As you well aware, in recent years the parliaments of Turkey’s friendly allies have been calling the 1915 events as “genocide”.
Today, the individuals or the institutions lacking any information on the course of dramatic events that broke out
As you well aware, in recent years the parliaments of Turkey’s friendly allies have been calling the 1915 events as “genocide”.
Today, the individuals or the institutions lacking any information on the course of dramatic events that broke out during the disintegration period of the Ottoman Empire and the World War I are being forced to believe in a dogma based on an imaginary memory.
This is my definite opinion as an academician devoted to the freedom of scientific research.
Those who do not believe in this intangible system of belief, promulgated by the Armenian Diaspora, the Republic of Armenia, and their supporters, receive threats of detention, or are even sentenced in some countries.
This point of view is a new form of “clash of civilizations” today.
This is a dirty war in which literature, history, music, cinema, and finally Internet instead of tanks, aircrafts and submarines…are used.
In this dirty war, Turkish Nation shall never tolerate any injustice against her ancestors.
Moreover, it is a very natural and basic human right to demand the revelation of the historical details that were concealed purposefully by the unjust war propaganda prevailed during the years of the Great War.
As I have mentioned at the very beginning of my speech, the prohibition of this human right in some countries with laws points to the haunting of the Dark Age mentality,.
Through the Inquisition resolutions, they want to forbid the use of this right by the Turkish people forever.
In Europe during the 18th century, when the book of Rousseau was burned in Switzerland, the famous intellectual Voltaire said to his colleague whom he had called as “the furious dog of Diogenes”: “Je ne suis pas d’accord avec ce que vous dites; mais je defendrai jusqu’a la mort votre droit a le dire!” [I don’t agree with you in any of your opinions, but I will defend your freedom of expression till the end of my life!]
Voltaire presented a unique model for the freedom of expression with his approach to different points of view.
We, the Turkish people, shall never accept the model imposed for the solution of this chronic historical dissension that has been put before our generation today.
You should bear in mind that although all the parliaments in the world take decisions against us, we shall continue our way for thousands of years with an unwavering self-confidence.
The events of 1915 did not occur as narrated by the Armenian Diaspora, the Republic of Armenia, and individuals or institutions believing them.
We unyieldingly shall address to those decision-makers:
“You can continue to trust in this virtual system of belief; we shall use your own archive documents to understand, narrate and write history.
In such a case, you can ask:
“How and when will it be possible to eliminate this chronic conflict between the Turks and the Armenians?”
No unilateral step will be of use for the solution of this 90-year chronic conflict.
The best way for both parties is to take mutual steps for a solution.
As emphasized earlier, “the historians (…) are in pursuit of revealing not only the facts but also how and why these facts occurred, and what their meanings are; this is what the historians undertake as their duty”.
Therefore, while fulfilling this highly respected duty and in enjoying this international ethical right, the Turkish historians should not be restricted – as well as their colleagues from different countries.
In conclusion, I would like to indicate that the Prime Minister of Turkey sent a letter to the officials of the Republic of Armenia for the settlement of the Turkish-Armenian conflict.
In this letter, Turkish Prime Minister offered the formation of a joint commission consisting of the historians from both sides in order to investigate the events of 1915, and the recognition of the result to be reached by the parties of the conflict.
This is a very important step.
But unfortunately, the Armenian party has not given any “positive” reply so far.
The parties should open all their archives pertaining to the years of war for each other’s use.
The Armenian Dashnak Committee Archives are in the USA and are closed to the Turkish academicians.
The Armenian Patriarchate Archives are in Israel, and they are also closed to Turkish academicians.
The archive records are of great importance and indispensable elements in the solution of such conflicts.
Turkey keeps her resolute stance in the issue by publishing the facsimiles of the documents in her own archives.
There are about 1 million documents regarding the Armenian issue in the Prime Ministry archives.
The facsimiles of the original documents in the Prime Ministry Archives concerning the issue are being published continuously.
Upon the directives of the Turkish General Staff, 1047 documents in the archives of the Military History and Strategic Studies Department have been prepared for publication in 8 volumes.
In these volumes, the facsimiles and English translations of all the records on the secret correspondence of the then Ottoman Armies, and the military activities of the Armenian Committees during the World War I are presented to the use of the international public opinion, and to all Turkish and foreign researchers.
Undoubtedly, this is not sufficient for solving the 1915 Turkish-Armenian conflict. However, we need nothing but a first modest step for the challenging process towards peace.
Thank you for your attention.
I wish good health and happiness for all of you.