[IMC-Boston-Editorial] TURKS ARE READY TO CONFONT THEIR HISTORY. ARE ARMENIANS READY TO CONFRONT THE TRUTH?

[ÖZEL BÜRO]

TURKS ARE READY TO CONFONT THEIR HISTORY. 

ARE ARMENIANS READY TO CONFRONT THE TRUTH?

 

On behalf of the joint 127 NGOs' initiative 
Prof. Dr. Aysel Eksi 

There are various reasons why the Armenian view of history has become the
accepted wisdom in the world at large. No single issue moves the Armenian
diaspora as much as what has come to be known as a genocide, and many
Armenians, having attained positions of wealth and influence throughout the
western world, have made the perpetuation of this issue their crusade. As a
result, virtually all the information that we have concerning the tragic
events of 1915 comes from Armenian sources, or of their sympathizers. What
works to the pro-Armenians' advantage is that the western world has failed
to regard the two peoples on an equal plane. The much greater suffering
endured by the Moslems of the period has been almost completely ignored. 

The inherent prejudice that prevents most people from analyzing these events
with an open mind presents as significant an obstacle today, as during the
time of the events. It is unfortunate that the image of the "Terrible Turk"
is still alive and well. Those who can overcome their ingrained bigotry and
can objectively look at the genuine evidence soon become aware that what is
known as "Turkish propaganda" stems mainly from sources without reason to be
false. These are the very western sources that have often maintained their
prejudices against the Turkish people, along with internal Ottoman documents
never meant to be public relations exercises. 

By contrast, the evidence for an "Armenian genocide" derives mainly from
these very hostile and bigoted sources that had every reason to falsify the
facts. Sources such as the British "Blue Book" (in particular, The Treatment
of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, 1915- 1916," written by Arnold Toynbee;
a "Wellington House" operative working for Britain's war propaganda
division, a body with the purpose of demonizing the enemy), whose author is
on record for revealing almost all of his sources were missionaries. Other
biased sources referred to are the newspapers from the period, American
diplomats who received their news almost entirely from their Armenian
assistants, and even the Ottomans' German allies who often were largely
affected by their Christian sympathies. Ottoman trials in 1919-20 were
courts held under enemy occupation and cannot be deemed valid. Today's
so-called genocide scholars overwhelmingly support the Armenian thesis, but
there are very few historians among their ranks. Many conclude there was a
genocide first, and then fit selective evidence to support their conclusion;
in effect, working in reverse of what we would normally expect of true
scholars.

After the wave of Armenian terrorism hit in the 1970s and 80s, this subject
began to be studied seriously, and many specialists in Ottoman history came
to reject the notion of genocide. For example, 69 Western academicians
signed a 1985 statement to that effect. Targeted increasingly by ad hominem
attacks, most were intimidated away from this debate. As a result, the
pro-Armenians have succeeded in presenting the image that it is only the
Turkish government that has come to "deny" this alleged genocide.

In the face of this malicious campaign to distort history, what stands out
is that pro-Armenians rarely have expressed willingness to engage in honest
debate. One must ask, if they are so certain of their facts, what would they
have to be afraid of? 

Why, for example, have they refused to take their case to the International
Court of Justice in The Hague? 

The truth is that during World War I, when the Ottoman forces were fighting
on five fronts, they also faced an armed uprising of Armenians. At the
instigation and with the support of Czarist Russia, Armenian insurgents
sought to establish an Armenian state in an area which was predominantly
Turkish. With the Russian invasion of eastern Anatolia, the degree of
Armenian collaboration with the Russian enemy increased dramatically. The
Ottoman army's rear was gravely threatened when supply lines were cut by
Armenian guerilla bands. Furthermore, Armenian revolutionary bands massacred
the Turks of the province of Van, in anticipation of the expected arrival of
the invading Russian armies. The Ottoman government's response was to order
the relocation of its Armenian subjects from the path of invading Russians
and other areas where they might undermine the Ottoman war effort.

That the Ottoman State's Armenian minority launched a bloody insurrection at
the very time the country was fighting a World War goes a long way towards
explaining the resultant suffering that was borne by Armenians and non-
Armenians alike. Most of the casualties from both sides were victims of
famine, disease and exposure, as well as inter-ethnic clashes and regular
warfare. A favorite pro-Armenian source, Ambassador Henry Morgenthau,
himself had written that thousands of Turks were dying daily from
starvation, because few were left to till the fields; he estimated an entire
quarter of the Turkish population had died of starvation alone. It is not
correct to deem the great numbers of Armenians who died from the same causes
as "genocide victims."

