenth rebellion since 1800. This time they collude with the enemy Russian Army. Armenian gangs capture Van, and then many provinces such as Mus, Bitlis and Nakhcivan are occupied by them. The Armenian gangs are stabbing the Turkish army in the back. With the support of the Russian Army, they are horribly oppressing the Muslim people. In view of this deplorable situation, the Istanbul government calls the Armenian leaders to a meeting and urges them to halt these incidents. No results. On 24 April 1915 the Armenian organization and the gangsters in Istanbul are detained. This is the date the Armenians commemorate as the 'date of the so-called genocide.' Soon after, the government sends the Armenians who stabbed the army in the back, in the war zone, and those living in the eastern and southeastern provinces to Syria and Lebanon in large groups. Unfortunate incidents happen during their trek. Long roads are covered on foot in the prevailing conditions of the day. There are many who die of hunger or sickness on the road, and robberies are not uncommon. Now if the Ottomans had intended to commit genocide, they would have killed the Armenians on the spot. The government sent those betraying the country as a whole to other places in order to relieve the army at the front. The only intentions were to prevent betrayal and to protect the army. However, not one Armenian was killed or relocated apart from those living in the war zones. The Ottoman archives are open to all. There are no instructions regarding a 'genocide,' nor any other document on the issue. World War I ended in 1918, but the Armenian animosity didn't let up. For years, they murdered many leading statesmen in various cities of the world. Somehow we seem to have been put on the defensive against the outcries of the Armenians and their collaborators. We have to explain these incidents to the world.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION