Hurriyet via BYEGM, Turkey
April 22 2005

Striking Remarks by Erich Feigl (On the Armenian “Genocide”
Allegations)

Tufan Turenc

Columnist Tufan Turenc comments on the Armenian “genocide” claims
and Professor Erich Feigl’s remarks on the issue. A summary of his
column is as follows:

“A panel on ‘Turkish-Armenian Relations and Historical Facts’ was held
earlier this week at Istanbul Technical University (ITU). Among the
speakers at the panel was well-known Austrian author and documentary
filmmaker Professor Erich Feigl, who made various incisive remarks
during his speech.

Feigl is an expert on Middle Eastern, Central Asian and American
cultures and religions. He has produced several documentaries which
have attracted worldwide attention. He became acquainted with the
events of 1915 while doing historical research, and he quickly
developed an interest in the issue. Meanwhile, Turkish Attaché for
Labor and Social Affairs in Vienna Erdogan Ozen, a close friend of his,
was murdered by the terrorist Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation
of Armenia (ASALA) in 1984. Ozen’s murder affected him so much that
he wrote a book on Armenian terror called ‘A Myth of Terror.’

In his speech, Feigl lamented that Turkey has been unable to counter
the psychological war waged by the Armenians. Feigl said that the
total number of Armenians who lived under Ottoman rule was 1.7 million,
and only 700,000 of them were sent away by the Ottomans. Therefore,
their assertion that 1.5 million Armenians were killed is nonsensical.

Feigl also presented a new document, in which Boghos Nubar, leader
of the Armenians in exile early in the last centrury, admits that
the Armenians took sides with the enemy during the war. ‘It’s most
fortunate that I could discover this document before the Armenians
could find and destroy it,’ Feigl said. ‘Because they have successfully
destroyed almost every document against them.’

Feigl also urged that Turkey not agree to discuss their claims, let
alone recognize them. ‘If you recognize their claims or even agree
to discuss the issue with them, next they will demand your money and
land. You should never ever do that,’ he said.

Feigl ended his speech with a striking statement: ‘This land is
yours. You didn’t settle in Anatolia after the Battle of Malazgirt.
Archeological findings at Catalhoyuk prove that you have been here
for more than 10,000 years’.”

–Boundary_(ID_qmMXHlSwoFyRznIefm/fZw)–

Ankara Reacts to Polish Accepting Genocide Allegations
By Foreign News Desk

Published: Friday 22, 2005
zaman.com

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has met with Polish Foreign Minister
Adam Daniel Rotfeld to convey Turkey’s reaction to the Polish decision
to recognize Armenian genocide allegations on Tuesday.

Gul met with Rotfel yesterday at a break after the NATO-Russia
Council meeting in Vilnius in Litvania. The Turkish Minister expressed
disappointment and regret over the Polish decision to recognize the
alleged Armenian genocide in 1915.

On the other side Rotfeld responded, “I’ve never forgotten and will
forget Turkey’s interest, closeness, and aid to the Polish public,”
and gave information about the process of the decision.

The Foreign Ministry has also declared condemnation of the Polish
decision and has refused to accept it. The Ministry said in a
statement that it is not responsible to define events during the WW
I which caused great sorrow for Turks and Armenians, as “genocide”
in a one-sided approach.

The statement says that national parliaments are not the place to
decide historical disputes and they should should not allow any
intiatives that feed antogonism.

Nobel Peace Prize winner and former Polish leader Lech Walesa issued a
statement yesterday saying that Turkey should not be accepted into the
European Union (EU) before accepting the Armenian genocide allegations.

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
April 22 2005

‘German MPs Look For Friends in Genocide’
GERMAN MPs DISCUSS ARMENIAN ISSUE

Jan SOYKOK (JTW) German MPs from across the political spectrum
discussed the Armenian issue and Turkish-Armenian relations. Turkish
Armenian researchers argue the decision has no link with the Armenian
issue but a German strategy.