Ottoman archives which are now open to research without any restriction
contain tens of thousands of documents shedding light on the relocation
process. Among them are a great number of Ottoman Government directives
ordering the governors, military commanders and other public officials, to
implement the relocation in an orderly way, taking the necessary measures
for the security of those who were being moved, with maximum care for the
protection of their lives and possessions. (However, it is also a fact that
orders from the central government were not always followed by local
officials. As often happens with operations of great magnitude, particularly
those undertaken at the last minute with limited resources and manpower, not
everything went smoothly.) 

In the overall implementation of the relocation the inexistence of even a
disguised intent to kill and destroy is obvious. This could also be deduced
from the following indications: 

 

*        All along the war the Armenian population continued to exist in
most of western Anatolia, and were not subjected to the relocation process.

*        Some who travelled on foot -- for lack of proper transportation --
were attacked by lawless bands and other renegade forces. Those who
travelled by rail, on the other hand, arrived at their destinations
unmolested.

*        All along the war high level Armenian bureaucrats continued to
serve in the Ottoman government.

*        Contrary to overriding belief, the great wave of immigration of
Armenians came well after the war was over, and after many had returned to
their homes in what was left in the Ottoman Empire. The Armenian Patriarch
estimated some 645,000 remained as late as 1921. 500,000 had already mostly
travelled, on their own accord, to Transcaucasia alone, according to a UCLA
Armenian professor. Armenians today concede one million survived. The
pre-war population according to most neutral Western sources of the period
(such as the Encyclopedia Britannica) was around 1.5 million. Pro-Armenian
claims that 1.5 million were killed are mathematically impossible.

*        Often called the "foremost authority on the Armenian Genocide,"
Prof. Vahakn Dadrian himself had written (in Sept. 21, 2004) that "in 1916
... the genocide had all but run its course." He was referring to the
relocation policy, but it is obvious such a policy in itself cannot be
termed a genocide. (Otherwise, the movement of W.W.II Japanese-Americans
would be similarly defined.) The question must also be asked that if this
process was the kind of Hitlerian "Final Solution" it is often compared to,
why should it have come to a halt so soon?

*        The 1948 U.N. Convention on Genocide requires "intent" to be
proven. Aside from hearsay, there is absolutely no factual evidence proving
any such thing. Similarly, the Armenians had been a "political group" aiming
to ethnically cleanse the Turks in a sizeable part of eastern Anatolia, in
an effort to establish their own independent state. "Political groups" are
not among the groups protected under the Genocide Convention.

*        A "Nuremberg" was held at the end of the war, in the form of the
Malta Tribunal (1919-1921). The British desperately sought the evidence to
convict accused Ottomans, numbering over 140 at one point. The U.S. State
archives was their last resort (significantly, the very foundation of most
"Armenian genocide evidence" today), and the British Embassy in Washington
delivered the following message on July 13, 1921: "I regret to inform your
Lordship that there was nothing therein which could be used as evidence
against the Turks who are being detained for trial in Malta." Consequently,
without going to trial, every single prisoner was freed.

*        Some 1,600 Turks were, on the other hand, taken to tribunals and
court martials during the war in their own country, for crimes against
Armenians. Most were convicted, and over sixty were given the death penalty.



The truth is that the Armenians' portrayal of themselves as the helpless
victims of "The First Genocide of the 20th Century" is without any basis.
Even that claim is inaccurate; there were systematic extermination campaigns
earlier in the century preceding the Armenians, as in Albania, South West
Africa, and the Philippines. 

Often ignored, the Balkan Turks were victims of an enormous ethnic cleansing
campaign, also preceding the Armenian experience. Once again, it is
prejudice that prevents the world at large from recognizing the tremendous
tragedies the Turks had suffered.

During 1918-1920, the newly formed Republic of Armenia had systematically
exterminated their own Azeri Turks, constituting some 38% of their
population. During and after World War I, the Armenians also killed over
half a million Ottomans, mostly Turks but including other Muslims, as well
as Jews, numbers that are documented in the Ottoman archives. Few Western
sources will corroborate this very unknown tragedy, because Turkish lives
were generally regarded as "less human." A British colonel by the name of
Wooley, according to the U.S. Archives, estimated 300,000-400,000 Ottoman
Muslims were killed by Armenians in three districts alone.

