City leader sparks row by backing claim of genocide
By GARETH ROSE
The Scotsman
16 Aug 05
COUNCIL leader Donald Anderson has become embroiled in an international
row over whether the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians during the First
World War was genocide.
Armenia has called for an international investigation into whether the
massacre was ordered by the Ottoman Empire which ruled Turkey in 1915.
Turkey has always insisted the people died during civil unrest while
its authorities attempted to deport them.
Councillor Anderson first became involved in the issue when the
Capital hosted a Holocaust Memorial Day in 2003.
But now, the city leader plans to go one step further and put forward
a motion to the council in October recognising that “it was indeed
genocide”.
The proposed motion has been welcomed by Armenians in the Capital.
But the move has raised the ire of the Turkish community in Edinburgh
and Councillor Anderson has also received complaints from the Turkish
ambassador, who has pointed to the fact that history accepts many
Turkish people died at Armenian hands.
In a letter to the ambassador, Cllr Anderson said: “Having researched
this issue, I am in no doubt that the Armenian community suffered a
genocide at the hands of the Ottoman regime.
“There are substantial eyewitness accounts that are well documented
and there is, I believe, wide support for the view that the historical
evidence is robust and compelling for genocide.
“You mention in your letter that atrocities were carried out against
Turks by the Armenian side and undoubtedly this is true. There were
atrocities on all sides of what was an extremely bitter period
of ethnic conflict. However, this was not genocide and was not
state-sponsored.”
He added: “As council leader I have to advise you that I am convinced
of the need to support recognition for what I believe was genocide.
“I would encourage you as ambassador for a great and dynamic country
to reconsider your position.”
The council leader was asked earlier by the Armenian community if the
city would host a commemoration service to mark the 90th anniversary
of the deaths, which was held on April 24.
Armenian Dr Hagop Bessos, 55, of Marchmont Road, Edinburgh, today
said Edinburgh’s recognition that genocide took place would be a
“significant” step.
Dr Bessos, who is chairman of the Scottish branch of UK organisation
the Campaign for Recognition of Armenian Genocide said: “It would be
very important for Edinburgh City Council to recognise what happened
was genocide.”
Dr Bessos, whose parents survived the massacre, added: “Many countries
across the world already have done. The UK and the US are the principal
ones which have not.”
A total of 15 nations, including Switzerland, Russia and Argentina,
classify the killings as genocide. France, which has a large
Armenian population, passed a law officially recognising the events
as genocide in 2001, cooling relations with Turkey and scuppering a
major arms deal.
The disagreement is also seen as the biggest stumbling block facing
Turkey as it attempts to join the European Union.
But far from backing down, Turkey has remained defiant.
Murat Toruntay, chairman of the Turkish Association, said: “There
are two sides to the story and I am pleased Cllr Anderson is prepared
to listen to both. I was in Turkey recently and it was being talked
about. The government does not accept that it was genocide.”