Armenia says more than 1 million of its people were slaughtered
between 1915 and 1917 as the Ottoman Empire, the predecessor of
modern Turkey, was falling apart. Turkey does not accept the
allegations and says about 523,000 Turkish people were massacred by
the Armenian armed groups and most of the Armenians died due to the
communal ethnic conflicts, famine, epidemic diseases and war
circumstances. According to Turkish historians the number of
Armenians killed is about 100,000. Most of the Ottoman Armenians
joined the Russian Army against the Ottoman Armies during the First
World War in order to establish a separate Armenian State though they
were no majority in any Ottoman city. When Armenian rioted the
Istanbul Government decided to relocate the Armenians near the war
theatre to another Ottoman province (Syria). Germany was Ottoman
Turkey’s main ally in the First World War, and it is argued that
German Government advised Turks to relocate the Armenians.

“TURKEY SHOULD FACE UP THE TRUTH”

During an often impassioned debate in the German Bundestag lower
house of parliament, Friedbert Pflueger, the foreign affairs
specialist for the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said:
“Turkey should face up to the truth.” However he said putting
pressure on Turkey would not lead to Ankara recognizing what had
happened. “We do not want to incriminate and we do not want to
embellish,” CDU M.P. Pflueger added.

Another member of the opposition Christian Democratic alliance
(CDU/CSU), Erwin Marschewski, said in a statement that the value
system of the European Union insisted that countries “shine a
spotlight on the dark pages of their history.” “Recognition by Turkey
of the Armenian genocide of 1915 and 1916 is important,” said
Marschewski.

Fritz Kuhn of the Greens, which form the governing coalition with
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s Social Democrats, said the debate had
taken on increased importance because “we want Turkey to be an EU
member one day”.
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is a staunch backer of Turkish EU
membership and will visit Ankara and Istanbul for talks with Turkish
political and business leaders on 3 and 4 May.

“GERMANY PLAYS A DIRTY GAME”

According to Dr. Nilgun Gulcan from Ankara-based think tank
USAK-ISRO, “Germany plays a dirty game”:

“Germany has been the only state which committed genocide during the
Second World War. The Germans slaughtered more than 5 million Jews in
Holocaust. This should be a terrible shame on Germans. Germany has
made great efforts to create similar cases to the Nazi regime’s
genocide. Thus some in Germany welcomes all genocide claims. They
want friends in genocide. So nobody would accuse the Germans as the
only genocide-makers” added Gulcan.

Davut Sahiner sees the issue as a step to prevent Turkey’s EU
membership and a CDU plan:

“I think the CDU is the main player behind the debates in German
Parliament. German Government gives a great support to Turkey’s EU
membership and the CDU does not want to see Turkey in. They did
anything possible to prevent Turkey’s EU bid. They tried anything,
but Armenian issue. This is the latest part of the game. The CDU’s
another aim is to make hostile Turkish voters and governing German
parties. Turkish voters enthusiastically supports Schroeder. If
German Governments contradict with the Turkish view in Armenian
issue, the it will undermine the Government.”

“FULL OF FACTUAL ERRORS IN BUNDESTAG RESOLUTION”

Turkey’s ambassador to Germany, Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, has denounced
the planned Bundestag resolution as containing “countless factual
errors” and being written “in agreement with propaganda efforts of
fanatic Armenians”: “Its goal is to defame Turkish history… and
poison ties between Turkey and the European Union,” said the
ambassador.

“NO DOCUMENTS, BUT GENOCIDE ALLEGATIONS”

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan last week called the Armenian
side to establish a joint commission to discuss the historical
disputes. However the Armenian Government rejected the offer two
times. Armenian Foreign Minister Oskanian said “there is nothing to
debate”. Turkish Government also declared that all Turkish-Ottoman
archives are open to all researchers including the Armenians. The
Turkish officials further said “the Armenian, particularly the Tahnak
archives must be opened to historians as well”.