If Armenia adopts a realistic attitude and is not fearful of confronting its
past, a mixed commission to investigate the issue could be established. In
this context, first, the two parties should set up a mixed committee of
Turkish and Armenian historians. Second, they should declare that they will
open their respective archives without any restriction for research. Third,
representatives from an international organization, for instance UNESCO,
should be a part of this process, assuming the role of public notary.

If the Armenian side is truly certain about the righteousness of its claim,
it should not hesitate to espouse this proposal and thus contribute to
bringing clarity to this period of our mutual history.

 

*        Ada Dostlari Dernegi,

*        Adana Kadın Kuruluşları Birliği (38 Vereine), 

*        Ankara Kız Lisesini Bitirenler Dernegi Istanbul Subesi, 

*        Anneler Dernegi, 

*        Atatürkçü Dusunce Dernegi Merkez Kadıkoy Subesi, 

*        Bizim Ulke Dernegi, 

*        Bogazici Soroptomist Klupleri, 

*        Cagdas Egitim Vakfi, 

*        Cevre ve Kultur Degerlerini Koruma ve Tanitma Vakfi, 

*        Cumhuriyet Kadinlari Dernegi, 

*        Demokrtik Dayanışma Derneği, 

*        Demokratik Ilkeler Dernegi, 

*        Emekli Subay Esleri Dernegi, 

*        Fatih Kiz Lisesiler Dernegi, 

*        Florance Nightingale Hemsirelik Okulu Mezunlar Dernegi, 

*        Gaziosmanpasa Kadin Kultur Yadimlasma Vakfi, 

*        Istanbul Barosu Kadin Haklari Komisyonu, 

*        Istanbul Kadin Kuruluslari Birligi, 

*        Istanbul Kiz Lisesi Mezunlar Dernegi, 

*        Istanbul Universitesi Mezunlar Dernegi, 

*        Istanbul Universitesi Kadin Sorunlari Arastirmalari Dernegi, 

*        Istanbul Universitesi Tip Fakultesi Hemsireler Dernegi, 

*        Istanbul Universitesi  Cerrahpasa Tip Fakultesi Hemsireler Dernegi,


*        Istanbul Dolmabahce Inner Wheer Klubu, 

*        Izmir Üniversiteleri Öğretim Elemanları Derneği, 

*        Kadin Arastirmalari Dernegi, 

*        Kadin Isgucunu Destekleme Dernegi, 

*        Kadikoy Kadin Platformu, 

*        Kadin ve Toplum Dernegi, 

*        Kadin Haklarini Arastirma Gelistirme Dernegi, 

*        Kadin Haklarini Koruma Dernegi, 

*        Kiz Izciler Dernegi, 

*        Levent Soroptomist Klupleri, 

*        Marmara Universitesi Kadin Isgucu Arastirma Dernegi, 

*        Notre Dame de Sion Dernegi, 

*        Siyasi Partiler Kadin Kollari, 

*        Turk Amerikan Dernekleri Federasyonu, 

*        Turk Anneler Dernegi, 

*        Turk Hukukcu Kadinlar Dernegi, 

*        Turk Kadinlar Birligi Adalar Subesi, 

*        Turk Kadinlar Birligi Sisli Subesi, 

*        Turk Kadinlar Birligi  Merkezi, 

*        Turk Kadinlar Birligi Kadikoy Subesi, 

*        Turk Universiteli Kadinlar Dernegi, 

*        Turk Amerikan Universiteliler Dernegi, 

*        Turkiye Soroptomist Klupleri Federasyonu, 

*        Turk Kadinlar Konseyi Bogazici Subesi, 

*        Yabanci Esler Dernegi, 

*        Yeniden Mudafai Hukuk Hareketi Dernegi, 

*        Yurtaslik Hareketi Dernegi, 

*        Umraniye Kadin Merkezi, 

*        Universiteliler Egitim ve Kultur Vakfi, 

*        Zonta Kadin Destekleme Dernegi,

*        Avrupa Atatürkçü Düşünce Dernekleri Federasyonu (Avrupa-ADD)

