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Zaraqolu: 1915 Has Deep Roots That Stipulate Turkish Denialism

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  • Zaraqolu: 1915 Has Deep Roots That Stipulate Turkish Denialism

    ZARAQOLU: 1915 HAS DEEP ROOTS THAT STIPULATE TURKISH DENIALISM
    By Hakob Chakrian

    AZG Armenian Daily #156, 02/09/2005

    Turkey

    The hubbub in Turkish society over the decision of the Bosphorus
    University of Istanbul to hold "The Ottoman Armenians at the
    Decline of the Empire" workshop postponed because of the state
    authorities' opposition is as great as it was while postponing the
    workshop. Interestingly, the initiative of holding the workshop came
    from Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who personal asked
    Prof. Ayse Soysal of Bosphorus University about it.

    Though the uproar poses the organizers to attacks and stirs
    anti-Armenian moods, it still contributes to unearthing the issue of
    the Armenian Genocide in Turkish reality and to revealing all bareness
    of Turkish denialism. This is happening thanks to tenacious Turkish
    scientists. One of such is Ragep Zaraqolu. Akos Armenian newspaper
    of Istanbul published in its July 8 issue the article of Zaraqolu
    titled "1915 has its deep roots" that was previously published in
    Zaraqolu's Uzun Yuruyus magazine in spring. To prove the historicity
    of the Armenian Genocide, the author bares the hidden reasons why
    the Turkish Republic takes a firm hold of denialism.

    Here is what Zaraqolu writes: "There is an impression that the
    tragedy will not look that horrifying, everybody will come down and
    the elimination of a whole people will be seen as something natural
    once the term 'genocide' is eschewed.

    "If it is not so, what's the point of sticking to disgusting
    denialism? The point is, of course, distortion of the issue and
    prevention of discussions over the essence of the things, over the
    scale events and over the historic continuance. But there is one
    more point to be mentioned, it is the tendency of keeping the truths
    concerning the foundation of Turkish Republic under wraps.

    "The state does not want the names of those who occupied high positions
    in the mechanism that organized mass killings of the Armenians
    come into light. It is attempting to keep this sphere sealed
    off. Everything is being done to erase the period from 1915 till
    the republic from memory. Those doing the opposite are immediately
    accused of dishonoring the republic created by "heroic efforts" and
    "honest" purposes. Yet, without examining the official ideology it
    is impossible to create a democratic state.

    "If you take a look at the group photo shot on occasion of opening the
    session of the Turkish National Assembly in 1936, you will notice two
    officials right behind the president (Ataturk) who occupied important
    posts in 1915. One of them, Mustafa Helik Renda, was the chairman
    of the National Assembly in 1936. The second figure was Mustafa
    Abdulhalik who was the governor of Bitlis in 1915. I played major
    role in uprooting Armenians from Bitlis and Mush. Then he tracked
    down those who miraculously escaped to Syrian deserts and killed
    them. Abdulhalik was meanwhile one of the chief advisers of Taleat.

    "It was greatly thanks to his efforts that Ismet pasha was elected
    president after Ataturk's death. The first thing Ismet pasha did
    was granting pardon to members of Ittihat Party and making part of
    the authority. In 1943, he signed an agreement with Nazi Germany to
    convey remains of Taleat pasha to Turkey.

    "Suqru Qajan, interior minister, is another political figure form
    the 1936 photo. He was the chief coordinator of the Armenians'
    deportation, i.e. annihilation. Qajan, secretary general of People's
    Republican Party in 1927-38, rebuilt the party a la Italian fascistic
    organization.

    "Prof. Tevfik Salim, rector of Istanbul University in 1943-46, was a
    military doctor in 1915. According to a letter published in Alemdar
    newspaper on 1919, he carried out medical experiments on Armenian
    soldiers injecting them a virus of typhoid. A clinic at the Istanbul
    University bearing his name still functions today.

    "One of the regions of Van province is named after Qyazm Ozalp,
    chairman of the National Assembly in 1924-35. He was elected deputy
    from the province of Van. Yet, he also was a member of Ittihat ve
    Terakki Party and the commander of the 36th platoon that cleared Mush
    off Armenian soldiers. Nurin, brother Enver pasha who quenched the
    Commune of Baku in 1918 slaughtering local Armenians, used to trade in
    drugs with Germany during the WW II. In 1945, he disappeared together
    with his factory of weapons.

    "As you can see, events go as deep as the year of 1915. Perhaps that's
    the reason why discussion of such issues is cut immediately."
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