Choose Truth Over Propaganda

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It’s quite ironic that it is these very voices of the Armenian diaspora that has catalysed the Turkish Government to open up it’s archives pertaining to that period. It has also lead more Turkish historians to do more research and report their findings, using those very archives. It has lead the Turkish people of today to ask many questions about that period and fostered much debate in Turkey. Perhaps most importantly, it has lead the current Prime Minister of Turkey, the current President of Turkey, and the current Grand National Assembly of Turkey to make the following, separate statements (which seems to have so far landed on deaf ears): 
 
President Abdullah Gul (In an article titled ‘Politicizing the Armenian tragedy’ published March 28, 2007 in “The Washington Times”. ): 
 
“…With regard to the Armenian allegation describing the tragedy that befell them as genocide, the question, from the point of view of international law, is whether the Ottoman government systematically pursued a calculated act of state policy for their destruction in whole or in part. 
 
The answer to this question can only be established by scholars who have the ability to 
evaluate the period objectively, working with the full range of available primary sources.Hence Turkey made a proposal to Armenia in 2005 to establish a joint commission of 
historians to find out once and for all what really happened, and how it took place. 
Turkey has no difficulties in facing its past. All Turkish archives, including the military 
archives of the period, are open to the entire international academic community. However, important Armenian archives are not. 
 
We eagerly await a positive response from Armenia, agreeing to establish this joint 
commission and declaring its readiness to accept its conclusions. We are also prepared to work together with other parties to conduct this research. I hereby extend an invitation to any third country, including the United States, to contribute to this commission by appointing scholars who will earnestly work to shed light on this tragedy and open ways for us to come together. The establishment of such a commission will also help shape an atmosphere conducive to the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations. 
 
A recent resolution introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives makes mention of the events of 1915 as "genocide." Its passage will be tantamount to legislating a skewed version of history, which will be totally unjust and thus deeply offensive to the Turkish people who have expressed their readiness to seek out the truth....” 
 
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoan (In an official letter sent to Robert Kocaryan, President of the Republic of Armenia, 10 April 2005. To read full letter, see http://www.turkishembassy.com/II/O/ErdogantoKocaryan.htm ): 
 
“…These views are also shared by the leader of our main opposition party, Mr. Deniz Baykal, the Chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP). In this connection, we are extending an invitation to your country to establish a joint group consisting of historians and other experts from our two countries to study the developments and events of 1915 not only in the archives of Turkey and Armenia but also in the archives of all relevant third countries and to share their findings with the international public. I believe that such an initiative would shed light on a disputed period of history and also constitute a step towards contributing to the normalization of relations between our countries…” 
 
The Turkish Grand National Assembly (Official Declaration, to read in full, see http://www.turkishembassy.com/II/O/declaration_by_the__turkish_gran.htm): 
 
“…the Governing and the Main Opposition Parties have made a proposal which aims to shed light on historical facts through scientific research and to free history from being a burden for these two nations. This proposal envisages the establishment of a joint commission composed of historians from Turkey and Armenia, to open without any restriction their national archives, to disclose the findings of their research, which will also cover the archives of related countries, to the international public and determination between two countries the establishment and working methods of the said commission. 
 
… upon the countries which took decisions regarding the Armenian allegations in their Parliaments. If these countries attach importance, as they claim, to the improvement of the relations between Turkey and Armenia, they should demonstrate their good will and support our proposal to set-up a joint commission of history between the two countries.” 
 
As can be seen by these statements, Turkey has no qualms about facing it’s past. In fact, it is most open to it. It’s archives pertaining to 1915 are open and awaiting research.  
 
I am aware, that there are those who claim that any ‘proof’ that the ALLEGED Armenian genocide took place have been destroyed by the Turkish Government before making the archives public. They claim that it would therefore be pointless to look at the archives.  
 
I would like to remind those so misguided that the Ottoman Archives were in the hands of the Allies for four (4) years after the war. All of the archives of the Ottoman government were examined. They found nothing, and therefore could not put on trial the 100-odd supposed Turkish war criminals that they were holding.  
 
If no such ‘proof’ ever existed, then it is only logical that it will not be found.  
If ‘genocide’ never occurred, it is only logical to state that genocide did not occur. Anything to the contrary would be a vicious, criminal, shameful lie. Supporting such a lie would be slanderous of one’s own honour, to say the least.  
 
Note how The President of Turkey, The Prime Minister of Turkey, and The Grand National Assembly of Turkey do not fervently reject the notion of genocide. On the contrary, they have opened up their archives, including military archives pertaining to that period. They ask that Armenia and all relevant third countries open up their archives. They ask that a joint commission of historians and other experts be established. They extend an invitation to any third country, including the United States, to contribute to this commission by appointing scholars. They propose that the findings of said commission be disclosed to the international community. They are willing and eager to accept the findings of such a commission. They are willing and eager to accept these findings, because they believe the research will be scientific and the findings will be objective truths, not propaganda or hearsay. They believe that this is necessary in order for future generations to put aside any animosities and to live in peace. Theirs is a search for truth and peace. Their search can not, should not be labelled ‘denial’.

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