*        Almanya Atatürkçü Düşünce Dernekleri Federasyonu (Almanya-ADD)

*        Avusturya Atatürkçü Düşünce Derneği (Avusturya-ADD),

*        American Association of Crimean Turks, Inc., 

*        Association of Balkan Turks of America, Inc., 

*        Anadolu Club, Inc., 

*        Association of Turkish Americans of Southern California, 

*        Azerbaijan Society of America, Inc., 

*        Connecticut Turkish Islamic Cultural Association, 

*        Federation of Turkish American Associations, 

*        Federation of Turkish Canadian Associations, 

*        Istanbul Sports, Cultural, and Educational Association, 

*        Istanbul Technical University Alumni Association Intl, Inc., 

*        Karacay Turks Moslem Mosque, 

*        Middle East Technical University Alumni Association, 

*        Society of Turkish Architects, Engineers and Scientists, Inc., 

*        Southern New England Turkish American Cultural Association, 

*        Turkish-American Community Center, NJ, 

*        Turkish American Cultural Association of Florida, 

*        Turkish American Cultural Society of New England, 

*        Turkish American Eyup Sultan Islamic Center, Inc., 

*        Turkish American Association of New Jersey, Inc., 

*        Turkish American Cultural Alliance,Inc., 

*        Turkish American Physicians Association, Inc.,

*        Turkish-American Muslims Cultural Association, 

*        Turkish Children Foster Care ­ Maryland, 

*        Turkish Cypriot Aid Society, NY, 

*        Turkish Cypriot Cultural and Educational Association of NJ, 

*        Turkish Forum, 

*        Turkish Society of Rochester, 

*        Turkish Women's League of America, Inc., 

*        Turkistanian American Association, 

*        United American Muslim Association, 

*        Young Turks Cultural Aid Society, 

*        Delaware Valley Muslim Associations, 

*        American Turkish Association of Milwaukee, 

*        Turkish American Association, Ohio, 

*        Turkish American Society of Georgia, 

*        Turkish American Cultural Alliance, Chicago, IL, 

*        Florida Turkish American Association, Florida Turkish 

*        American Association, Women's Club, Syracuse Turkish Association.

*        Neunkirchen Atatürkçü Düşünce Derneği (Neunkirchen-ADD)

*        Wr. Neustadt Atatürkçü Düşünce Derneği (Wr. Neustadt-ADD),-ADD
(Verein zur Förderung des Gedankenguts Atatürks) -

*        Österrreichisch-Türkische Gesellschaft.

*        ATIB Avusturya Türk Islam Birligi

*        Canadian Association for Earthquake Engineering, 

*        Committee for the Protection of Turkish Rights, 

*        London Azerbeycan Gençler Birligi, 

*        Yukselis Iktisadi ve Stratejik Arastirmalar  YISAV,  

*        Doga ile Bariş Dernegi, 

*        Avrasya Türk Dernekleri Federasyonu, 

*        DoguTürkistan Göçmenler Dernegi, 

*        Baris ve Demokrasi Platformu, 

*        Council of Turkish Associations of Victoria, 

*        Australia Turkish Association of Urology, 

*        Turkish  Canadian Cultural Association of  Calgary, 

*        Turkish  Canadian Society, 

*        Cyprus Turkish Canadian Friendship  Association, 

*        Turkish  Canadian  Association  of  London, 

*        Turkish  Culture and  Folklore Society of Canada, 

*        Canadian Turkish Cypriot Association, 

*        Association  Culturelle Turque Du Montreal, 

*        Turkish  Canadian Cultural Association, 

*        Canadian Turkish  Islamic  Heritage Association, 

*        Turkish Canadian Society of  British  Colombia, 

*        Canadian Association For Solidarity of Turkish Bulgaria, 

*        The Canadian Turkish Cultural Association of Hamilton, 

*        Canadian Turkmen Centre, 

*        The Canadian Azerbaijani  Turkish Cultural Association, 

*        Vancouver Island Turkish Canadian Friendship Society, 

*        Turkish Canadian Association of  Kingston, 

*        Turquebec Association Culturelle et Amicale, 

*        Almanya'da Yüksek Öğrenim Görmüş Öğrenciler Dayanışma Derneği

*        Canadian Turkish Community Center.

 

SPECIAL BUREAU OF REPUBLIC OF TURKIYE

 

 

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