IGDIR (A.A) - 03.08.2002 - Genocide Monument constructed out of respect to 51 Turks who had been massacred by Armenians, was inaugurated in Hakmehmet village in eastern province of Igdir on Saturday.
Speaking at the inauguration, Igdir Governor Mustafa Tamer said, ''51 Turkish citizens were massacred in Hakmehmet village on September 17, 1919. Number of Turkish people killed by Armenian gangs in Igdir and neighboring regions was about eighty thousand.''
''We should inform the world public opinion on genocide committed by Armenians against Turks. Armenian gangs committed many massacres in Igdir. We constructed this monument out of respect to our 51 martyrs,'' he added.
BOOK ENTITLED ''ARMENIAN ATROCITY IN AGRI WITH DOCUMENTS'' PUBLISHED
The book written by researcher-writer Cemal Yildirim gives information about massacres committed by Armenian gangs in eastern province of Agri and in neighboring regions between 1914 and 1916.
Yildirim said that he had referred to documents that are preserved at the state archives as a source while writing his book.
''Also, I included stories of those who witnessed massacres committed by Armenian gangs against Turkish people,'' he said.
Yildirim added that his 230-page book was a response to allegations on so-called Armenian genocide.