According to Yusuf Halacoglu, Head of Turkish History Society,
Armenians cannot provide any documents to prove their allegations.
Similarly Dr. Sedat Laciner, Director of ISRO, says “There are
abundant of documents which prove that there was no genocide or a
state-organized massacres in 1915. We understand more than 523,000
Turkish people were killed by the Armenian militants. All in Turkey
accept the Armenian tragedy. However the Armenians should also see
the Turkish tragedy”. According to Laciner Armenians should bring
their archive documents and discuss the matter with the Turks instead
of blackmailing Turkey in a very sensitive period (Turkey-EU
negotiations).

“Armenia should see that it will benefit a lot from an
EU-member-Turkey. Turkey could help Armenia to become wealthier and
more democratic. Turkey could be a way for Armenia to be integrated
with the West and the world. However Armenian politics has been
dominated by anti-Turkish-obsessed diaspora. The diaspora cannot
understand Armenia’s needs. They are really egoist and they just talk
about the past. Turkey and Armenia cannot establish their relations
on the historical debates but on today’s realities.”

OTTOMANS EXECUTED 63 PEOPLE FOR HARMING ARMENIANS

Nilgun Gulcan says the Ottoman Government took all the necessary
measures to protect the Armenian civilians during the Relocation
Campaign. The Ottoman government executed 63 people for attacking and
harming Armenians during the relocation days, according to a research
carried out within Turkish Prime Ministry State Archives.

Turkey is set to start EU accession talks on October 3.

JTW
22 April 2005

Zaman Online, Turkey
April 22 2005

Chirac to Visit Genocide Monument with Kocharian
By Anadolu News Agency (aa)

Upon Armenian Prime Minister Robert Kocharian’s arrival in Paris,
French President Jacques Chirac will accompany him to a monument for
the alleged Armenian genocide.

The two leaders will have a meeting at the Presidential Palace before
participating in a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument, which was
opened by the Paris Municipality in 2003. On the base of the monument
dedicated to Armenian compositor Komitas is written: “In memory of
the 1,500,000 Armenian victims of the first genocide of the 20th
century committed by the Ottoman Empire in 1915.” The French
Parliament accepted a draft decision to recognize the alleged
Armenian Genocide in 2001.

Meanwhile, Armenian community members have flocked to Washington for
a rally for the 90th anniversary ceremony in Congress for the alleged
Armenian genocide. The Armenian lobby received the support of 32
senators in the Senate and 175 deputies in the House of
Representatives this year. Senator John F. Kerry, who lost the
election against President George W. Bush last November, said:
“Unfortunately we could not succeed then and our struggle still
continues. President Bush should demand Turkey changes its manner
towards the Armenian Genocide.”

Zaman Online, Turkey
April 22 2005

MGK Prepares for ECHR Decision on Ocalan

Published: Friday 22, 2005
zaman.com

Turkish National Security Council (MGK) Secretary-General Ambassador
Yigit Alpogan has spoken in advance of the European Court of Human
Rights (ECHR) decision about the re-trial of separatist terror
organization leader Abdullah Ocalan, saying, “We are working on
possible alternatives”.

When asked about the possibility of a retrial if ordered by the ECHR,
Alpogan replied that ECHR has not taken its decision yet. Pointing to
the complexity of the issue, Alpogan said, “There is no decision yet.
When there is one, I am sure that an attitude will be determined and
what is required will be done.”

When asked about Turkey’s image abroad as a moderate Islamic country,
the Secretary answered: “We do not accept that this is a moderate
Islamic country and refute this view whenever we hear it.” As
for the alleged Armenian genocide issue, Alpogan said “these are
baseless allegations” noting there is no evidence that the Ottomans
committed the Armenian genocide. “They will regret their decision,”
said Alpogan of the Polish Parliament’s decision to recognize of the
alleged genocide.

