“At that time, while Ottoman state waged a war in 4 fronts, places of some our citizens were changed in the commentaries of that time as a result of instigation of those people inside the country”
Turkish President Abdullah Gul delivered speech and responded questions of parliamentarians at winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), APA’s correspondent in Europe reports. To question “Why does not Turkey want to recognize 1915 genocide so far?”, Gul said that Turkey would never accept this pretension: “First of all, we do not accept expression “genocide”. We do not admit that we committed any genocide in our history or in our past. If someone pretends it as genocide, then we declare very clearly: “Let’s establish a common commission related to this issue. Let’s scientists, historians who accept and refuse this genocide assembly, and discuss it. Let’s open our archives and accept the final result. Even, if there is a third side who says “genocide was committed”, scientists of that side may also join the discussions”.
Gul said that a lot of tragic events took place during the I World War as well: “Of course, we do regret for all these events. While Ottoman state waged a war in 4 fronts, places of some our citizens were changed in the commentaries of that time as a result of instigation of those people inside the country. But genocide means to annihilate a nation of any race and religion. Nevertheless, if you look at that period, you will see that Armenian citizens worked at good posts in Ottoman Empire. Moreover, while all these events were happening in other parts of Turkey, all Armenian churches functioned very calmly in Istanbul. Calling it as genocide is inadmissible. At the head with Ataturk, all persons who established Turkish state propagandized many years for not inculcating new generations with hate and enmity. Though nearly 3 mln Turks were killed while move from Balkans. These events were not spoken for many years in order not to hand such sorrow to new generations and not to create hate in neighboring countries against them. We have always looked at future, some MP in the parliament may say that Turkey committed genocide against Armenia 100 years ago. But if someone asks them how, where and when it happened, no right answer will be received. Of course, we have not to forget our past. But we must look at the future”.
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