Another Vandalism against Turkish Flag in Athens: Armenians Fire Turkish Flag

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
April 22 2005

JTW – Armenians in Greece fired Turkish flag in commemoration of
the 1915 Events. Armenians met in front of the Turkish Embassy and
protested Turkey. Armenians consider 1915 Relocation Campaign as a
‘massacre’.

Armenian attack against the Turkish flag is not the fist and single
‘insult’ against Turkish flag. A group of Turkish officers visiting
an Athens military academy last week as part of confidence-building
measures between the two countries found a vandalized Turkish flag,
inscribed with hostile slogans, in their room.

The Greek officers wrote slogans including “Constantinopolis is
Greek! “, “Cyprus is ours forever!”, “Barbar Turks!”, “Viva EOKA!” on
Turkish flag.

The incident coincided with a visit to Ankara by Greek Foreign Minister
Petros Molyviatis, during which the two sides announced further steps
to bring their armies closer. Chief of the Turkish General Staff Hilmi
Ozkok announced a demand for an official Greek apology for the attack
against the Turkish flag.

JTW 22 April 2005

Armenian lobby in US appeals to White House, Congress

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
April 21 2005

Baku, April 20, AssA-Irada — The Armenian lobby in the US has appealed
to the White House and Congress over recognition of April 24 as the
fabricated Armenians’ ‘genocide’ day.

35 members of the US Congress sent a letter to the American President
calling for recognition of the fake ‘genocide’.

On the mentioned day, members of Turkic communities in the United
States will gather in Washington to hold peaceful public actions
outside the White House and US Congress buildings in protest.*

Russia to be guarantor if Karabakh solution found, senate chief says

ANS TV, Baku
21 Apr 05

[Presenter] The chairman of the Russian Federation Council, Sergey
Mironov, is paying a working visit to Azerbaijan. The aim of Mr
Mironov’s visit is to expand parliamentary ties between the countries
and boost cooperation in a multilateral format within the framework
of the Caucasus four and the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly.

The Russian visitor spoke about the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict today.

[Mironov, in Russian with Azeri voice-over] Unfortunately, Nagornyy
Karabakh remains an open wound. The sooner it is resolved and an
agreement satisfying both sides is reached, the better it is for both
Russia and the entire region. Russia has a position of principle –
we believe that a solution to the conflict should be found with the
agreement of both sides. If such a solution is found, Russia can be
a guarantor.

Gov’t to raise illegal excavations issue at PACE

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
April 21 2005

The issue on the illegal archaeological excavations by Armenia in the
occupied town of Shusha will be raised at the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe (PACE) session due April 25-28.

A representative of the Azeri delegation at PACE Rafael Huseynov
says he has prepared a relevant document to be submitted to the
PACE committee on science, education and culture for consideration.
Azerbaijan will try to achieve adoption of the document at least on
the committee level, said Huseynov.

Turkish opposition asks minister to brief parliament on US use of base

Anatolia news agency
21 Apr 05

Ankara, 21 April: Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy leader Onur
Oymen called on Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul to give information to
the parliament about Incirlik base on Thursday [21 April]. Speaking in
a joint news conference with CHP acting group leader Haluk Koc, Oymen
referred to the news published in the press saying that a memorandum
of understanding was signed with the USA and a decree was opened to
signature at the cabinet about Incirlik base.

“The parliament learns the things that are going on about such an
important matter from the press, can this be possible? The government
has not answered our question motions or has not given us information
about Incirlik base till today… We want to know what the government
has done so far and what it will do,” Oymen said, asking Foreign
Minister Gul to inform the parliament immediately about Incirlik base.

Oymen also criticized the government’s attitude regarding the adoption
of the recent Polish parliament’s decision which recognized the
so-called Armenian genocide. “The parliament should have been informed
about the developments so that we could do something. The government
continues to ignore the parliament in foreign policy,” Oymen commented.

Haluk Koc said in his part that CHP expressed almost all of the views
which Chief of General Staff Gen Hilmi Ozkok explained during his
speech at the War Academies Command yesterday, adding none of those
CHP views were covered by the media.